Almost 4 Months After Facelift, Strange New Sensations. Please Help Me to Understand What's Going On?

I had a mini lower lift 4 months ago. My primary complaint up to last week has been uncomfortable tightness around ears. That discomfort has just started to decrease but now I have some disturbing entirely new symptoms: tightness in the neck and along jaw; strange numb-like feelings from front tops of ears through the jaw. The new symptoms are not constant--they manifest every couple of days but persist for the entire day. Is it normal for new symptoms to develop after 4 months? Thanks.

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numb tightness 4 months post-op

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by SallieSu2 in NY

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Changes in Sensation Accompany Healing after Facelift

Thank you for this question. After 4 months, your face is still healing. Though all of the incisions are closed, there are changes happening in the deeper tissues: nerve endings are reconnecting, collagen is remodelling, etc.It is normal to have some changes in skin sensation during this time. A physical examination with your surgeon will be helpful to rule out anything of concern.

4 Months after Facelift and Strange Sensations

As the scars mature and tissues relax, there may be additional sensations that may be observed. An exam would be necessary to rule out anything else.

Recovering from a facelift

After 4 months you will still be healing. It is not abnormal to feel tightness, numbness, and swelling at this time. Numbness may be caused by temporary nerve damage, which will usually resolve itself within 6 months to a year following surgery. It may take even longer for a complete recovery, but it really depends on the patient and the extent of their surgery. Light massage can help, but I would only recommend the massage if you can tolerate it. I would recommend speaking with your surgeon... more

Numbness after surgery

Numbness and discomfort after surgery is normal. Over time as the facial nerves recover from the surgery, sensation starts to return. As this change occurs patient start to have all sorts of new feelings and tension in the surgical area. If your appearance is improving and your PS is not concerned, you should be fine. These sensations would improve over time as healing occurs.

Discomfort after facelift

Discomfort after facelift is common but it varies from patient to patient. Persistant pain or numbness is of more concern than the intermittent simptoms of which you complain. If your surgeon does not think anything is seriously amiss, I would tend to agree with him. Massaging your neck and incision line with a moisturizing cream for five minutes three times per day should help. Ultrasound would also give symptomatic relief. This is generally administered by physiotherapists but may be... more