Four Months Post-op Necklift Surgery is It Possible Feeling Will Return to my Right Ear and Skin in Front of my Ears?

Approximately 80% of the feeling in my left ear had returned by 8 weeks post-op with no improvement since then for my left ear. But my right ear is still completely numb except that now when I lightly pinch my earlobe there is a slight tingling pain. I have had the sensation of energy waves across my right ear ever since head bandage was removed two days after surgery. This sensation is NOT tingling just energy waves. The skin in front of both ears is still numb too. Thanks for your response.

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by janice1838

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (3)

Numbness 4 months after necklift surgery

Yes, your surgeon could have damaged the auricular nerve and yes, this is very distressing. But I think there is still a high likelihood that your sensation will return with time. Regeneration of the smaller sensory nerves may take 12-24 months. I would bet on some recovery in the future. I certainly hope that is the case for you!

Lawrence Kass, MD

31 reviews

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

Numbness after facelift

Although I don't perform facelifts, I have had many patients who have had them. Peforming Mohs surgery and reconstruction around the cheek and ear, I am well acquainted with the anatomy as well. Nerve injury or neuropraxia, may take many months to resolve spontaneously. Complete transection of the nerve may heal without aid, but this is not guaranteed and can take more than a year.

Left ear and skin numb after Face and Neck Lift

The greater auricular nerve, in the neck, is the sensory nerve responsinle for feeling in the earlobe and adjacent skin. This nerve runs superfifically between the skin and the playtsma muscle, in the neck. It can be inadvertantly injured or cut during a Face Lift or Neck Lift which gives the symptoms that you describe. I have performed Face Lifts and Neck Lifts for over 20 years and IMHO, it's always possible but unlikely that the sensation on your left side will change... more

Neck lift Video:Greater Auricular Nerve injury is the most common in face neck lift

Could be a greater auricular nerve injury. This is the most common nerve injured in a face lift. The nerve could come back since you noticed a slight difference. If it really bothers you, you can graft another nerve there from somewhere else and it could help. Wish you the best! Thanks for reading, Dr Young see video

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Numbness after facelift

The greater auricular nerve supplies sensation to the ear and is the most commonly injured during facelift surgery. In most cases, sensation will return but if by one year it has not, it is likely a permanent condition.

Nerve injury is a very rare complication of facelift.

Hi. It sounds like the right greater auricular nerve may have been injured or cut. If partially injured, feeling will slowly come back. If cut, numbness is usually permanent. Ask your surgeon.

Face and Neck Lift Surgery

It is common to have numbness after either a afce or neck lift espcially if the is liposuction performed of the neck region. I have had patients who have had numbness (paresthesia) up two one year after their surgery. Most patients start to have return of sensation after 3-6 months with the start of tingling to the skin. Full return of sensation can take up to one year after surgery.

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Comments (3)

Patient5555 17 Dec 2012

I am 5 weeks post op and I am experiencing a similar problem. Sensation returning to left ear but none to the right. Have you had any improvement since you posted your question? Thank you!

janice1838 17 Dec 2012

In January I will be two years post-op and there has not been much improvement since I posted my question. I still get a 'zing' when I pinch my earlobe, but the rest of the outer ear is numb. However, my problem may be different from yours in that the tissue under my skin was overtightened - and I strongly feel this stretched the nerve into numbness. I am still in constant torture - although just in the last couple of months I am beginning to feel it may become tolerable at some point. As it relaxes, I still hope perhaps the nerve may begin to heal. For your situation - at 5 weeks post-op - there is still much hope that it may return. If it appears to you that the surgeon tightened the right side more (my right side was much tighter), then give it a few more months. The other surgeons here may suggest the same - but you know how you feel in your gut - if no feeling has even begun to return by 4 months - it is likely the greater auricular nerve has been cut. The numbness in my case has been much easier to deal with, and the skin in front of both ears is still numb too, but has improved slightly. Sorry if this is too much information. I hope your situation improves soon!