2 years post face lift and I have chronic burning pain. What kind of doctor could help?

This is highly unusual after a facelift.  Where is the location of her pain?  Is it bilateral? Was it a more aggressive type of lift like a subperiosteal lift?  It may be that a revision of the lift, removing any sutures that may have caused nerve entrapment may be necessary.  

This is a tough problem to deal with. A good place to start is a board certified pain management specialist. After exhausting those options re-operation may help, there are no guarantees but it may be the only option left. I hope this helps!Ritu Chopra MD

Hello, Thank you for your question. Anticonvulsant medications such as Gabapentin are often beneficial for chronic nerve related pain where narcotic pain relievers have little affect. Why not ask your primary care physician or Plastic Surgeon to refer you to a pain management specialist. Take care. 

facelift and facial rejuvenation and  chronic painpain is always difficult to solve.details of the surgery may help including suture materials and deep workpain management doctor is also helpfultens, massage, accupuncture have all been useful

Thank you for your question. It is best to speak with the plastic surgeon and use his/ her referrals and resources for pain management. At 2 years one would expect some relief. All the best,

I'm not really certain why there is significant facial pain two years after a facelift. First of all the cause the pain needs to be established. Nerves causing pain can be obliterated exchanging numbness for pain which sounds like a proper thing in this particular circumstance.

Sorry to hear about your sister.  Chronic pain can be very debilitating.  Ideally she should see a physician board certified in pain management specifically through the american board of anesthesiology or american board of physical medicine and rehab.  They are both qualified pain physicians.  

All surgeons that do facelifts will have a patient in their carrier that will experience this strange chronic pain sensation. The pain is real, but there is no explanation on what causes it in most cases. I agree that gabapentin is a wonderful medicine to improve patients with this problem. More surgery has not proven, in my opinion, improvement because in most cases the pain will go away without the need of surgery. If surgery is offered, it should be when a particular nerve has been identified as the cause.Pain management experts (anesthesiologist pain specialist) are also helpful in this situations.Hope this helps,Dr. Gus Diaz

Sorry to hear about your friend's troubles. That is very unusual. If nothing else is working, it makes us wonder if a revision of the facelift, attempting to decompress the offending nerve might help? No promises could be made, but that might offer some relief. Best wishes.

These strange pain syndromes do come up and are frustrating.    In over 30 years of practice and some 1500 facelifts I have had 4 patients with prolonged discomfort after surgery.    I tried all the usual and I do think gabapentin in the correct dose helps.   At times steroid injections around and behind the ears help.   The good news is that with time all have cleared up, but one patient took 5 years to attain comfort.   Try a consultation with an anesthesiologist that practices pain management.   They often work magic with these uncomfortable patients.     My Best,  Dr Commons