Neck Bands After Face Lift/neck Lift(?)

I had a SMAS face lift 5 weeks ago and I have scars on my tragus, behind my ears and under my chin. However I now have very visible strong banding in my neck which I did not have any of prior to the surgery and I cannot lift my head up with out quite bad pain. I went back to my surgeon and he put many botox injections in the bands which has helped slightly. What could be the cause of this? I should be looking better, not worse! I had a 5 hour operation under GA

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by sally63 in Australia

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Neck band

A painful neck band may be part of a neck plication or a platysma band that was not treated. You will have to follow with your doctor.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Painful neck band after facelift and neck lift may be contracture and may require revision

The surgeon most likely performed a Platysmaplasty through the incision beneath your chin. This procedure involves placing sutures in the two platrysmal bands to tighten the neck. The scarring from the Platysmaplasty may be tightening or contracting causing the band-the fact that Botox helped supports this possibility. Vigorous massage and warm packs should help soften the contracture. If the suturing of the Platymal bands was too aggressive, shortening or tightening the muscles too... more

What to do with neck bands after a facelift!!

Dear Sally, The appearance of a strong band after your face and neck lift that you did not have before is most likely caused by two factors: 1- Platysmal muscle contracture due to irritation and inflammation after your surgery, in this case warm pad, massage, and Botox should help. 2- If you had a neck with moderate to severe fatty deposit and just liposuction was performed in the neck area without tightening of the neck bands. The under lying neck band now is more prominent and... more