Is it normal to still feel pain 5 weeks after my facelift?

Question

It's 5weeks after my face lift and I am still getting pain in my head is this normal also any advice on what to use under eyes to help take puffy ness down .

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

The experience of pain is a very subjective one and varies widely after a facelift. Some patients describe "no pain at all"; most "discomfort" and then a small group of patients find it quite painful during the first day or two. Normal discomfort include neck tightness, soreness around the ears and tenderness when certain face region are touched or massaged. Pain 5 weeks after surgery is unusual. I would discuss this with your facelift surgeon who is in the best position to correlate your experience with his surgical technique.

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Generally speaking, it can take 6 to 12 months to completely heal after surgery. Please keep in touch with your surgeon or his/her clinical team to discuss your ongoing concerns.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Is not common to have significant pain five weeks after a facelift but not completely unexpected. Check with your surgeon to make sure there's not some organic problem creating the discomfort.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

It does occur in a small percentage of patients. I’d recommend seeing your doctor so that he can review how your face is healing.

Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS · Answer

Depending on the technique used, there are some internal facial sutures that support and suspend the connective tissue portions of your face to other regions of the face and skull. These sutures are typically under significant tension (lift) and can irritate local tissues. Massage of these regions can help somewhat. 'Tincture of time' helps a lot as well.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

Did you also have a browlift?  If you did, you may be getting some sensations as the nerves grow back.  And if you have endotine implants, they can remain sensitive until they dissolve.  Some people may also get sensitivity to any buried sutures along the incision line.  These usually dissolve in about 2-3 months.  For eyelid swelling, try using some warm compresses, and do some gentle massage to move the fluid out.

Dominic Bray, MBBS, FRCS · Answer

at all is unusual. I have performed over 30 facelifts in the last 2 months and not one patietn has experienced "pain". Discomfort yes, tightness yes, ear soreness but not pain. Pain may be an indication of underlying inflammation and/or infection and should be reviewed by your surgeon asap.

Todd C. Miller, MD · Answer

Diffuse discomfort may persist for awhile following a facelift. It may also be from another source. Swelling in the temporalis muscle may create some discomfort if you had a brow lift at the same time. Un-dissolved suture can create some irritation as well. It is also possible that the pain is unrelated to the facelift. I would follow up with your surgeon to ensure that you are healing according to plan.

Ash Mosahebi, MBBS, FRCS FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Pain & discomfirt after facelift can happen. It can be improved by moisturisers and massaging the scars.

Megan Jack, MD · Answer

It would be fairly unusual to have pain this far out from a facelift procedure. Additionally, if it is truly pain in your head (headaches), it may be completely unrelated.  You really should follow up with your plastic surgeon for an evaluation and to fully describe the pain symptoms you are experiencing. Swelling under the eyes may still be present if you had surgery around the eyes at the same time.  This typically just takes time to resolve, however, cool compresses, avoiding salty foods and allergens, and keeping your head propped up may help.  Sometimes a few dots of hemorrhoid cream may help to relieve the swelling as well (keeping it out of your eyes of course). If you didn't have any surgery around the eyes at the same time, this may be something else going on that you need to have your doctor evaluate.

Is it normal to still feel pain 5 weeks after my facelift?

Answers (12)

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