Hard swelling or extra skin/muscles following facelift...when will this go down?

Thank you for your question for sharing your concerns with us. Swelling and numbness in the tissues will return to normal as time passes by. Between the first and second week, much of your swelling and bruising will dissipate. It may take more than a month or two for your tissues to fully soften and any residual swelling to resolve. Lymphatic massage maybe an option to help clear the swelling and firmness at a faster pace. Numbness may take months to resolve and may never return to the same degree. I would make sure that you continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon during this period of time.

Although it's common to feel some degree of anxiety as
you move through your recuperation process, 11 days is still quite early in the
overall process of your recovery, as you know. It is likely that these areas of
concern may naturally go away as your body continues to heal. If you're still
seeing these issues after 3 months or so, I recommend consulting with your
surgeon to discuss your options for revision. I completely understand that
you're eager to see your final results as soon as possible after your
investment of money and time, but I urge you to be patient and stay positive! Best
of luck.

Hello,Thank you for your question. Yes, it may be hard to believe now but the areas of swelling and firmness and discomfort will soften and resolve. You are very early post op. Follow up with your Plastic Surgeon and ensure that you are following all post op instructions.Take care

At 11 days after surgery, it is VERY normal to have areas of induration (firmness) in the face and neck.  The sensations become more pronounced over the course of the day because your swelling actually increases as you move through your day.  Overnight the tissues have a chance to heal and the symptoms improve.  Over time, they should resolve completely.  Be patient, but be sure to share all of your concerns with your surgeon.  Best of luck.

11 days is a too soon to
tell to judge your facelift results. It is possible that you may
have some uneven swelling or induration at this time. Depending on the nature of your
surgery, it can take up to 3-6 months to see the final result. I would give
it some time and see how the healing progresses, and speak with your surgeon to
get his or her opinion. Thank you and good luck with your recovery!

It is very hard to comment without photos so I urge you to post these so we can better understand your concerns.  Nonetheless, it is unusual to have extra folds of skin in front of the ear after a facelift.  What procedure did you have? If this excess tissue like skin, it will not "resorb". 

Without photographs it's impossible to comment on your specific situation. However after a facelift there will be swelling in associated firmness for a number of weeks. You should feel comfortable discussing your situation with your surgeon.

I know that its frustrating to not have your final results immediately, but your body is healing. It may take anywhere from 3-6 months for all of the swelling to go down. My guess is that when that happens, these extra "folds" of skin will disappear. For now, follow your surgeon's post operative advise and be patient. Best, Dr. Nazarian

At 11 days following surgery, you are still quite early in the healing process. Try not to become too discouraged at this time because these irregularities will dramatically improve over the coming weeks and months. Be sure to follow up regularly with your surgeon. Good luck!

As others have noted on this post, 11 days postop is still relatively early in the healing process.  The way a patient heals and the duration of swelling, induration (firmness), bruising etc. will partially depend on the extent of the facelift technique, the individual healing properties of the patient, and the behavior of the patient postoperatively.  After any injury, swelling peaks at 48-72 hours and then gradually subsides.  This swelling and firmness can last up to 2 months in some patients, but is generally not noticeable to the public. Excess activity in the first 2 weeks leads to a prolongation of this healing period.  Most patients in my practice are able to wear makeup and be "publicly presentable" within 2 weeks, but exceptions to every rule exist.  This is a critical time to keep the lines of contact open with your Surgeon for the reassurance that you will need.