Neck Lift: Q&A

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My Lower Lip Looks Like Popeye's After Neck Lift.

Plastymasplasty done 2 weeks ago Dr. tells me that due to previous lipo under chin he had problem on right side when performing surgery. Now my lip won't pucker correctly and skews off to one side. My right side was twice as swollen and stiff around jaw/chin area and I am having trouble opening my jaw wide. I also have a lesion on my neck that started out as a bruise and is now a yellow scab with some pus that will leave a dime size scar when healed. There is some tingling/burning sensation.

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lips complication

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by DKTexas in Los Angeles, CA

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Lower lip weakness 2 weeks after neck lift.

The photos demonstrate the classic signs of nerve weakness from injury to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve to the right lower lip. The nerve could just be injured or transected. You should ask your surgeon for a referral to a neurologist for nerve function testing and stimulation. A nerve injury can recover taking up to a year for return of function. Sadly a transected nerve will not recover. Hope this helps and sorry to be the bearer of bad news. more

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It almost appears from the photos that you had a chin implant inserted? If you did then the function should reutnr earlier than later ie within a few weeks as it is muscular in origin. If no chin implant then it is likely that there is some injury to the facial nerve that moves the lower lip downward. This could be in the form of swelling and irritation of the nerve or more unlikely the nerve could have been inadvertently cut during the dissection. ... more

Lower lip deformity after platysmaplasty.

It is too soon to know if this is due to swelling or is permanent. You have to wait 3-6 months and see if the nerve recovers. No surgery in the meantime as this will make matters worse.

Toby Mayer, MD

7 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

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Marginal branch of the facial nerve injury

Unfortunately you have suffered an injury to a branch of the facial nerve that runs just beneath the jawline. Hopefully the nerve was only stretched, not cut --you can expect full recovery if the nerve was only injured without being cut. It may take months. The swelling indicates that you probably had more oozing of blood on that side--common, and should not effect the overall outcome of your surgery. Continue careful wound care to the scab and be sure to visit your surgery as... more

Lip asymmetry after neck lift

The lip asymmetry is due to a type of nerve injury that can happen after face/neck surgery. The good news is that it typically recovers fully withing 6-8 months.

Sam Naficy, MD

85 reviews

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleface.com

Necklift

There is a branch of the facial nerve that controls depression of the lower lip. If this nerve is stretched, the function is likely to fully recover, although it will take some time. If there is more permanent damage, then there are surgical and non-surgical options to address it. However, it is too early to tell.

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