Facelift Cosmetic Surgery Risks | Denver Facelift Surgery

In any discussion or recitation of risks, not every conceivable risk or potential consequence can be addressed.The ones that are mentioned are those that can occur with some relative frequency. Besides the general risks associated with any surgical procedure, there are the risks that are unique to each specific surgery. In the case of Rhytidectomy (facelift), among the specific risks are:

Risks & Complications - All surgeries are associated with some risks. These relate to the potential for complications and untoward events during or after a surgical procedure.

We can think of these in two groups:

General Risks - risks that are common to all operations
Specific Risks - those that are unique to a particular surgery.

General Risks include:

Bleeding
Infection
Scarring
Swelling
Bruising
Anesthetic risks

Specific Risks include:

Skin loss/slough
Hair loss
Numbness
Nerve injury causing paralysis
Asymmetry
Dissatisfaction with cosmetic result

Skin loss or slough - When areas of skin do not receive their normal and necessary blood supply, they can die. In this process, the skin will blister and peel and may develop a sore, ulcer, or hard scab. It needs to be treated and protected until either it heals on its own or is surgically closed. It is an uncommon problem. However, in cigarette smokers, people using nicotine products (patches and gum), or those who have recently stopped smoking, the risk of skin loss is much higher.

Hair loss - The hair around the incisions may fall out or thin out just because of the trauma and "stress" of surgery and anesthesia. This is usually temporary, and the hair grows back on its own. It may be helped by the use of Rogaine.

Numbness - Wherever an incision is made and the skin lifted, many tiny nerve fibers that provide feeling are divided. This creates numbness. The numbness usually resolves to a great extent over time. However, there may be a degree of numbness that is permanent.

Nerve injury causing paralysis - Moving, repositioning, and tightening facial skin and muscles and their associated nerve fibers can cause some small branches to stop functioning. While this is usually temporary and returns spontaneously in a period of weeks to months, it can occasionally be permanent. Rarely are nerves associated with movement accidentally cut. Fortunately, this is very uncommon.

Asymmetry - When we look at the human face and body closely, we find that the left and right sides are not exactly the same. They are not exact mirror images of one another. This asymmetry is normal. Cosmetic plastic surgery generally cannot correct natural asymmetry. Therefore, you should not be surprised if there is still asymmetry following your facelift.

Dissatisfaction with cosmetic result - This "risk" is one that is common to all cosmetic operations. Because it is truly subjective, it is not clear-cut and definitive, as are the aforementioned risks and complications. Since "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", it is possible that what the surgeon feels is the cosmetic result planned and expected does not agree with the patient's own expectations. This is why thorough, in-depth discussions between doctor and patient are extremely important in cosmetic surgery. There must be an understanding of realistic and reasonable expectations and the range of result that will be considered satisfactory. When the outcome is significantly different from what the surgeon and patient expected, where alteration is possible, it will probably be done. Fortunately, with the right kind of patient and doctor selection and interaction, this risk is minimized.