Do internal facelift sutures remain palpable forever? I can feel a small hard lump on cheek in front of each ear in same place.

Thank you for your question.  Both absorbable and non-absorbable internal sutures can be used during a facelift to elevate and secure facial soft tissue.  Most absorbable sutures would be expected to go away within 3-4 month after the procedure.  If one year after a facelift you still feel palpable knots, it is likely that permanent sutures were used.  If these knots bother you, they can be easily removed.  It would require a small procedure under local anesthesia to cut and remove the stich.  Removing the stiches at this point would not affect your results.  If possible, I would recommend asking your original surgeon to do this, since he is in the best position to know the location and the type of sutures that were used during your procedure.Best wishes!Dr. Konstantin

If non-absorbable (permanent) sutures were used during your facelift it is likely that the lump you feel will not go away. The good news is that if the lump is caused by a surgical stitch it can be removed. Sometimes it is possible to use the same facelift scar to remove the lump when it is located close to the scar. 

You might want to just consider a revision.  I say this only because you mention a few other areas of dissatisfaction in addition to the palpable sutures.  Your surgeon should be willing to go into as much detail as needed for you to understand what was done at the time of the operation.I prefer long-lasting but dissolvable sutures.  They typically resorb after a period of 3-4 months or so.  This avoids long term issues related to the use of permanent sutures.  Once there has been adequate time for the tissues to heal in their new lifted and supported position, the need for a suture to remain there forever does not make much sense to me.

Assuming that what you are feeling is a permanent suture, those can be removed in the office using local anesthetic. However, considering you have other issues associated with your prior facelift, you may want to consider a revision lift. During that revision, the permanent knots can be removed and your other issues (jowls, tragus, earlobes) can be addressed. See someone with extensive experience with revision facelifts.Andrew Campbell, M.D.

Facial Rejuvenation Specialist

Quintessa Aesthetic Centers

A simple procedure under local anesthesia can open up the incisions in front of the ear and dissect to the knot and remove it.  This may also help to revise the scars that have distorted your tragus and earlobe.