Why Has My Skin Sloughed Off 2 Weeks out from Facelift? (photo)

The photo shows epidermolysis, related to a restriction in blood flow.  This area should heal well as long as appropriate measure are taken. As others have commented, smoking causes a much higher risk of skin loss after facelift and smoking cessation is essential.  I would avoid any form of compression garment, or rough handling of the skin and see your Surgeon ASAP

           The skin slough appears to be superficial and healing should be uneventful.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

You have had a severe reduction in blood flow to your cheek skin following the facelift operation. At worst this can lead to total full thickness skin loss and severe scarring; but fortunately, in your case, it appears to be only a partial thickness injury and the skin should heal.

The operation itself causes a temporary reduction in cutaneous blood flow, but this is magnified by smoking, diabetes and various technical factors. Most plastic surgeons refuse to operate on smokers and uncontrolled diabetics. Technical factors include making the skin flaps too thin and an unrecognized hematoma (bleeding) in the wound.