How long to wait for lower face and neck lift revision surgery?

I am 4 months post op from lower face and neck lift. When I look forward with my head raised my jawline looks perfectly smooth. If I smile, turn or lower my head I have terrible creasing and folds in my left jawline and lower cheek (see photo). My right side looks perfectly fine. My PS thinks this may be scar tissue and wants to undermine this area and under my chin again.

If this is scar tissue, why does this happen? What's to prevent this from reoccuring with a revision? How long should I wait for revision surgery?

How long to wait for lower face and neck lift revision surgery?
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11 answers to “How long to wait for lower face and...”

A: Waiting period for lower face and neck lift revision surgery?

Darryl J. Blinski, MD

I agree with the majority of posting doctors to wait at least 6 months. As to cause, it could be many factors. Bleeding in tissue, poor dissection and draping of the skin, residual fat deposits, infection localized to the area, etc. No matter the cause you still need to wait the 6 months. Hope that helps.

A: Wait a year for face/neck lift revision surgery.

William Portuese, MD

It is important to wait at least a year prior to embarking on further revision surgery on your neck. The pleats that are present upon looking to the left are caused by excess skin contracted down to bare platysma with loss of intervening fat. The posterior portion of the skin appears it has also been rotated... more

A: Timing of revision facelift

Richard P. Rand, MD

 You should wait a couple more months and consider a revision at that time.  Either your skin wasn't undermined enough, or it was redraped poorly or you have bad sun damage making pleats in the skin.  The first two of these can be improved but the entire operation needs to be redone, not just a... more

A: Wait a minimum of 6 months from the original surgery; the longer the better.

Lavinia Chong, MD

The "pleating" that you exhibit may either be a result of inadequate undermining (elevation) of the cheek/neck skin off the underlying soft tissue (fat and muscle) or scar "adhesions" where the cheek/neck skin attached unfavorably.  At any event, waiting a minimum of 6-12 months after... more

A: Revision Face Neck Lift, Tuck Up Face Neck Lift

Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD

Question: How long to wait for lower face and neck lift revision surgery? Answer: In general, if there are residual findings in the lower face and neck area following rejuvenation surgery, at least four to six months postoperatively is prudent. Revision of postoperative findings may be minimal or more... more

A: Revsion Facelift

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

HI, From the photos it appears that the left neck area was not undermined completely or scar tissue may have developed. To correct this, in my opinion, the undermining should be performed from the post-aurcular (behind the ear) area. This will release the skin and SMAS muscle and allow it to be properly pulled... more

A: Prominent Neck Creases After Facelift

Tanveer Janjua, MD

These creases can be from adherent scar tissue forming bands or sutures under the skin pulling that area towards the ear. If there are permanent sutures, those would need to be cut. If there are scar tissue bands then undermining like your plastic surgeon is recommending should work. Four months post op is a... more

A: Depends on what was done & what needs to be done

Kamran Jafri, MD

 Hi Bunny, Most of us agree that waiting 6 - 12 months is appropriate before doing any touch-up or revision procedures. The reasons for this time period are two fold: 1. While swelling and bruising on the skin fade quickly, there is still a lot of healing that is going on under the skin. It is best to let... more

A: Undermining the area may help, but I would wait

Kevin Ende, MD

Undermining the lower face and neck may help, but I would wait 6-12 months from the date of surgery. If improvement occurs over the next 2 months, then additional improvement may occur thereafter. If there is no improvement over the next two months, a revision surgery is quite reasonable. Injectable... more

A: Wait 6-12 months.

Toby G. Mayer, MD

 See your surgeon and get a second opinion if there is any doubt. Remember that you will always have extra skin folds when you bring your chin down.

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West Orange - You should wait at least 6-12 mos before proceeding with...
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