2.5 months post op Facelift, my ear lobe is still enlarged. Is this normal?

This is something I commonly deal with when performing a secondary facelift.  There is an art to making the earlobes look natural but it seems that many surgeons simply ignore that aspect of a facelift.  Earlobes can look natural even if deformed by prior facelift.  Also earlobes can be reduced and reshaped      with a simple procedure if the surgeon knows how.

Thanks for the question. First 24-48 hours after the operation face will be swelling. After 48 hours swelling will be decreases. Scalp area stitches are taken from the day 10. Final results may take 1 month. Patients can return to work after 1 week. The effect of gravity varies according to the aging speed and lifestyle but it provides an average permanent effect of 10 years. I wish you all the best.

I doubt the earlobe was actually enlarged. My guess is that it has been detached as a byproduct of the facelift and looks different. Would you mind posting a picture?

Without seeing a picture of yourears, it is difficult to answer your question. I am not sure you’re havingissue with swelling or you have a pixie ear. Certainly, swelling post faceliftespecially around ears may take up to 6 months to subside. Be patient and letyour surgeon handle this.

Swelling of the earlobe can persist for months and sometimes some swelling may persist forever.  Earlobes may also look larger if they have been pulled on by the facelift closure etc.  If you feel your earlobe is too big or swollen after a year, you could talk to your surgeon about a small earlobe reduction.

Hello Mona,It is not uncommon for swelling to continue as it could take tissue up to six or months to completely be healed.  Certainly, contact your surgeon or his clinical staff so they know you are still concerned with the swelling.  Good luck,Dr. Clevens

It is normal for earlobe to be swollen and it not uncommon for one side to be more swollen than the other.  Have some patience and it should improve.  Sometimes if there is an area behind the ear that has not healed well, this may cause more swelling of the earlobe. See your surgeon and check all your incisions to make sure you are healing well.

Hello Mona.  It is not unusual after only 2.5 months to have swelling of the face after facelift.  Ears always swell and can take months to get back to normal.  I always tell my patients to wait at least 3 if not up to 6 months to see what the final result will look like.  However, I do know it is difficult to be patient after surgery.  Just believe your doctor and give this more time.

Without seeing photographs or you in person, it is difficult to determine what's going on.  Certainly you are still carrying some swelling from the procedure (about 10% at this point), so I would re-evaluate the situation at about 6 months post-op to see if an earlobe procedure is necessary.  There are earlobe complications associated with facelifting, so it's best to be evaluated in person for one of those.  Most are easily corrected under local anesthesia in the office, however.  Keep following the advice of your surgeon in the meantime. 

A photo of your earlobes would be helpful to try and determine the cause of one being enlarged 2.5 months after your facelift.  Without examining you, it is difficult to know if it may be due to swelling or to the way your facelift was performed.  It may be possible to surgically improve an enlarged earlobe, but pictures or an exam would be needed to determine this.