Why has my necklift and facelift failed after 3 months post-op? (photos)

Question

I asked my PS for a necklift and he explained that it wouldn't work without a full face lift. From his brochure and explanations, I thought he meant a deep plane lift or a SMAS for the face and a platysmaplasty for the neck. When I noticed after 6 weeks that I was getting folds back next to my mouth, jowls and sagging skin at my neck I asked my PS and he told me he gave me a "modified MACS" and platysmaplasty & removed excess skin. I also had 2 large hematomas on my left cheek and neck.UPDATE 01/04/2018 - "before" photos added

P. Daniel Ward, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult post operative course. Hematoma can happen after facelift and can definitely prolong the recovery. Your photos and results would be able to be better evaluated if you would be able to submit some photos from before the surgery. Without those photos, evaluating your results is not possible.Good luck as you continue along in the healing process.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

and making assumptions of how something was going to be done is simply wrong as those things should be covered during the consultation process.  If your surgeon said he was going to do your procedure one way, there is really no reason to change the technique midstream after the procedure was started as the only reason to change would be encountering some anatomic issues that precluded the planned procedure from being done as planned.  Your surgeon needs to clarify what is meant by a 'modified MACS' as the MACS is more of a mini-lift but when combined with a neck lift, it adds up to a facelift so technically you did receive a full facelift.  Unfortunately yours was complicated by the hematoma and if it was huge on presentation, an open exploration and evacuation was needed to manage it.  Smaller, isolated venous hematomas can be aspirated with pressure dressings applied for resolution.  At this point, you don't really have other options except to allow for further healing and hopefully further improvement and when you are considered completely healed by your surgeon (usually within 6 months from surgery), you should have the opportunity to critique your outcome against your before photos and options should be provided to you under your surgeon's revision policy.  Whether you need a complete redo depends on what your final outcome is and hopefully your surgeon will be completely honest with his assessment with your input.

Why has my necklift and facelift failed after 3 months post-op? (photos)

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Why has my necklift and facelift failed after 3 months post-op? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about MACS Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.