What is wrong with my cheek after Deep Plane Facelift? Gouge through cheek, lumpy and hollowed out (Photo)

Question

I'm 6 months post op from only a Deep Plane Facelift. (I don't have filler or fat transfer). My right cheek has a long gouge from ear through Apple and then down like a piece of pie cut out of my cheek (like a knife gouge). It's now hollow in that area as if fat was cut through. My 3/4 view looks sunken in and flat. (My BEFORE photo is first. Cheeks were full before surgery.) Surgeon isn't helping me. Is it possible fat was accidentally cut through on dissection? Or something else ? Thank u!

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

It appears the skin was not adequately separated from the underlying muscle. I have seen this before in deep plane lifts. Should be simple to correct

Carey Nease, MD · Answer

It looks like you lost some superficial fat (just under the skin) in the indented area on your right cheek. This can happen with any surgery, especially if electrocautery was used to either lift the skin or more likely to cauterize a small blood vessel to stop the bleeding. The easiest fix is fat transfer to that area. You could also get some filler placed to help even out the area. Hope that is helpful!

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

I would recommend seeing a board certified (American Board of Plastic Surgery) plastic surgeon with experience in facial aesthetics. It is difficulty to determine what is exactly going on by the photos listed. Sometimes this can be persistent edema from injury to the lymphatics that drain the lower eyelid / upper face. Sometimes there can also be overaggressive suture suspension with permanent sutures that can cause strange deformities.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Your post of photos demonstrate the more to common complication of doing deep plain facelift when re-locating muscles can cause denting in the subdural and skin around the cheek/malar area. This will not correct itself. Best option is skin only anterior facelift to dissect the skin and subcutaneous tissue off the denting muscle and then fat into the muscle to release the. Sometimes filler sculptra injections could improve. Best to virtual consult with expect fees to rain from $5000-$15,000.

What is wrong with my cheek after Deep Plane Facelift? Gouge through cheek, lumpy and hollowed out (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Post deep, plain facelift cheek indentation due to the surgery

Answer: Post deep, plain facelift cheek indentation due to the surgery

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Everything you need to know about Deep Plane Facelift

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What is wrong with my cheek after Deep Plane Facelift? Gouge through cheek, lumpy and hollowed out (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Post deep, plain facelift cheek indentation due to the surgery

Answer: Post deep, plain facelift cheek indentation due to the surgery

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Deep Plane Facelift

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