What Are the Risks of Facelift Surgery?
Understanding the risks of facelift surgery helps you make an informed decision. Here is an honest overview.
Facelift surgery is very safe when performed by a board-certified surgeon, but like any surgery, it carries potential risks.
- Common side effects (expected, temporary):
- Swelling and bruising (peaks at 2β3 days, improves over 2 weeks)
- Numbness or altered sensation in the cheeks and ears (temporary)
- Tightness in the face and neck
- Discomfort around incision sites
- Temporary difficulty smiling or making facial expressions
- Less common complications:
- Hematoma β a collection of blood under the skin (the most common complication, occurs in 1β3% of cases, more often in men)
- Infection β rare, treated with antibiotics
- Poor scarring β thickened or widened scars
- Nerve injury β temporary or, very rarely, permanent weakness of facial muscles
- Skin loss β small areas of skin may not heal well (more common in smokers)
- Asymmetry β minor differences between sides
- Hair loss β around incision sites (usually temporary)
How Risks Are Minimized
- Choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon
- Not smoking (smoking is the biggest risk factor)
- Discontinuing blood-thinning medications
- Following pre-and post-operative instructions carefully
- Being honest about your medical history
When to Call Your Surgeon
- Contact your surgeon immediately if you experience:
- Sudden swelling or worsening pain on one side
- Bleeding that does not stop
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
Clinical Guidance
Facelift surgery is safe, with hematoma (1β3%) and infection being the most common complications. Choosing an experienced, board-certified surgeon and not smoking significantly reduce your risk. Most side effects are temporary and expected.