What are risks of a face lift?

Hematoma, etc.: A hematoma is a collection of blood/clot under the skin. Since a facelift essentially lifts up an area of skin, then excess skin is tailored out, before sewing the edges together, the space under skin can collect blood/clot. This is the most common complication. The short list is: bleeding, infection, numbness, facial paralysis, assymetry, poor cosmetic outcome, and possible revision surgery.

Many but not common: There are many risks which sound intimindating but fortunately these are not common and include the possibility of infection, bleeding, wound breakdown, pain, numbness, tingling, partial or complete, temporary or permanent sensory and/or motor nerve injury, loss of hair in scar line, over correction, under correction, asymmetry, need for subsequent secondary revisionary procedures, and more...

Uncommon: As with any surgery; infection, bleeding, wound healing, pain, numbness, tingling, permanent sensory and/or motor nerve injury, can occur. Smoking can increase risks. Anesthesia risks are present with any surgery. As with cosmetic procedures: over correction, under correction, asymmetry can occur related to the art of cosmetic procedures. With experienced surgeons, risks are limited with face.

Low: Like any surgery bleeding, infection, nausea, scarring, nerve damage, blood clot, poor wound healing, asymmetry, continued aging.

Scarring, hematoma: Performed by a knowledgeable plastic surgeon, a facelift is a safe procedure. The most common complication is a hematoma, a collection of blood under the surface of your skin. Other complications are poor scarring, infection and rarely nerve damage. Often initial damage to a nerve resolves over 6 months.

When performed by...: An expert, the risks are small. They include: scarring that is worse than expected, numbness of the skin in the lifted areas, bleeding, infection, nerve injury, asymmetry, recurrent laxity, secondary surgery, cosmetic dissatisfaction, wound healing problems, etc.

Hematoma: 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.

Risks: Every surgery has risks and benefits. Risks of face lifts include but are not limited to bleeding, infection, scarring, nerve issues, asymmetries. Be sure to have your face evaluated by a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Overall safe: but the commonest complications not attributable to anesthesia are hemorrhage, skin necrosis and nerve injury resulting in paralysis or numbness, and dissatisfaction with result. Most of these arte easily ameliorated if they do happen.