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What Is This Lump On My Neck After Facelift?

asked 11 months ago by ZY in Australia
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 1,035 times
Tags: lumps, lymph node

I had full face and eyelid lift surgery 7 months ago and was happy. 3 wks ago when I touched my neck found a little lump like a small pimple a bit hard to touch & feel a bit sore around ear area and down toward the lump. Went to Dermatologist & said, it came from the scar behind ears, & nothing serious. Asked Surgeon in KL & said, possible Lymph Node inflammation, will go away, nothing to worry about. My GP said, is a knot in a suture & not go away.. Feel confused.

12 answers to What Is This Lump On My Neck After Facelift?

+3

Face Lift lump is likely suture but will not know unless you have it looked at underneath

Face Lift lump is likely suture but will not know unless you have it looked at underneath. The description of a pimple and tender to the touch sounds like it is likely a suture that can be easily removed. At 7 months, the effects from the lift are likely settled and you could remove this suture without effects of losing your lift. But that is always a possibility of losing some of the lifting effects from taking the sutures out. One suture will likely have no significant effect at this point... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Lump in neck after Face Lift could be an internal suture

Only the plastic and cosmetic surgeon, that did your Face Lift and Neck Lift, knows for certain but it sounds like a deep tissue suture that's typically used in this area of the neck to imbricate the Platysma muscle in the neck. A small amount of local to the area, needle nick and clip the suture removing it should take care of the issue...if that's the cause.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

It is a strange color and a strange location.

Typically facelifts require buried suture in this region. It is possible that this may represent some type of suture granuloma. I am surprised your surgeon did not simple excise this. This is not what a neck lymph node should look like. When in doubt, it should be biopsied. It is a small office procedure and will get rid of the offending lesion, permit a pathologist to examine it and make a diagnosis, If it is cause by a suture, this will permit its... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+2

What the heck is it?

I have no idea and all three could be wrong. If I had to guess, a suture sounds possible but the surgeon should know if that's even possible. there is no skin scar there but internal scar could be possible. I recommend you continue to observe, it it increases in size or symptoms get it removed. good luck
Rafael C. Cabrera, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lump On Neck After Facelift

Based on your photo it appears that you have an extruding permanent suture. This should be removed by your surgeon.
Sam Naficy, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Face Lift

I recommend you go to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and ask them what it is. It could be some inflamed lymph nodes near a suture knot under the skin so everyone may be right to some extent. See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and they should get your on track.
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift - What Is This Lump On My Neck After Facelift?

It's impossible to answer this without being able to see you in person. It's not even clear that it's related to the facelift, although that seems likely. Among the possibilities are a retained suture, a lymph node, a burst and scarred blood vessel - and a whole range of things that may never be elucidated. You should contact your PS and then, most likely, your internist to have it assessed. A biopsy may be warranted. In short, although it most likely... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lump after facelift

I agree with the responses, you need to be evaluated by your original doctor. It is probably a suture that is easily removed, though you should not guess. Let us know if you have any additional questions!
Richard Castellano, MD

Tampa Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lump after Facelift Surgery

It is difficult to determine what this is, exactly. The image you sent makes it hard to completly evaluate. Someone would need to see you in person, as well as manually palpate this area to be assured as to the etiology of this mass.
Richard Ellenbogen, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lump behind ear

Although it is not possible to be sure from a photo, I would say the most like cause is a suture working its way to the surface or a suture granuloma. I would suggest going back to the original surgeon and having him look at it. He will know if it is in a location where he typically places deep sutures. If he used dis-solvable sutures he may recommend watching it but if he used permanent non-dissolving sutures (which are commonly used to tighten the deep layers), it will... more
Adam D. Stein, MD

Raleigh-Durham Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialdoc.com

+1

Confused should go to Plastic Surgeon

Your surgeon more than any one else will know if there is a dissolving suture there. In Thin patients these sutures can get close to the surface and be noticeable. The fact that it is sore also could point toward it being suture material.We are assuming that the red spot is just marking the region concerning you, it that is the case, we often put a suture in that vicinity to assist in creating a tighter neck line(Labbe' Suture). Please go see your previous surgeon and I'm sure... more
Charles Virden, MD

Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

+1

Neck lump post facelift - have it checked.

Good for you for being so thorough in having multiple physicians assess your neck. It's obviously very unnerving for you given that you've seen a few doctors and are posting here. The photo you've provided is a bit unclear, is the red-dot the spot or is the spot beneath the red dot? Of course I'd have to examine you to provide you with clear direction, but It would be very odd for a suture to be located in the area that is marked. It's much... more
Michael G. Brandt, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

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