I'm 9 Weeks Post Op Following a Face/neck Lift with Significate Pain Around my Ears, Face and Neck (Under Entire Jaw Line)?

I believe it is a combination of nerve pain/swelling. I have severe burning pain all the time around ears, face and neck. IIt's worse on the left side (most of my ear is still numb on this side). I have been taking muscle relaxers, anti-spasm meds, Tylenol, Benadryl (advise of PS), and recently Ibuprofen. The pain is excruciating most all the time. I'm having difficulty just getting through the day. What can I do to get this burning pain/swelling under control?

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Mal

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Nerve Pain after Facelift

Although this may only be temporary, Neurontin or Lyrica may be beneficial during the recovery period. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Pain around ears, face and neck 9 weeks after facelift

What you describe could be a form of neuralgia. Neuralgia results from irritation to a nerve, and can be caused by trauma to an area, including surgery. Symptoms may appear as follow: 1) Your skin may be more sensitive in the area of the irritated nerve 2) You may have sharp shooting pains along the affected nerve 3) You may feel numbness along the nerve Anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen or ibuprofen may help, and there are also specific medications that... more

Face lift burning sensation around the neck and ears

It sounds like your doctor is doing all the right things. Musle relaxants are definitely one thing I would stick too. There are also other medications that could help your discomfort like nortryptiline, valium, etc. Possibly carbamazepine could help to if it is of neural origin. You also could be developing more scars. Steroid injections could help as well. This will get better with time. Your plastic surgeon will hold your hand through it all.

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Neuralgia after facelift

I agree . This will decrease and probably stop in time. Lyrica and neurontin should help in the meantime. It is only a temporary annoyance

Burning pain after facelift

Sounds like post op neuralgia. It resolves with time but to help you until then I would recommend lyrica or neurontin. The nerves have been irritated and need time to settle.

Severe pain 9 weeks after a facelift

Judging by the quality and the location of your pain, it sounds like a postoperative neuralgia. The sensory nerve that supplies sensation to the areas you are complaining about is in the area of surgical dissection and might have been irritated by the procedure. I assume there are no signs of infection such as redness, discharge, fever, etc. Anti-neuralgia medications such as Neurontin, Carbamazepine, or Lyrica are a valid option at this time. These symptoms should resolved... more

I'm 9 Weeks Post Op Following a Face/neck Lift with Significate Pain Around my Ears, Face and Neck (Under Entire Jaw Line)?

The severe burning sensation sounds like you may be developing hypertrophic scars along the Face Lift incision lines. You should go back to the plastic and cosmetic surgeon to evaluate how the scars are healing and to recommend treatment if they are the cause of your discomfort. Burning or itching along the incision lines is and indication of an over active healing response and hypertrophic scar tissue formation that requires treatment and intervention. more

Relief from Nerve Pain

Sorry to hear of your post-op pain (neuralgia). The burning is characteristic of nerve irritation, which can occur after any procedure. The good news is that these symptoms usually clear fairly quickly as the post-op tissue swelling and tightness resolve. Sometimes, a short course of anti-inflammatories, including steroid medication can be very helpful in reducing the intensity and duration of pain. There are medications (like Lyrica) that can work particularly... more