Is It Common to Have Facial Nerve Injury After A Neck Tuck? (photo)

I have numbness around the perimeter of my face for the last 4 years and my neck is drooping. Dr. is willing to do a neck tuck, should I take a chance on possibly having more nerve damage or paralysis

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by suerich

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Facial Nerve Injury after Neck Lift

While possible, it is extremely rare to see a permanent facial nerve injury, leading to muscle weakness, after a neck lift. Injury to the sensory nerves, leading to long term numbness, is more common, but still occurs in a small minority of patients. If you have numbness four years after your original surgery, it is possible that the Greater Auricular Nerve was injured. With regard to a second neck lift, most patients experience temporary numbness around the ears and neck. It may take... more

Gregory J. Vipond, MD

4 reviews

Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon

Numbness after facelift

Numbness after a facelift procedure is common. Usually it lasts about 1-2 months, but can be quite variable. The surgical cuts small sensory nerves in general and function returns. There is one larger sensory nerve called the Great Auricular Nerve that controls sensation to portions of the ear (lobe) and face. Injury to this can possibly create sensation deficits permanently. However, in those who have this nerve "sacrificed" for cancer surgery in that area typically do well with respect to... more

Michael M. Kim, MD

12 reviews

Portland Facial Plastic Surgeon

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Nerve Damage after Neck Lift

Sensory changes are always present after any tuck or lift. This usually returns to normal, either on its own or with a little help. You did not say whether the numbness you have is the result of a previous facelift or not. If it is, then there are several possibilities. If you have some sensation, but it is just “weird,” then what you have is a delayed recovery of the normal sensory changes after any facelift. You can recover normal sensation. It just takes sensory reeducation. If it is... more