Facelift Risks Philadelphia

Know the Risks before Opting for Elective Surgery

Our Philadelphia and Montgomery County practice is dedicated to educating patients about the potential risks and complications because we believe that any decision on elective surgery should be an informed one. All surgeries carry some inherent risks, and the patient must decide whether these potential risks outweigh the potential benefits (or vice versa) before deciding whether a procedure is right for him or her. With experience, risks can be minimized; Dr. Joseph Rabson has been performing plastic surgery procedures for more than 25 years and is fully committed to patient safety.

We invite you to contact today if you have any questions regarding facelift risks. Our Philadelphia-area cosmetic surgery center utilizes state-of-the-art equipment, and we employ advanced techniques to reduce the chance of complications.

Potential Facelift Risks and Complications

There are a variety of complications that can arise from surgery, including adverse reactions to anesthesia, hematomas, excess bleeding, and infections. With proper surgical techniques, sterile surgical environments, and experienced surgical teams, however, these risks can be significantly reduced. Additionally, many of these complications are temporary or treatable and thus relatively benign. That being said, individuals who are considering undergoing facelift surgery should be aware of specific facelift risks:

• Nerve Damage - Occasionally, the nerves that control the movement of the facial muscles will be injured during the course of a facelift procedure. This nerve damage is usually temporary, however, and muscle control returns in a short period of time. Permanent injury is rare.
• Scarring - Though an experienced cosmetic surgeon can usually hide scars or make them inconspicuous, prominent scarring may rarely occur. During your initial consultation, Dr. Rabson will explain how he hides incision scars so that they are nearly undetectable.
• Numbness or Tingling - Patients sometimes feel a numbness or tingling sensation around the incision area. Though this can be cause for concern or discomfort, this complication should be temporary and will typically diminish on its own.
• Skin or Hair Loss - The loss of skin or hair as a result of facelift procedures is extremely rare. Patients with a history of smoking are at greater risk for these problems.
• Skin Discoloration - Discoloration of the skin after a facelift procedure is a rare condition, though it can last for several months and, therefore, should be discussed with your doctor.
• Incision Crusting or Scabbing - Some patients experience crusting or scabbing along the incision lines. This condition is temporary and will heal over time.
• Hematoma - Blood can accumulate under the skin following the procedure requiring drainage or removal.

We go into detail on the potential risks and complications associated with cosmetic surgery because we believe that it is our duty to educate our patients. We take every measure, however, to minimize the risks and emphasize that risks are different for every patient.

Contact Our Montgomery County Plastic Surgery Practice

If you are interested in learning more about facelift risks, we invite you to contact our suburban Philadelphia cosmetic surgery practice today. The risks of cosmetic surgery depend highly on a patient's specific health history, which is just one of the reasons having a detailed consultation with Dr. Rabson is so important.

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We would be happy to answer any of your questions about facelift surgery and other procedures at our Plymouth Meeting-based practice in Montgomery County.