"Pulling Sensation" and Numbness After Mini-lift?

asked 1 year ago by beann in Wisconsin
Latest answer by David Hansen, MD
Question viewed 782 times
Tags: nerve damage, numb, pulled

I had a mini-lift done 3 months ago. Just where the bottom of my earlobes connect to the sides of my face, I feel a "pulling sensation". As it doesn't hurt, I find it annoying. Is this normal and will it go away? Also, when I touch the skin on my face right in front of my ear-hole, I can't feel it. Is this normal after 3 months, or do I have nerve damage?

11 answers to "Pulling Sensation" and Numbness After Mini-lift?

Numbness

It is not at all uncommon to have numbness at the ear lobe area. This is usually transatory. The pulling sensation is also normal.Be patient

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drbray.com

Pulling and numbness is normal and will go away

Commonly after a Facelift, whether a mini lift or standard Facelift, numbness and pulling sensations can manifest. Numbness is quite common, but generally gets better over time. The majority of patients will improve with the numbness problems in the first weeks and then as the months go by numbness generally resolves. Numbness as a permanent problem is possible but is rare. Pulling sensation is standard as well, particularly just after the procedure, but long term... more

David Q. Santos, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Pulling and numbness after minilifts are normal for at least 6 months.

The pulling sensation and the numbness can last up to 6 months quite easily and may take up to 12 months to resolve completely. You shouldn't worry at this time. Enjoy the new you and don't let the sensations annoy you since you know they are only temporary. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Pulling Sensation Could Be Internal HEaling & Scar Formation

The pulling senasation could be internal healing and scar formation that typically occurs with any Face Lift procedure. Patients sometimes report a pinching sensation as well, which has the same cause. Tingling and mild lightning type shooting sensation is an indication of cutaneous nerve regeneration which again is very typical after any type of Face Lift. As long as your earlobe doesn't start to pull forward or downward, this is normal post op healing...but please... more

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

Pulling sensation and numbness after mini-lift is normal...

To feel a pulling sensation and numbness 3 months after surgery is acceptable because you are still in the process of healing. It can take several months to be completely healed, but in time you should regain full feeling in your face. The nerve endings have to regenerate into the skin and that may take 6 months or more. As the skin relaxes, the pulling sensation should resolve, but if you notice thickening of the incision around the... more

Andrew Miller, MD
Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

"Pulling sensation" and numbness 3 months after mini-lift.

At three months, you have not completely healed, and the "pulling sensation" will continue to improve over the next several months. If it does not completely resolve, a revision of this area under local anesthesia to take tension off the cheek skin by the earlobe with long-acting dissolvable sutures to the mastoid fascia just behind the earlobe will relieve this completely, but will create a new scar (probably a better one as there is less tension) and can also correct the... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Numbness and Tingling after Facelift

During any surgical face lifting procedure the skin must be separated from underlying tissues to some degree, and the peripheral nerve branches that give sensation to the skin are cut. These tiny branches almost always reattach normally, but they grow at a very slow rate. Around the three month point some of these nerve endings are starting to reattach. This can lead to odd sensations which are temporary. Most patietns have completely normal sensation between 3-12 months postop... more

Roy A. David, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Abnormal Sensations after Mini-lift

The "pulling" sensation you are experiencing on the earlobe is most likely normal, and secondary to scar tissue formation under the skin. As the scar tissue softens over time this sensation should subside. If the skin flap was pulled too tightly this may lead to a "pixie ear" deformity where the earlobe looks abnormally elongated. This will have to be evaluated after 12 months of healing. The numbness at the earlobe is also common, as the... more

Anthony Corrado, DO
Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon

Mini-facelift and sensation

It is fairly common to have some numbness of the elevated skin regions after a facelift. This suusally gets better after a few months. Pulling on the ear is can lead to a pixie deformity.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Numbness following a mini facelift

Dear Beann from Wisconsin In some rare instances after a mini facelift, numbness around the ears can persist up to six months. The pulling sensation without discomfort could be due to return of sensory nerves functions. This sensation will resolve once the numbness subsides.

Kevin Sadati, DO
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.galleryofcosmeticsurgery.com

Sensations Following Face Lift

What you describe following a mini facelift procedure is not unusual for being 3 months out. The feeling of tightness and pulling should resolve with additional time as should the numbness around the ears and face. Although it is possible that the sensory nerve, called the great auricular nerve, was damaged during your case, it is also quite likely you are experiencing a normal recovery.