If you're considering a facelift, you've probably asked yourself one important question: Is facelift surgery safe?

The short answer is yes. When performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, facelift surgery is considered very safe. However, like any surgical procedure, it carries potential risks that every patient should understand before making a decision.

Understanding those risks doesn't mean expecting complications. Instead, it helps you make an informed decision and understand the steps your surgical team takes to minimize them. Modern anesthesia, careful patient selection, advanced surgical techniques, and following your surgeon's instructions before and after surgery all play an important role in achieving a safe procedure and a smooth recovery.

Below, we'll answer the most common questions patients ask about facelift risks, anesthesia, bleeding, scarring, nerve injury, and recovery.

Quick Answer

For most healthy patients, a facelift is a safe and highly successful procedure that can provide natural-looking, long-lasting rejuvenation. Before surgery, your surgeon will carefully evaluate your health, discuss your goals, explain the procedure, and review any potential risks so you can make an informed decision with confidence.

Table of Contents

• Is Facelift Surgery Safe?
• Is Anesthesia Safe During a Facelift?
• How Do Surgeons Prevent Bleeding During a Facelift?
• What Is a Hematoma After a Facelift?
• How Is Infection Prevented?
• Will I Have Visible Scars After a Facelift?
• Can a Facelift Cause Nerve Damage?
• Can a Facelift Cause Hair Loss?
• How Long Do Bruising and Swelling Last?
• How Can I Reduce My Risk of Facelift Complications?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is Facelift Surgery Safe?

One of the first questions many patients ask is whether a facelift is safe.

Like any cosmetic surgery, a facelift carries general surgical risks that include anesthesia, blood clots, bleeding, infection, and scarring. These are not unique to facelift surgery. They are risks associated with nearly every operative procedure.

Fortunately, advances in patient care have significantly improved surgical safety. Before surgery, your plastic surgeon will review your medical history, medications, and overall health to determine whether additional laboratory work or medical clearance is necessary.

Every patient's medical history is different. Taking the time to evaluate your health before surgery is one of the most important steps in minimizing complications and ensuring you're an appropriate candidate for a facelift.

Is Anesthesia Safe During a Facelift?

Another common concern is anesthesia.

Most facelift procedures are performed using propofol-based intravenous anesthesia. Because patients are not inhaling anesthetic gas, many experience less postoperative nausea and a smoother recovery.

With proper preoperative preparation, anesthesia is very safe.

One of the most important instructions patients receive is not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Arriving with an empty stomach significantly reduces anesthesia-related risks and is an essential part of preparing for your procedure.

Carefully following all preoperative instructions helps your surgical team provide the safest possible experience.

How Do Surgeons Prevent Bleeding During a Facelift?

Bleeding is another concern patients frequently ask about before facelift surgery.

One of the simplest ways to reduce this risk begins before surgery even starts.

Patients are generally asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, and other blood-thinning medications approximately two weeks before surgery unless otherwise directed by the physician who prescribed them. This allows the body's normal clotting mechanism to function properly during surgery.

Modern facelift surgery also uses several techniques to minimize bleeding throughout the procedure.

Before surgery begins, the cheeks and neck are injected with lidocaine containing epinephrine. Epinephrine causes the blood vessels to constrict, helping reduce bleeding during surgery.

Tranexamic acid is also used because it promotes clotting within the surgical area where it is injected.

After surgery, a compression dressing is applied around the cheeks and neck. Temporary drains are typically placed overnight to remove excess fluid while helping the skin adhere back to the underlying tissues.

These measures work together to reduce bleeding and support the healing process.

What Is a Hematoma After a Facelift?

One of the specific risks associated with a facelift is a hematoma.

To understand why a hematoma can occur, it helps to understand what happens during surgery.

During a facelift, the skin of the face and neck is elevated, creating a temporary space underneath until the tissues heal back together. If bleeding occurs within that space, blood can collect beneath the skin, creating swelling known as a hematoma.

Although hematomas are uncommon, they are one of the complications surgeons monitor for most closely after surgery.

The combination of careful surgical technique, medications that help reduce bleeding, compression dressings, and temporary drains all help minimize the likelihood of a hematoma developing.

Patients also play an important role by following postoperative instructions, avoiding strenuous activity during recovery, and immediately notifying their surgeon if they notice excessive swelling or discomfort.

How Is Infection Prevented During a Facelift?

Infection is uncommon after a facelift, but preventing infection is an important part of every surgical procedure.

Before entering the operating room, patients receive a prophylactic dose of intravenous antibiotics. This allows the antibiotic to circulate in the bloodstream throughout the procedure and helps protect against bacteria during surgery.

Depending on the procedure and the patient's individual needs, oral antibiotics may also be prescribed after surgery to provide additional protection during the early stages of healing.

Along with antibiotics, maintaining a sterile surgical environment and carefully following postoperative wound care instructions help minimize the risk of infection.

Will I Have Visible Scars After a Facelift?

One of the most common questions patients ask is whether a facelift will leave noticeable scars.

The reality is that there are no scarless surgeries. Every surgical procedure requires an incision. The goal is not to eliminate scars, but to place them where they are as inconspicuous as possible.

Facelift incisions are carefully hidden within the natural creases around the ears and earlobes, making them difficult to see once healed.

Behind the ear is where the greatest amount of tension is placed because the skin of the neck is repositioned during surgery. If a scar becomes thicker than expected, it most commonly occurs in this location.

Occasionally, a thicker scar can be treated with a steroid injection. In rare cases, a minor scar revision may be recommended. Fortunately, scars behind the ear are typically well concealed by the hair while they continue to mature.

Like all scars, facelift incisions continue to improve over time. Following your surgeon's postoperative scar care instructions can help optimize healing.

Can a Facelift Cause Nerve Damage?

Another common concern is whether a facelift can affect the nerves of the face.

The answer is that nerves are an important consideration during facelift surgery, but understanding the difference between the two types of facial nerves helps explain what patients can expect.

There are sensory nerves, which allow you to feel touch, and motor nerves, which control facial movement.

What Happens to the Sensory Nerves?

Because the skin is elevated during a facelift, the sensory nerves are temporarily separated from the skin.

As a result, it is completely normal to experience areas of numbness across the cheeks and neck after surgery.

The neck generally regains sensation more quickly than the cheeks because of the way it is segmentally innervated.

Even several months after surgery, some patients notice that the area in front of the ears still does not feel completely normal. This is a typical part of recovery, and sensation continues to improve as healing progresses.

Temporary numbness is expected and should not be mistaken for permanent nerve damage.

What Happens to the Motor Nerves?

Motor nerves are responsible for moving the muscles of the face.

Fortunately, these nerves lie much deeper than the area where facelift surgery is performed. They travel within the parotid gland before exiting to supply the facial muscles from underneath.

There is, however, one nerve along the jawline that can occasionally be stretched during surgery.

This nerve controls the muscle that lowers the corner of the mouth during a smile. If this muscle appears weaker after surgery, it may indicate that the nerve has been stretched rather than permanently injured.

One study from New York University found that 97% of these temporary nerve injuries recovered completely within one year without additional surgery.

While surgeons monitor this carefully throughout recovery, permanent injury is uncommon.

Can a Facelift Cause Hair Loss?

Patients occasionally ask whether a facelift causes hair loss.

In most cases, the answer is no.

Hair follicles located directly along an incision may occasionally be affected, particularly during secondary facelift procedures or if an incision is poorly positioned near the hairline.

However, widespread hair loss is not considered a typical complication of facelift surgery.

Careful incision placement helps preserve the natural hairline while minimizing visible scars.

Does Smoking Increase the Risk of Complications?

Although not every patient smokes, it is important to understand the impact nicotine can have on healing after a facelift.

Smoking and nicotine products reduce blood flow to the skin, making it more difficult for tissues to heal properly. This can increase the risk of delayed wound healing, skin loss, infection, and more noticeable scarring.

If you smoke or use nicotine products, your surgeon will discuss when they should be stopped before and after surgery to help reduce these risks.

How Long Do Bruising and Swelling Last After a Facelift?

Bruising and swelling are a normal part of recovery after facelift surgery.

Immediately after surgery, it's common to experience swelling and bruising around the face and neck. As bruising heals, it often changes from dark purple or blue to green and yellow before gradually fading away. Gravity may also cause bruising to travel downward into the neck during the healing process.

For most patients, bruising improves significantly within the first two weeks. Swelling continues to improve over several weeks, and subtle swelling may continue to resolve for several months.

Following your surgeon's postoperative instructions, wearing your compression garment as directed, and attending your follow-up appointments all help support a smooth recovery.

How Can I Reduce My Risk of Facelift Complications?

While every surgical procedure carries some degree of risk, there are several steps patients can take to help minimize complications and support the healing process.

Your surgeon will provide detailed preoperative instructions that are tailored to your medical history and procedure. Carefully following these instructions is one of the most important things you can do before surgery.

Patients are typically instructed to:

• Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, and other blood-thinning medications when directed.
• Avoid eating or drinking after midnight before surgery.
• Complete any recommended laboratory work or medical clearances.
• Arrange for someone to drive them home and assist during the first stages of recovery.
• Follow all postoperative wound care and activity restrictions.

Every patient's medical history is unique. Your surgeon will determine whether additional testing or evaluations are necessary before surgery to help ensure you are an appropriate candidate.

Why Choosing an Experienced Plastic Surgeon Matters

One of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing your surgeon.

A board-certified plastic surgeon does much more than perform the operation itself. Careful patient selection, meticulous surgical technique, thoughtful incision placement, and close postoperative follow-up all play an important role in minimizing complications and achieving natural-looking results.

During your facelift consultation, your surgeon will review your goals, evaluate your facial anatomy, discuss your medical history, and explain both the benefits and potential risks of surgery so you can make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways

If you're considering a facelift, remember these important points:

• Every surgical procedure carries some level of risk.
• Modern anesthesia has made facelift surgery safer and more comfortable than ever.
• Careful surgical planning helps minimize bleeding, infection, and scarring.
• A hematoma is one of the specific risks associated with facelift surgery, but several techniques are used to reduce its likelihood.
• Temporary numbness is an expected part of recovery because sensory nerves are temporarily separated from the skin.
• One motor nerve along the jawline can occasionally be stretched during surgery, but research has shown that 97% of these temporary nerve injuries recover completely within one year without additional surgery.
• Choosing an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon and carefully following all preoperative and postoperative instructions are among the best ways to support a safe recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Facelift Risks

Is facelift surgery safe?

Yes. When performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, facelift surgery is considered very safe. Like any surgical procedure, it carries risks, but careful planning and modern surgical techniques help minimize potential complications.

What are the biggest risks of a facelift?

The primary risks include anesthesia, bleeding, hematoma, infection, scarring, temporary numbness, and uncommon nerve injury. Your surgeon will discuss your individual risk factors during your consultation.

Is numbness after a facelift normal?

Yes. Temporary numbness is expected because the sensory nerves are temporarily separated from the skin during surgery. Sensation gradually returns as healing progresses, although some areas may take several months to fully recover.

How common is permanent nerve damage after a facelift?

Permanent nerve injury is uncommon. One motor nerve along the jawline can occasionally be stretched during surgery. A study from New York University found that 97% of these temporary nerve injuries recovered completely within one year without additional surgery.

Will I have visible scars after a facelift?

Every surgical procedure leaves scars, but facelift incisions are carefully placed within natural creases around the ears and hairline whenever possible. Most scars continue to soften and fade over time.

Can a facelift cause hair loss?

Typically, no. Hair follicles located directly along an incision may occasionally be affected, particularly during secondary facelift procedures, but widespread hair loss is not considered a typical complication of facelift surgery.

How can I reduce my risk of complications?

Following your surgeon's preoperative and postoperative instructions, avoiding blood-thinning medications when directed, completing any recommended medical evaluations, and attending all follow-up appointments are some of the best ways to support a safe recovery.

Schedule Your Facelift Consultation in Charlotte, NC

If you're considering a facelift in Charlotte, NC, our experienced team is here to help you understand your options and answer your questions. During your consultation, we'll review your medical history, discuss your goals, explain the procedure in detail, and develop a personalized treatment plan designed to help you achieve natural-looking, long-lasting results.