Should the Wound Be Draining After 3.5 Weeks?

Thank you for your question. At 3.5 weeks, things should be healed.  You may have a small infection and the drainage should be cultured.  If there is no bacteria, it could be a suture abscess and could take some time to fully dissolve. I hope this helps.

In general, the side effects of a facelift are the following:



1) Swelling


2) Bruising


3) Asymmetry


4) Bleeding



After 3.5 weeks, it is not normal to have a yellow discharge, and this may be a sign of infection. To answer your question, the wound should be closed by now.  But it is not abnormal for the area to still be tender. I would recommend following up with your surgeon as soon as possible. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.


Typically there should be no further drainage after the first week of healing following a facelift.  It would be important returned your surgeon to find out why this is the case than one treatment is necessary.

From your description my guess is that you have some compromised skin behind the ear. This usually heals itself with proper wound toilet. Your surgeon should have brought this to your attention.

At this point, there should not be any drainage from the incisions. Please see your surgeon so that this can be examined.