Lump on my cheek that isn't going away

Question

I had a PDO thread lift and developed a lump on my left cheek after a week. It got red and was tender so the technician prescribed an antibiotic for 10 days. The tenderness & redness got better and the bump went down a bit but did not go away. I went back and they loosened the threads. Now I have a 1.5 inch bump that is not getting better. Went back and they said use hot compresses. I'm 64, white, thin & was trying to correct jowls and frown lines. I don't know what to do now.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Sorry you are having this difficulty. I gave up performing threadlifts many years ago. The procedure is relatively expensive, engenders downtime; achieves results that at best do not typically last much longer than those attained with the expert use of natural HA fillers, and has a high rate of adverse reactions, which include infections, extrusion or "spitting" of the stitches, skin dimpling, divets and bumps, such as occurred here. Once the current issue is resolved, either by spontaneous dissolution of the threads over time or removal, going forward, you may wish to consult with a board certified cosmetic dermatologist re: the use of appropriately robust HA fillers to treat the jowls and neuromodulators and/or a low viscosity, malleable, cohesive HA filler to treat the frown lines. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

You need a plastic surgeon to excise the PDO cyst lump ASAP. Expect fee in $2000 ranges. PDOs cause infections, cysts, lumps very very frequently. Stopped using them over 5 years ago!

Lump on my cheek that isn't going away

Answers (2)