I have swelling after my facelift. Is this normal?

Swelling after any surgical procedure is common.  After facelifting surgery there are two common looks that we see and one of them is the appearance of a "chipmunk".  This is a normal result secondary to the surgery and is expected to last anywhere from 1-2 weeks. It will also be associated with a "woody" feeling in the region in front of the ear.  This will also resolve as the recovery proceeds.  The second common look after certain types of facelifting procedures is what we describe as a "cobra" look. This is not usual for all types of facelifts but the ones where the incisions are not carried too far along the back of the ear or scalp may result in a little bit of a pulled look under on the earlobes.  This too will settle down.If the swelling is bothering you, using a light steroid such as a Medrol dose pack is reasonable and will accelerate the reduction of this "chipmunk" appearance.

Swelling of the face
is normal. The degree of swelling varies from
patient to patient. Keep your head elevated at a 45-degree angle for the first
2 weeks post facelift surgery. By 4-6 weeks, most of the major swelling will be gone.

It is perfectly normal to have some swelling after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). The tissue is thin and it doesn’t take much to initiate substantial swelling. For a typical facelift there is some initial swelling but it should not be substantial. If you note black and blue discoloration with the swelling you may be developing a hematoma (blood under the skin) that should be addressed. Stay in touch with your surgeon.

Depending on the type of procedure as well as the vicissitudes of healing from patient to patient swelling can be substantial. In general it has no effect on the long-term outcome.

Facelift swelling is usually pretty common right after srugery. How much is too much, really depends upon how you look.  If concerned, you should discuss this with your surgeon.

Thanks for your question. Significant swelling can occur following a facelift, but it depends on a few things. First, the kind of facelift matters. Subperiosteal mid face lifts can cause a LOT of swelling that can persist for a long time. If you had your eyes, brows, or nose done at the same time as your lift, your swelling will be much worse than otherwise. You will go back to normal. It will just take time.In the meanwhile, try to sleep with your head elevated- given the time when you posted your question, I bet you had just woken up. Gravity is our friend when we're dealing with post-operative swelling. Also limiting your salt intake may help. If you're concerned at all, PLEASE share your concerns with your surgeon. Give it time. I'm sure you'll have a great result.

Thanks for sharing your question.Much depends on the type of facelift procedure your surgeon performed for you.  Often, some fat grafting to the cheeks and other areas of the face is performed during face lift.  This can really improve volume and give very nice results but there could be some increase in swelling early after surgery.  At 3 days after surgery it is normal to have swelling and it should continue to improve.  Make sure to follow up with your surgeon and stay on track with good postoperative instructions.Best Wishes