Strange feelings on ear after face lift 7 months ago. Will they get better? (Photo)

Question

I had a face life 7 months ago and am still having very strange feelings on the outer ear. I can't hold a phone to it and feel on my ear where it is. When I blow dry my hair it feels very funny like I am in a canyon. Most of the time it feels like I have a clip on the outside rim of the ear with extreme pressure. When I touch or scratch my neck just under my ear it hurts the ear area. Is there anything that can help this? Is there still hope for a recovery? What is going on?

Michael Boggess, MD · Answer

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  The symptoms that you are describing sound typical for a greater auricular nerve injury, which is a risk with facelift surgery.  This can cause feelings of numbness of the ear and can sometimes be associated with some sensations of pain due to neuropathy.  These symptoms will typically resolve in 6 - 12 months, but may last up to 2 years, and can rarely be permanent.  I would suggest that you address your concerns with your physician and allow him/her to evaluate your healing and determine the best plan for management, if any, indicated at this time.  Most likely watchful waiting will be recommended in anticipation that these symptoms will likely resolve over time.  I wish you the best in your recovery process.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Because your incision is placed around your ear, it can be common to have some hypersensitivity or decreased sensation around your incision site after surgery due to nerve irritation. These pictures are from early after your operation and it would be nice to see pictures of how they look at 7 months out. I recommend that you follow-up with your surgeon for an examination. If it is nerve irritation then gentle massage can help desensitize the irritated nerve.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

If you are having pain, it may be that the scars are causing tenderness.  This can be improved by injections of the scars with steroids.  If the scars look okay, your best option is to wait it out.  The discomfort should improve with time,.

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

If the scar is still tender 7 months after surgery, you may consider a scar revision to remove scar and release any scar that may be causing pain.  Before this is tried, steroid injections can help relieve pain associated with scars.

Sean R. Weiss, MD, FACS · Answer

following a facelift Ear numbness is fairly common.  Typically this improves over the course of 6 months or so, but can take as much as a year.  In rare cases if the nerve that gives sensation to the ear was cut during surgery the sensation may not return.  For you the fact that you have some sensation is promising.  Give it time and you may find that things return to normal over the next few months.  Best regards

Afschin Ghofrani, MD · Answer

Most probably you have suffered an injury of the great auricular nerve. While it may improve over time, if the nerve was not completely cut, it may be permanent in case of a through and through injury of the nerve. I would recommend that you talk to your PS about this problem and seek advice, as he knows best what may have happened and how to help.Best regards

F. True Lansden, MD · Answer

Pain or strange sensations in the lobule or rim of the ear after facelift may be due to irritation of the Great Auricular Nerve that runs behind your ear and down your neck.  These sensations often resolve with time and gentle massage.

William Georgis, MD · Answer

It is typical to have unusual sensations in the ear region as well as the cheeks and neck after a facelift.  This usually lasts 6-12 months, but may persist for up to two years.  I would recommend that you set up an appointment with your surgeon to address your concerns.

Gustavo A. Diaz, MD · Answer

Hi Suze0450,The picture that you are showing is an earlobe detachment after a facelift. That is a very common occurrence after a facelift and usually the only problem that it could give is that your earlobe may attach differently when it heals. It will not produce the symptoms that you are complaining about.The concern that you have sounds more to be a problem with the Greater Auricular Nerve (GAN). Damage to this nerve that is on the neck may have the symptoms that you are describing. Sometimes the injury does not have to be that the nerve is cut, the nerve can give pain by it just being trapped in scar tissue. Consult your physician that did the surgery to see it there is another way to give you some relieve. Sometimes a course of Neurontin can give many patients improvement.Hope this helps,Dr. Gus Diaz

Paul Silverstein, MD (retired) · Answer

It is not unusual to have strange feeling and numbness in your earlobe after a face lift. 90% of these feelings will resolve within six months.  The reason for it is that the Greater Auricular nerve which supplies sensation to the neck and ear is in the path of the dissection for the face and neck lift.  Sometimes it gets stretched or even cut during the dissection, and it takes about six months for the nerve fibers to gow back and restore normal feeliong.  Be patient, and I bet the problem disappears before the year is up.

Strange feelings on ear after face lift 7 months ago. Will they get better? (Photo)

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