A facelift, like any surgery, carries some risk of complications.  Your plastic surgeon should not operate if the patient is susceptible to facelift complications.  Some of the potential complications include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection
• Scaring
• Asymmetry or change in hairline
• Injury to facial nerves, temporary and permanent

Communicate With Your Plastic Surgeon

Patients can minimize complications from occurring by disclosing to their surgeon any preexisting conditions or medications they take and following their surgeons instructions carefully.  Also, talk to the anesthesiologist working with the surgeon about any previous allergies to medications.  This is important because many complications during surgery are due to interactions with pain controlling drugs as part of the anesthesia.  It is important to follow the instructions your surgeon has given you regarding when you should follow up at an office visit.  At office visits, the surgeon can make sure you do not have any infections.  He can also drain excess fluid in order to prevent excessive swelling.

Choose an Experienced Plastic Surgeon

Equally important is the surgeon you chose to perform a facelift.  Ask how much experience the surgeon has in performing a facelift.  Make sure your surgeon has the appropriate qualifications for performing plastic surgery such as licensure and board certification.  Also, patients should be aware of any potential risks of the procedure before agreeing to have surgery.  Please talk to your board certified, licensed plastic surgeon regarding the risk of complication from a facelift.