Lower Face Lift: Q&A
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Neck and Lower Facelift Are Too Tight?
I had a lower face and neck lift one week ago and there is a tight band extending across my neck from ear to ear. The tension is at best uncomfortable, often painful, and occasionally actually triggers a gag reflex. Is there anything that can be done to alleviate this tension? I couldn't live this way long term. I had a submental platysmaplasty, and sutures around and behind the ear.
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21 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
la in Watervliet
in Watervliet, NY
+8
The noose sensation: I'll explain why you feel it and how it should loosen up
Hi La in Watervliet,
I agree with the other surgeons and their reassurances. My approach for pre- and post-operative counseling for these cosmetic procedures is to try to explain things in a way that patients can fully understand on their own. This takes some of the fear out and I think gives the patient some feeling of control back. In some cases of pre-operative counseling, fully understanding the procedure and the recovery leads to the potential patient not...
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+4
Neck And Lower Facelift Rarely Too Tight At Two Weeks
Thank you for your question. There is ALWAYS some loosening of the skin in the weeks after a Neck and Lower Facelift. In fact I tell my patients pre op that I want them to feel too tight the first week. What you do not want is to have your neck and lower face sag again after surgery.
One exception is when a specific type of lift that utilizes a Giampappa Suture. In this procedure a permanent suture is placed into the neck muscles and fixated to the skull behind the ear to suspend the...
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+3
Swelling and tightness associated with lower facelift surgery
Dear Lower Facelift Patient from New York,
Face and neck swelling and tightness one week post operative lower facelift surgery is normal. Swelling and numbness after any facelift surgery is expected and normal. Usually, most of the noticeable swelling is reduced within a couple of weeks, perhaps in some cases a couple of months. Initial icing will help to reduce swelling faster. Good luck and good healing
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+3
Tightness after Lower Facelift
This abnormal tension that you are feeling is quite normal after lower facelift. During a face/neck lift the underlying neck muscles (platysma) and SMAS are tightened. The face tightening in conjunction with postoperative swelling can give you a constricted feeling. Also, the sensation of tension in the neck due to surgery is a "new feeling" for you which you will grow accustomed to over time. Lastly, over time the neck and face will relax to a degree to...
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+2
I feel too tight following my facelift/necklift
For the first one to two weeks, feeling like your face and neck is too tight is normal and expected in most cases. T'he temporary swelling makes this worse and more noticeable but should be expected to progressively go away.
Here are some helpful tips:
Localized lymphatic massage - your surgeon will demonstrate for you
Continued head elevation
Low Salt diet
No heavy lifting or intense exercise
Icing, Arnica or Bromelain will be of benefit early but much help after the...
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+2
Tightness after lower facelift
The tightness and tension you feel are a normal part of the healing process and indicate that the surgeon has performed an adequate operation. I know that it is uncomfortable but the tightness should abate as you continue to heal so be patient and let the healing take its course. Given that there are some complications noted by others on the forum which could occur, you should remain in close touch with your plastic surgeon during the initial postoperative period.
+2
Tightness after facelift
Recovery from most procedures requires patience and understanding that the body needs to heal. It is very normal to have a sense of tightness just after surgery; it should definitely resolve . Stay in close touch with your physician who will help you through the recovery period.
+2
Neck tightness after a facelift is normal
Tightness across the neck is completely normal after a lower facelift. While your early neck tightness does seem more severe than most patients, this degree of tightness will not persist. Skin relaxation will occur particularly after the first few weeks. This may be uncomfortable right now but as each week passes, it will lessen. In the long run, this early nuisance will make for a better and more sustained result.
+2
Tightness after lower facelift will absolutely go away!
I agree with my colleagues who tell you with absolute certainty that this will get better. Your swelling reaches its peak at 3-5 days after surgery, and is worse and lasts longer if you do not sleep with your head elevated above heart level for 2-3 weeks after surgery. You may also be asked to use an elastic shin strap or facial band which helps the tissues to heal properly and smoothly. This only adds to your tight sensation. Things should already be getting better, but your tissues...
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+2
Neck tightness after neck lift.
This is normal and will go away in several weeks. If it didn't feel tight to you there would have been too little removed.
+2
Tightness after facelift
It is normal to feel tight in the neck and this will realax after a few weeks of recovery. If you didn't feel some tightness right now, you probably wouldn't have had enough done and in 3 months you would feel more laxity than you had been hoping for.
+2
Tightness After Necklift Will Improve
Don't worry, things will get better! The tightness after a neck lift is due to the tightening of the skin and muscle layers and is made even tighter by the usual post-operative swelling. As the swelling gets better over the next week, the skin and muscles will begin to loosen up and things will not feel so tight. If it feels tight now, it will be perfect when healed. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor.
+1
Tightness after Facelift
The submental platysmaplasty was probably done too tight....I would suggest having your surgeon loosen or undo it.
+1
This is not normal.
There are various procedures to support the neck contour. Some surgeons use suture material for this purpose. Essentially what you are describing is physical choke do to the tightness of this supporting surgery. It is inappropriate to leave a neck this tight and absolutely no reason to do so. I would immediately ask your surgeon to loosen this material. Early from surgery this can be done in the office. The surgeon should handle as a immediate...
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+1
Feeling of tightness in the neck is common after facelift/ necklift
Feeling of tightness in the neck is common after facelift/ necklift. This can at times be uncomfortable but realize that this will pass. The sutures dissolve and the tissues relax to some degree. This is the reason why the lift has to "tuck" your tissues as tightly as they are immediately after surgery. Time will result in lessening of this sensation and a tighter neckline.
Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D., Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Tightness After Facelift
The sense of tightness felt at 1 week after a Facelift is entirely normal and will diminish in the weeks and months to come. I would be more concerned if your neck didn't feel tight at this time.
+1
Lower Facelift Recovery
You should anticipate swelling for at least another three weeks. Over time things will begin to loosen however if you do not feel significant relief after 12 weeks, I would consult with your original surgeon. best wishes!
+1
Is neck tightness after neck and lower facelift normal?
As mentioned by others, the initial tightness, particularly in the first week or two, eases up considerably over time. Tightness from a submental platysma-plasty usually is felt in the area just beneath the chin and not as a band from ear to ear, unless sutures were placed from ear to ear. ( the Gianpappa Technique) which if made excessively tight, would feel like a garotte. I have found over the years that the more aggressive we became with the platysma, particularly when banding was...
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+1
Neck tightness
I would go see your board - certified plastic surgeon to make sure that you don't have a hematoma in your neck. That being said, you are likely experiencing swelling related to the surgery which should improve in the next week or two.
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1
Too tight facelift?
The feeling in your neck should get better but it may relate to the platysmaplasty. You should contact your doctor if you are concerned.
+1
Face and neck lift
The whole idea of a face lift is to tighten the underling structures, under the skin.This will give a feeling of being tight, a normal feeling, but should look natural.
Tis feeling will resolve with time.
If the neck was tightened with a suture extending from ear to ear looped in the center(Gianpapa) suture, it can be too tight, it may act as a tight string. If that is the case and it does not get better, I may get back and cut it at the center (Seen this once) so it is rare to...
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Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
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