If your facelift is carried out by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are extremely rare and usually insignificant.
Nevertheless the outcome is never completely predictable, as people differ in their anatomy and the healing process may vary from patient to patient.
Complications which can occur during a facelift are, for example, a haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin, which has to be removed by the surgeon), an injury to the nerves controlling the mimetic facial muscles (usually temporary), infection and an allergic reaction to medicines.
Impaired healing normally only occurs in the case of chronic smokers. You can significantly reduce the risk of complications by carefully following the advice of your plastic surgeon both before and after a facelift.