Facelift Risks:
what you need to know

Every surgical procedure carries a certain level of risk. This article is not trying to talk you out of a facelift — it is trying to give you enough information to make a decision with full understanding.

Transient effects that are not complications

It is important to distinguish normal, transient effects from actual complications. The following accompany almost every recovery and do not mean anything has gone wrong:

• Swelling and bruising — an inevitable part of recovery, resolving over two to four weeks
• Numbness and altered skin sensation — nerves are temporarily disrupted by the procedure; sensation gradually returns
• A feeling of tightness — tissue has been repositioned and the face "adjusts" to its new position
• Asymmetry in early recovery — swelling does not resolve symmetrically and is not an indicator of the final result
• Pink scars — a normal part of the maturation process that fades over several months

Less common complications

These occur in a smaller number of patients and in the vast majority of cases are successfully treated.

Haematoma

An accumulation of blood beneath the skin that requires drainage. The most common facelift complication overall. Risk is reduced through careful pre-operative preparation — stopping medications that affect coagulation, abstaining from nicotine — and experienced surgical technique.

Infection

Rare, but possible. Recognised by increasing redness, warmth, and pain that does not subside. Treated with antibiotics and, in rare cases, requiring further intervention.

Healing problems

Most commonly associated with smoking, diabetes, or poor tissue perfusion. The Deep Plane technique has an advantage here — the skin remains attached to the deeper layers and better perfused than with superficial techniques that separate the skin from its base.

Rare complications

Worth knowing about, though their incidence is low in the hands of an experienced surgeon specialising in facial surgery.

Temporary facial nerve weakness

The facial nerve passes through the operative area. A transient reduction in movement of individual muscles is possible in early recovery. Permanent nerve injury is extremely rare when the procedure is performed by a surgeon with detailed knowledge of facial nerve anatomy and experience working in that space.

Visible or problematic scars

With carefully planned incisions and tension-free closure, scars are minimal and hidden along the ear margin or in the hairline. Poor healing is more common in smokers and certain skin types — which is assessed in advance, at consultation.

Asymmetry

Faces are not symmetrical even before the procedure. The procedure may highlight existing asymmetries or, in rare cases, create a new one. Detailed consultation and photographic analysis before the procedure minimise this.

How the choice of surgeon and technique affects risk

• Specialisation — a surgeon who works exclusively in facial surgery operates in this space every day
• Technique — the Deep Plane technique preserves skin perfusion, reducing the risk of healing complications compared with superficial techniques
• Pre-operative preparation — stopping nicotine, managing chronic conditions, adjusting medications
• Post-operative care — regular follow-up appointments and monitoring of recovery

What we discuss at consultation

At the consultation we go through your health status, medications you take, habits, and all factors that may affect the safety of the procedure. The goal is not only an aesthetic assessment — but a realistic assessment of whether the procedure is safe and the right choice for you at this point in time.

If we assess that there is an elevated risk due to health reasons, we will tell you. Sometimes the answer is "wait" or "change something first." That is part of responsible surgery.

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