Facelift Revision
While a facelift is a proven and effective surgical procedure, it involves specific risks similar to any cosmetic surgery. At the time of pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will discuss the potential risks with the patient to help them make an informed decision.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify provides facelift revision surgery to patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding communities.
Common Risks
Facelift surgery can turn back the clock by treating saggy skin, tightening facial muscles and improving the contours of the face. However, it can also lead to issues such as:
- Adverse response to anesthesia: Anesthesia is safe for a majority of patients. But patients suffering from underlying medical conditions may be at-risk for stroke, heart attack and other severe problems.
- Infection: Every surgery has a certain risk of infection. But when the surgeons and the surgical venues follow the correct sanitation protocols, this risk is negligible.
- Hematoma: If the patient suffers bleeding underneath the skin, it can be very uncomfortable for them as well as lead to inflammation and discoloration of the skin. The only solution to this problem is surgical intervention.
- Nerve damage: In exceptional cases, the surgery may cause a nerve to be cut, cauterized or nicked leading to facial paralysis or numbness. However, when this does happen, the adverse outcomes may resolve over time.
- Visible scarring: A facelift always involves some scarring. However, the scarring is discreet in most cases. On occasion, there may be some mild marks that are not hidden behind in the hair or behind the ear.
Patients should evaluate the potential risks and benefits of a revision facelift plastic surgery before deciding to undergo the procedure.
Minimizing Risks
Complications arising from facelift surgery are uncommon. However, patients can undertake some things to mitigate the risk from the procedure even more. Firstly, patients should select a highly-trained cosmetic surgeon.
Secondly, they should be forthcoming and honest with their surgeon about their medical history, smoking, and drug use. Withholding such information may lead to severe complications that are otherwise avoidable.
Furthermore, the patient should be prepared to follow the surgeon’s pre and post-operative guidelines diligently. Lastly, it is vital to stop smoking a couple of weeks before and after the facelift procedure. Patients who do not follow these instructions have a higher chance of developing difficulties in healing, noticeable scarring, and unfavorable outcomes.
Safety Data
People concerned about the complications enlisted above should be aware that these problems occur exceptionally rarely. Most patients experience a smooth procedure, rapid recovery, and desirable aesthetic outcomes.
Hematoma
Researchers indicate that hematoma is the most common complication following facelift surgery. It affects one to three percent of females and seven to nine percent of males. The risk for hematoma development is apparently higher for men. Other reasons that may increase the chance of developing a hematoma are smoking, using NSAIDs or aspirin, and high blood pressure.
Nerve Damage
The second most common facelift surgery risk is the dreaded complication of nerve damage. Fortunately, the rates of nerve damage after this surgery are low. Only 0.5 to 2.6% of all facelift patients suffer nerve paralysis.
Judicious cosmetic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify receives patients from Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and nearby areas for facelift revision surgery.
See more procedures and treatments by plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify in Newport Beach, Orange County, Irvine, Anaheim, Fullerton, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA and surrounding areas.
