Cheek Lift Q&A
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Nerve Damage After Cheek Lift

asked 2 years ago by L.A.E. in Pleasanton, Calif.
Latest answer by Philip Young, MD
Question viewed 730 times
I had a cheek lift 6 weeks ago. I can't smile on my right side, and my right eye is very dry it stays open more then the left one I need to use eye drops. The doctor said there was no nerve cut but there is nerve damage. What does that mean? and how long does it last? Is is common? or did the surgeon make a mistake?

8 answers to Nerve Damage After Cheek Lift

+1

Cheek lift and nerve damage

Cheeklifts, properly done, have revolutionized lower eyelid surgery.  They can prevent the pulled down or rounded appearance that affected so many blepharoplasties done in the 80's and 90's.  However, cheeklifts, particularly subciliary cheeklifts, are technically difficult and not for every surgeon. Cheeklifts done through the lower eyelid have good ability to improve the eye-cheek junction, but involve a risk of damaging small nerve branches to the... more
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+1

Right smile affected from a midface lift

Could be swelling causing problems smiling but it could be nerve damage or injury. The middle part of the face is the most likely to have a full recovery from an injury like this. But you could have some synkinesis issues, ie when you blink you move your mouth unconsciously. 6 weeks is early and it could take up to 6 months or longer for your nerves to grow back. Midface lifts are fraught with issues. Fat injections are the way to go to rejuvenate the middle part of the face... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipyoung.com

+1

Depends on the surgery you had..

I am sorry to hear about your frustrating problem. There are many different procedures that fall under the category of cheek lift. If you had a sub-periosteal mid face lift from a temporal incision, temporary nerve weakness is not unusual. Typically this is a stretch injury and the nerve recovers in several weeks. If it is going longer than that it may take up 6 months for full recovery. If the nerve was severed the damage may be permanent but you won't know until you have given... more
Ivan Wayne, MD

Oklahoma City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nerve Damage after Cheeklift

When you say you cannot smile I assume you are describing limited movement of your eyelid with normal motion in your lower face and mouth. If an incision was made in the lower eyelid, there may be temporary weakness of the muscle of the lower lid. Excess skin removal from the eyelid can also cause this problem. Swelling of the conjuctiva (a superficial lining of the eye and eyelid) will interfer with lid closure. If the incision was made in the temporal scalp, facial nerve injury is... more
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nerve damage

The key is what was the technique used for the cheeck lift. Most nerve nonfunction after surgery is teporary, some are permanent. Your most important part right now is to protect thee eye from drying and infection. Consult a good ophthalmologist, Consider suture tarsoraphy. As for nerve returning to function wait another 6 weeks if the nerve does not come back in 12 weeks then see a neurologist for testing of the nerve.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nerve damage after cheek lift

Sorry for your issue. Usually this complication after cheek lifting is self limiting, and corrects over a few months but I would recommend a second opinion to alleviate your concerns. At worse if you do have nerve trauma or injury a nerve conduction study can be ordered. From MIAMI Dr. B
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nerve damage after a cheek lift.

It is probably not the type of nerve damage one normally thinks of, but rather small nerves to the muscle of the lower lid. Also if too much tension is placed on the lid it can get pulled down. Also, swelling of the lining of the eye can make it appear that way. The eye drops may be for that swelling(chemosis) which can take 2-3 months to go away. See your surgeon and if you are not satisfied, get a second opinion from an experienced cheek lift surgeon.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cheek lift and nerve damage

I am sorry to hear you are having problems after your cheek lift.  I'm not certain how your cheek lift was performed since you do not indicate if it was through the lower eyelid or an incision in front of the ear.  No matter how it was performed there is always a risk of injuring a nerve when any invasive procedure such as a cheek lift is done.  Sometimes a patient can have facial paralysis such as you are experiencing due to swelling at or near the involved... more
Arnold Zweig, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

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