Photobiomodulation as an adjunctive treatment for complications of a surgical orofacial harmonization: case report

Face lifting and cervicoplasty are aesthetic surgical procedures that may be associated with postoperative complications requiring timely management. This case report describes a 46-year-old woman who developed an extensive postoperative hematoma, edema, and subsequent sensory disturbance following face lifting and cervicoplasty. On postoperative day five, her physiotherapist identified a subcutaneous accumulation of blood in the cervical region. Management included surgical reintervention to drain the hematoma, antibiotic therapy, physiotherapy, and low-level laser photobiomodulation (PBM). The PBM protocol was effective in rapidly resolving the extensive hematoma and edema. During follow-up, the patient reported paresthesia in the chin region. An additional PBM protocol was applied, and the paresthesia resolved completely after only two sessions. PBM may be an effective adjunctive tool for managing complications related to orofacial aesthetic procedures, such as extensive hematomas, edema, and paresthesia, contributing to the patient’s functional and aesthetic recovery.