Neck/chin Lump 2 Months Post Face-lift? Felt Pop After Sneezing Attack

asked 7 months ago by CarolineX in Boston, MA
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 231 times
Tags: 2 months post-op, lumps, sneezing, worried

I'm 2 months post face-lift and have a lump in my chin/neck area that my surgeon 1st said was pooling blood and later said was a salivary gland. There was no gland there before and during a sneezing fit shortly after bandages were removed I felt something snap/pop in that area. Any ideas what might have happened? Also, I am concerned that this could be cancerous and while my surgeon has advised me to wait, I fear that if it is something bad a delay would not be a good thing. Any advice?

10 answers to Neck/chin Lump 2 Months Post Face-lift? Felt Pop After Sneezing Attack

Neck/chin Lump 2 Months Post Face-lift

It is very difficult to answer your question without seeing you in person and examining you - please follow up with your surgeon or seek another opinion

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lump in Neck after Facelift

Without examinating you and touching the area of concern, it is difficult to judge what exactly is going on. A localized blood collection will get better over 2 months. A hanging salivary gland (a.k.a. submandibular gland) feels commonly similar to a large but soft grape. Your surgeon has the benefit of knowing what he has done surgically and how your progressed during your recovery. He would also initiate the correct referral if your surgeon would be concerned about a malignancy. more

Frank P. Fechner, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drfechner.com

Lumps After Facelift

As other surgeons have pointed out, without an examination, there is no way to accurately answer your question. In general, it is not unusual to have lumps and bumps which take several months to resolve after any surgical procedure. If you are concerned about a cancer, talk with your surgeon about ordering some type of imaging study or biopsy to allay your fears.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Neck/chin Lump 2 Months Post Face-lift? Felt Pop After Sneezing Attack

I have performed Face and Neck Lifts for over 20 years and IMHO, the popping sound and feel could be a blood vessel opening up from the increased pressure of you sneezing, especially if you didn't keep yopur mouth open during the sneeze. A typical sneeze will increase the blood pressure in the face and this could result in bleeding under the face lift skin flap. Blood trapped in this layer is very irritating to the skin and can cause localised lumps and bumps for months.... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Neck/chin lump after face-lift

I agree with your doctor. RELAX. The chances of cancer are extraordinarily remote and the risks of waiting for improvement are analogous to the likelihood of being struck by lightning. Give yourself a few more months to hea.l Only if it persists at its current size at 6 months should you consider further tests, in my opinion.

Lawrence Kass, MD
Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

Lump after facelift

Both swelling that has not resolved as well as prominent salivary glands are plausible explanations. Follow your surgeons advice. If you need peace of mind regarding "new lumps" and possible other disease then have your primary doctor order an imaging procedure for you.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Neck contouring with facelifts, swelling in neck after coughing

Please understand that any opinion offered is not very accurate without examining you as a patient. If you noted this shortly after the surgery, as well as following a sneezing episode, the possibilities could be the development of a bruise or local hematoma or seroma, there could be swelling in an isolated blood vessel, there could be noted prominence to a salivary gland in the neck, which may be more noticeable after a neck lift with a facelift. This would have been... more

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

At two months a lump is usually resolving blood in a small area of the neck

If the area is very dense, a small amount of cortisone into the lump can help resolve the area more quickly. Lumps after facelift-necklifts are not so unusual. Almost all resolve with time unless they actually are part of the submandibular gland which can be revealed by defatting and suction of the neck. Dr. Mayl Fort Lauderdale

Nathan Mayl, MD
Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon

That pop may or may not have had anything to do with your lump.

A new lump right after a facelift is most likely related to the procedue until proven otherwise. I get the sense that you and your surgeon are not really communicating. I agree you need to discuss with your surgeon your concerns that the lump may be cancer. For peace of mind, you may decide to have this worked up. I should tell you that two months after the facelift is when the neck will be the firmest and most lumpy. I a couple of more months, this lumpy... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Facelift recovery and early results

Dear Caroline, This advice can only be very general without an examination. First of all, some residual swelling or lumpiness at two months following a facelift can be normal. Even the sensation of a "pop" is not that unusual as absorbable internal sutures may break or scar tissue inside is stretched and released. Your doctor is best able to determine what is the lump, and you should discuss your concern about cancer with him or her. Facelifts do... more