Do Not Confuse Facial Contouring Sagging with Swelling!

Hello, I’m Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of 立體 Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’d like to talk about post-contouring surgery sagging and swelling, which many people are curious about.

Facial contouring swelling is generally at its worst 2 to 3 days after surgery rather than immediately after the operation, and the major swelling begins to subside around 1 to 2 weeks later. I’ll divide the recovery period after facial contouring surgery into stages and explain it along with real patient photos.

230-degree Three-Dimensional Zygoma Reduction

This is the first patient.

After cheekbone surgery, some people become worried 1 to 2 weeks later, saying that it seems like the surgery had no effect or that their face looks uneven.

This is because the large visible swelling has gone down and the swelling seems to have mostly subsided, but the face still appears uneven due to residual swelling.

230-degree Three-Dimensional Zygoma Reduction

At this point, from one month to six months after surgery, you can see the residual swelling gradually go down and the uneven-looking facial line become smoother.

Because the speed at which swelling decreases differs from patient to patient, some people may feel that the difference before and after surgery becomes clear only after 6 months to over 1 year.

If you look at another case,

Zygoma Reduction, Square Jaw Surgery, Chin Surgery

This patient underwent three types of contouring surgery.

Around 1 to 3 months after surgery, some people worry that they seem to have developed sagging, such as deeper nasolabial folds or a double chin.

Zygoma Reduction, Square Jaw Surgery, Chin Surgery

Because swelling and bruising after facial contouring surgery improve as they move downward from the upper face to the lower face, you can think of this as a natural phenomenon that may occur during the recovery process. You should be able to judge the surgical result, including the effect of the surgery and whether side effects such as sagging have occurred, only after at least about 6 months have passed since the operation.

Zygoma Reduction, Square Jaw Surgery, Masseter Muscle Resection

The concern people most often have after facial contouring surgery is sagging.

Sagging refers to the skin drooping due to weakening of the facial retaining ligaments when more dissection than necessary is performed during surgery.

If the surgery is done incorrectly, nonunion or excessive dissection can lead to skin sagging, but if the procedure is performed accurately, you do not need to worry about sagging.

Zygoma Reduction, Square Jaw Surgery, Masseter Muscle Resection

From right after surgery until one month later, as the swelling moves downward, the lower jaw area may look puffy.

Please keep in mind that this is part of the swelling reduction process and is not skin sagging.

To reduce swelling quickly after contouring surgery, cold and warm compresses, light walking, plenty of water, and foods that help reduce swelling, such as pumpkin juice, can help shorten the recovery period. Regular follow-up checks after surgery can also be helpful.

If you are preparing for facial contouring surgery, it is important to plan the procedure through a consultation with a specialist with extensive clinical experience and know-how, and if postoperative care is well managed, you can expect good surgical results.

Thank you.