Facelift Risks & Complications: What You Need to Know

Deep Plane Facelift Complications

A deep plane facelift lifts tissues beneath the superficial layers of the face. Because the surgeon works near branches of the facial nerve, which controls facial expression, there can be temporary weakness or changes in movement. Altered feeling or numbness can also occur when small sensory nerves are affected. Persistent changes are possible and would need careful assessment.

Other concerns include a haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin), infection, visible or widened scars, asymmetry and delayed healing. The blood supply to the skin also needs to be protected, as reduced circulation can affect healing.

Bella Vou's facelifts include a neck lift, so your assessment and surgical plan should consider the face and neck together. The exact risks depend on the amount of correction planned, your anatomy, health, medicines and previous surgery.

SMAS Facelift Complications

A SMAS facelift adjusts the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the supportive layer beneath the skin. Relevant risks include uneven contours, asymmetry, scarring, changes around the hairline and a seroma (a pocket of clear fluid under the skin).

There may also be numbness, tightness or weakness in facial movement. Some changes settle as swelling improves, while others may need longer follow-up or further treatment. Your surgeon should explain how the planned lift relates to your facial structure and previous procedures.

Mini Facelift Complications

A mini facelift usually involves a more limited area of surgery, but it is still an operation and is not risk-free. Bleeding, infection, scarring, temporary numbness, asymmetry and delayed healing can still occur.

A smaller procedure may also provide less correction than expected or leave concerns that need review. Suitability depends on your skin, deeper tissues, face and neck changes and what you hope to achieve, rather than the word “mini” alone.

Your Health and Your Risk

Your general health can affect both suitability for surgery and how you heal. Diabetes or poorly controlled blood sugar can make infection and wound-healing problems more likely. High blood pressure can increase the chance of bleeding, particularly if it is not well controlled.

Smoking and nicotine reduce blood flow to healing tissues. You must stop smoking and all nicotine at least 4 weeks before surgery and remain abstinent until your surgeon clears you. If you do not follow this requirement, surgery may be postponed or cancelled and charges may apply.

Medicines and supplements also matter. Some can affect bleeding, blood pressure or anaesthesia, so give the team a complete and accurate list. Do not stop prescribed medicine without advice from the clinician responsible for it. Your surgeon will also consider your heart and lung health, previous operations and any conditions that could affect recovery.

How to Tell Your Healing Is on Track and When to Call Us

Swelling, bruising, a tight feeling and areas of reduced or unusual sensation are expected in the early stages. They may not be perfectly even from side to side, and improvement is usually gradual. A written recovery timeline can help you understand the broad pattern, although your own recovery may differ.

Please contact the team promptly if you develop sudden swelling, especially on one side, increasing rather than settling pain, fever, spreading redness or heat, or discharge from a wound. These signs do not tell you by themselves what is wrong, but they do need assessment.

You are not expected to diagnose a complication at home. If something feels wrong or you are unsure about a change, let the team know so that the surgeon can decide whether you need advice, an appointment or more urgent care.

What Our CQC Outstanding Rating Means

The Care Quality Commission, or CQC, inspects healthcare services in England. It looks at areas such as patient safety, leadership, staffing, record-keeping and how concerns are managed.

Bella Vou's CQC Outstanding rating reflects the quality and safety systems assessed at the time of inspection. This matters because good systems support consistent care and clear responses when a patient needs help. The rating does not prove that complication rates are lower, guarantee an individual result or remove the risks of surgery.

Local and General Anaesthetic for a Facelift

A local anaesthetic numbs the face and neck while you remain awake. Sedating medicine may sometimes be used to help you relax. A general anaesthetic means you are asleep and your breathing, heart rate and other vital signs are closely monitored.

Where local anaesthetic is suitable, it avoids some risks that relate specifically to having a general anaesthetic, such as nausea, a sore throat and certain breathing or circulation problems. However, local anaesthetic is not automatically safer or appropriate for every person or every facelift.

The choice depends on your health, the extent and likely duration of surgery, how you feel about being awake and other individual factors. Age alone, including being 65 or over, does not decide suitability. Your surgeon can talk you through both options, their respective risks and why one may be more appropriate for you.