Frequency is not severity
Temporary lip numbness after a sagittal split is common but usually resolves. Facial nerve injury after a facelift is rare but consequential. A single 'risk percentage' collapses two very different things.
Ask about both: how often does this happen, and what does it mean for me if it does?
Your personal risk is not the published average
Smoking, diabetes, BMI, prior surgery, scarring, anatomy, and medication all shift individual risk. Published series describe populations, not you.
Interviewing the surgeon
Good answers are specific: numbers from their own practice, how they detect complications early, and their management pathway when things go wrong.
A surgeon who reports never having a complication is describing either a very small caseload or incomplete follow-up.
Information on this platform is for educational purposes and should not replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. Surgical suitability, risks, and expected outcomes must be assessed by an appropriately qualified surgeon.