Complications of a Facelift or Neck Lift

• Asymmetry: This is usually a result of preexisting asymmetry where one cheek bone is higher than the other or the underlying jaw line is asymmetrical. Sometimes the neck structures and muscles can be larger on one side of the neck than the other.
• Bleeding: Excessive postoperative bleeding can occur after a facelift and would need to be addressed in the immediate postoperative phase. This is very rare, but it happens approximately 2-3% of the time. If this should occur, sometimes the incision has to be opened up, the bleeding cauterized and the incision re-sewn together.
• Infection is extremely rare after a facelift or neck lift. It is more common in smokers. Patients are given antibiotics to prevent this.
• Numbness: There will be some numbness around the ears and in the chin area, but this goes away 99% of the time and is usually not an issue. This can sometimes take up to six to eight weeks to go away.
• Motor nerve loss: Permanent motor nerve loss is much less than 1%. This can be caused from a stretching of the nerve, usually in the lower lip. This is usually temporary.
• Healing: On a rare occasion, there are some nonhealing areas behind the ears that eventually heal more white in the surrounding tissue. These are usually related to smoking or poor healing.

POSTOPERATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Following the facelift or the neck lift procedure, patients return to Dr. Portuese’s office at the Seattle Facelift Medical Center approximately two days after the surgery to have the drains removed. Examination of the face is performed and the incisions are cleaned by Dr. Portuese. He will make sure that all tissues on the face and neck are healing quite well and the drains are removed. Drains have been sutured in place and the sutures are removed and the drain is slipped out. Approximately two to three days later the stitches are removed. Some of the sutures are dissolvable and they are left in place to dissolve. Patients return in approximately two weeks from this appointment to monitor their postoperative course and answer all questions. Patients are able to put makeup on after the sutures are removed at approximately one week, but it does take approximately several months for the full healing process to take effect. Dr. Portuese asks that patients be very patient with regard to the healing of their new face and neck.

CONCLUSION

Dr. William Portuese and his office staff have performed thousands of successful facelift, neck lift, and mini lift surgeries. The goal of the Seattle Facelift Center is to fully educate patients and prepare them for what is often a lifetime dream of changing their face to match how they feel. Facelift and neck lift surgery is one of the most gratifying surgeries for Dr. William Portuese and his patients and staff. We look forward to taking good care of our patients through this process.

© copywrited William Portuese MD, 2007/8