Facelift Side Effects

National trends in cosmetic surgical procedures have consistently showed that facelifts are one of the top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 128,000 facelift procedures were performed by ASPS surgeon members in 2014. This fact has certainly been true for Jefferson Plastic Surgery, which counts facelifts among its most often requested surgical procedures.

Prospective facelift patients are almost always seeking a way to rejuvenate their facial appearance to look more refreshed and youthful. Although a facelift might seem to be a quick way for patients to achieve this desired result, there may be some side effects during the healing process. The type and severity of side effects can depend upon the type of facelift procedure. Obviously, the more extensive the facelift procedure, the greater the risk for more severe side effects. However, there are still some general side effects for all facelift techniques.

Scarring

Similar to bleeding or infection, scarring is another side effect that will occur following any surgical procedure. The surgeon will make every effort to hide the incisions by placing them just in front of the hairline or under the natural folds of the chin. In order to reduce the amount and severity of scarring, patients should keep any bandages or dressings clean and dry. The incision sites should not be touched until they have fully healed over. Patients may find that silicone sheeting will help hide the appearance of scars, as well as help them flatten out.

Bruising and Swelling

Both bruising and swelling are part of the body’s natural defense system attempting to protect itself from further damage whenever the skin is cut open. Patients should expect a certain amount of bruising and swelling for the first one to two weeks following a facelift procedure, depending upon the amount of work needed to achieve the desired results.

Patients will often be sent home from the surgery center with a compression bandage that is tightly wound around the face and head. This bandage will help reduce bruising and swelling. Taking the herb Arnica montana, as well as applying ice and cold compresses to the incision areas will also help reduce the amount and duration of bruising and swelling.

While there may also be other, less common side effects such as hair loss at the incision sites or facial nerve injury, it is important for patients to know what to expect from the more common side effects following a facelift procedure.

Pain

It is common for patients to experience some degree of discomfort in the days after surgery. In most cases, pain can be managed with medications and rest, and the level of discomfort subsides with each day that passes.

Bleeding

Bleeding is a possible side effect of any surgical procedure. Patients will usually experience this for the first few days following a facelift surgery. However, bleeding after a facelift procedure will generally not be severe enough to warrant treatment. If patients experience particularly heavy bleeding, they should see their surgeon immediately to have the condition of the incisions evaluated.