Surgical anesthesia Nerve injury Motor and sensory nerves may be injured during a facelift operation. Weakness or loss of facial movements may occur after facelift surgery. Nerve injuries may cause temporary or permanent loss of facial movements and feeling. Such injuries may improve over time. Injury to sensory nerves of the face, neck and ear regions may cause temporary or more rarely permanent numbness.
Painful nerve scarring is very rare.
Chronic pain Chronic pain is a very rare complication after a facelift. The occurrence of this is not predictable. Delayed healing Smokers have a greater risk of skin loss and wound healing complications. Long term effects Subsequent alterations in facial appearance may occur as the result of aging, weight loss or gain, sun exposure, or other circumstances not related to facelift surgery. Facelift surgery does not arrest the aging process or produce permanent tightening of the face and neck.