What You Need to Know About Facelift Side Effects

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Chacon has excellent reputation in performing facelift procedures in San Diego and neighboring areas. Aside from being well-informed about the latest surgical techniques in the procedure, he is also fully committed to helping patients recover well from the procedure and avoid or lessen the occurrence of face lift side effects.

Here at our practice, setting realistic expectations of your chosen procedure is one of the most important things we discuss during personal consultations. In a face lift procedure, knowledge of the possible side effects and what to do in case they occur is often discussed beforehand.

Common Face Lift Side Effects

First of all, it should be noted that most face lift side effects are not dangerous but are rather mild in occurrence. Second, there’s a huge difference between side effects and complications. The latter rarely happens as long as great care following surgery is practiced.

The following are the most common face lift side effects:

• Bruising and Swelling – These side effects are obviously noticeable during the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery but will gradually subside for the next 10 to 14 days. Both bruising and swelling are natural body responses and is actually a part of the healing process. You can sleep with your head slightly elevated  for a couple of days to reduce swelling. In addition, you might want to avoid activities that involve a lot of bending forward.
• Pain and Discomfort – Mild to moderate pain is normal for a couple of days following surgery. This can be easily alleviated with oral pain relievers.
• Tingling or Numbness Around the Surgical Site – Several face lift patients have reported tingling or numbness in the surgical site and neighboring areas of the face. These side effects are quite normal and will most likely subside over the next few weeks.
• Scarring – Scarring is a reality of plastic surgery. In a face lift procedure, the scar will appear pink or red for the first few months and will gradually turn into a less obvious white color. Choosing a highly experienced face lift surgeon is one of the key elements to scarring that is less noticeable (such as making an incision just above the hairline which makes it mostly hidden) following surgery.

Strict adherence to pre-face lift and post-face lift instructions is crucial to reduce the severity of the aforementioned adverse effects.

What to Expect from Your Facelift at Divino Plastic Surgery

Many of our patients who had a full facelift surgery at Divino Plastic Surgery can attest to the dramatic impact it had on their self-image and confidence. In addition to offering a full facelift surgery option, we offer a mini-facelift procedure, which for some, is all that’s needed to help you look several years younger. Dr. Chacon will discuss all of your options when he meets with you during your consultation.

Get in touch with us by calling 858-633-7546 or fill out this contact form today to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Chacon. We look forward to your visit!