Our incidence of hematoma in 500 consecutive face lifts was 2.6 percent, of which 1.6 percent were severe enough to need evacuation. This incidence of hematoma correlated well with the blood pressures of patients on admission; when the pressure was above 150/100 mm Hg on admission, hematoma occurred 2.6 times more frequently than in normotensive patients. Our premedication regime and hypotensive therapy was effective in reducing preoperative hypertension to normotensive levels in most, but not all, patients. However, this reduction of the postoperative blood pressure to normal levels did not prevent hematoma formation entirely.