Lymphatic swelling and venous congestion after facelift

An Argentinian surgeon investigated lymphatic swelling and venous congestion after facelift. Mottura imaged the face of an extended facelift patient before and a week after surgery and found that concluding that a week after surgery, the lymphatic network was still damaged.

Additionally, a catheter was used to measure peripheral venous pressure in the external jugular vein after necklift. 

• Following the necklift, the pressure was increased. 

• Pressure further increased with a simple bandage.

• Pressure was even more increased with an elastic bandage.

• Pressure decreased when the bandage was released. 

The surgeon concluded that “platysma plication and the elastic bandage on the neck augment the venous congestion of the face.”

The surgeon utilized manual lymphatic drainage by a trained professional to reduce swelling. Due to the nature of facelift surgery, MLD is performed “in a method contrary to that specified in the books for non-operated individuals.”

Mottura AA. Face lift postoperative recovery. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2002 May-Jun;26(3):172-80. doi: 10.1007/s00266-001-0029-3. PMID: 12140694. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12140694/