Over the years, facelift cosmetic surgery techniques have become more advanced, and the procedure is now safer and involves lesser downtime.
But similar to any plastic surgery procedure, facelift also has some inherent risks. In the hands of a highly trained and experienced facelift surgeon, these risks are significantly minimized.
Judicious board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom provides facelift surgery to patients in Chicago, IL, and surrounding locations in The Land of Lincoln.
Potential Risks
Some of the common risks associated with facelift surgery include:
Adverse Anesthesia Response
Anesthesia is a safe procedure but still poses risks in rare cases. In case a patient suffers from a pre-existing health condition that makes them susceptible to a poor response, it is vital to plan for it beforehand and consider alternatives. The anesthesiologist should be in attendance throughout the procedure to oversee the patient’s reaction to anesthesia.
Infection
In some cases, a bacterial infection may develop during or after the facelift surgery. The surgical facility must follow stringent hygiene standards and maintain a sterile surgical environment to minimize this risk. After the surgery, the patient should avoid exposing the incision areas to contaminants to prevent infection development.
Hematoma
Some patients may experience bleeding under the skin following a facelift. This can cause inflammation, pain, and discoloration in the impacted site. The patient may require revision surgery in severe cases of bleeding. The surgeon will minimize this risk by placing temporary drain pipes beneath the skin to accumulate excess fluid.
Nerve Damage
In rare cases, a facial nerve may sustain a cut or a nick during the facelift surgery. This may lead to numbness or partial paralysis of the face. This damage is not permanent in most cases. The surgeon should follow a conservative approach and prioritize the patient’s health and safety over their aesthetic desires to minimize this risk.
Scarring
After a facelift plastic surgery procedure, some level of scarring is inevitable. However, an experienced surgeon will place incisions discreetly. Small scars may become conspicuous if the incisions are not properly hidden behind the ear or in the hair.
Other Risks
Poor wound healing and loss of natural facial skin in a specific treated site are other risks associated with facelift surgery. There may be temporary or permanent hair loss at the incision site. The accumulation of blood or fluid during the recovery process may cause infection. The scars may become more apparent in some cases.
Other risks include persistent inflammation in the treated sites, constant pain and discomfort, skin irregularities, discoloration of the skin in the treated area, and complications with sutures. Rarely, cardiac and pulmonary complications or deep vein thrombosis may develop.
Minimizing the Risk
A sagacious and focused cosmetic surgeon will usually invest in best practices and high-quality standards, adopt advanced technology and techniques, pursue ongoing education, and follow the latest safety protocols.
On their part, the patient should dedicatedly follow the surgeon’s pre and post-op guidelines for a safe and predictable facelift procedure. Committed cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, and other cities and towns in this region of the nation for facelift.