A member asked:

What are the risks for me from facelift?

40 doctors weighed in across 21 answers
Dr. Mike Bowman answered

Specializes in ENT and Head and Neck Surgery

Problems= uncommon: There are risks associated with any surgery, and cosmetic surgery is no exception. The good news is that problems are rare, good results are predictable, and complications are uncommon. Problems from facelift surgery include risk of infection, bleeding, reactions to anesthesia, poor scarring, and others. Be sure to ask your surgeon to go over all the risks, benefits and alternatives.

Answered 12/14/2014

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Risks are low: Typcially the risks from facelift surgery are low in the hands of an experienced surgeon. The complications may relate to the extent of the surgery. Some minimally invasive facelifts have very few problems but may acheive subtle results. More extensive procedures may increase the potential for scarring, partial or complete, temporary or permanent sensory or motor nerve compromise, hematoma, etc.

Answered 10/3/2016

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Generally safe: Nonsmokers with good baseline health are ideal candidates for facial rejuvenation surgery. Face/neck lift complications range from minor to more significant. Many improve with time or require minor treatment; others require more involved treatment or additional surgery. Main risks include scarring, loss of skin near ear, hematoma, infection, asymmetry, nerve injury, minimal improvement.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Small: The risks of facelift surgery are relatively small when performed by an experienced surgeon. The vast majority of patients have uneventful surgery. Risks include hematoma, incisional scars, temporary numbness, minor irregularity and imperfect result. Catastrophic risks such as skin loss and facial weakness are very rare indeed. Ask your doctor about their personal track record.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Dr. Barry Press answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

The usual...: There are risks that are common to all operations: bleeding, infection, anesthesia problems and death. Complications specifically associated with facelift include numbness, skin loss, and nerve damage. Fortunately , these are all very rare.

Answered 9/5/2020

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Hematoma, scarring : Most common risk after a facelift is that of blood or fluid accumulation under the skin. This is essily treatable, an long term will usually not leave any untoward effects other complications are possible but less likely including scarring, hair loss, and numbness.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Minimal: If you are healthy and prepared facelifts are safe and effective. All surgeries carry risks including bleeding, infection, anesthetic risks, nerve damage, scarring and poor wound healing. Yet, these occur in very few cases.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Facelift risks: The most common risk is bleeding or a hematoma, that occurs about 1-3% of the time. Other risks include infection, abnormal scarring, little irregularities that smooth out, bruising and swelling. Nerve damage can occur, but thankfully the risk of permanent nerve damage is extremely small. Just to warn you, your cheeks will be numb for 6-8 weeks. Best, nima shemirani.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Surgical risks: The risks are in order of importance; facial nerve damage, great auricular nerve damage, skin loss, infection, bleeding, suboptimal outcome. Then there are risks related to anesthesia in order of importance; deep vein clots going to lungs, injury to teeth, lips, neck, tongue or throat, pneumonia.

Answered 9/14/2014

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Several: A facelift is a safe procedure when performed by a skilled plastic surgeon. Risks include bleeding/ hematoma, infection, nerve injury, scarring, asymmetry, wound healing problems, and need for revision operation. Discuss your individual risks with your plastic surgeon.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Dr. Richard Galitz answered

Specializes in Facial Plastic Surgery

Facelift risks: As I do all my facelifts with simple oral sedation ( valium and ambien) and local anesthesia injections there is almost no risk to my facelifts. 95% of the risk inherent in a facelift involves either the IV sedation or the general anesthesia process. The facelift itself with an experienced surgeon such as myself is extremely safe and very comfortable, .

Answered 6/10/2014

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Facelift Risks: This is usually a safe procedure in a healthy patient. It does carry minor surgical risks such as bleeding, infection, need for revision surgery, imperfect cosmesis, wound healing problems, ear numbness, face weakness, scar, and other unforeseen consequences. That sounds scary, but these complications are not common. Discuss further with your surgeon.

Answered 9/4/2013

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Dr. Brian Maloney answered

Specializes in Facial Plastic Surgery

Facelift Risks: A facelift is a surgical procedure. In our office, patients have a history and physical prior to the procedure. The lift is performed in a fully licensed and accredited facility, under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. We place the patient on an antibiotic for the nose and the body two days before surgery. All of this sets the patient up for success.Infection, hematoma, numbness, weakness, .

Answered 7/12/2015

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Dr. Jeffrey Roth answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

Usually acceptable: There are always risks with any surgery. The most common are bleeding, infection and anesthesia complication. Make sure your experienced and well trained surgeon controls for all of these variables. Make sure you tell him/her your complete health history, including other surgeries and meds so that you both can determine acceptable risk. Usually facelifts are very safe.

Answered 3/9/2014

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Dr. Thomas Fiala answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

Facelift risks: Include: scars, bleeding and hematoma, infection, numbness, nerve injury, anesthesia-related issues, cosmetic dissatisfaction, need for future surgery, and so forth. Best to see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area who has excellent before and after photos to review the topic with you.

Answered 8/26/2014

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Risks are low: The number one way to reduce risks is to choose an experienced surgeon. Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon that does at least 100 facelifts a year. Common risks for a healthy 44 year old are bleeding

Answered 8/23/2014

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Dr. Michael Kulick answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

Facelift risks: Some of this depends on your health. Assuming you are in good health, the usual risks of infection, bleeding (hematoma), seroma (clear fluid under your skin), skin loss, visible scars and nerve damage are the most common. There is also the component of patient satisfaction of the final result that comes into play.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Facelift risks: There are many different types of facelifts that carry different risks including bleeding, infection, nerve damage, scarring issues. Your best bet would be to have your face evaluated by a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Answered 11/21/2014

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Dr. Larry Nichter answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

Facelift risks: Facelift risks including bleeding, infection, anesthetic risks, prominent scars, nerve damage (numbness or weakness), scarring and poor wound healing among others. In the hands of a board certified plastic surgeon, these risks are very unusual.

Answered 7/12/2015

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Risking Facelift: Others have given great answers about the medical risks of facelifting. The main risk with any cosmetic surgery is that your results won't match your expectations. Here is where an experienced surgeon will talk to you about the limits of what surgery can do. Photo imaging is sometimes helpful to show on your photos what kind of results to expect, and not to expect.

Answered 1/12/2015

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Dr. Louis Gallia answered

Specializes in Surgery - Oral & Maxillofacial

Very safe: Very safe. For personalized attention, seek a consult from a FACIAL plastic surgeon. After exam, the doc will explain everything in great detail

Answered 7/12/2015

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