Could I Have Ruined my Facelift From Neck Strain While Off-Roading? (photo)

It is unlikely that you have "ruined" your facelift. However, your post does offer a cautionary tale for prospective facelift patients. Having been limited in their level of activity in the immediate postoperative period, many patients burst out of the gate aggressively shortly thereafter in an effort "to make up for lost time."

Most of the patients who have behaved in this manner will tell you in retrospect that it is never worth it. Even if there is no permanent compromise of their surgical result, the anxiety that they might have done so makes them regret engaging in whatever strenuous activity in which they had performed. Far better, to take it easy, until your surgeon explicitly cuts you loose to resume your regular excercise or sporting activity, and, even then, only gradually advance your level of exertion over time.

In your particular case, it does not appear from the photographs that there has been a hematoma or compromise of your flaps in any way. Because the facelift inevitably disrupts the venous and lymphatic drainage of the face and neck, there is always a slower resolution of swelling than there is in the unoperated face.

It is normal for swelling to wax and wane in the weeks and months following a facelift, and that is what is happening here. Symptomatic treatment with elevation, NSAIDS, ice,rest, and the passage of time  should do the trick, but the object lesson you inadvertently provided should be helpful to future patients.

It is very unlikely that after 3 weeks you have 'ruined' anything.  You probably just have some swelling and tightness of your neck muscles.

i cant really see much on the photos.. if there is no discoloration , bleeding or hematoma is unlikely.

swelling not unheard of after increased activity..  ice elevation , celebrex can help syptoms.  obviously have your doctor examine you .