Why has my face and neck felt tight since my facelift?

Question

I had a lower and mid face lift with brow lift 3 1/2 years ago. A year after that I required a revision. Now there is a constant pulling/very tight feeling in my neck and cheeks. This tightness in my neck seems to be getting worse (feels like someone has their hands around the front part of my neck choking me and I have suddenly developed enlarged glands on the side that's worse. I feel like there is a dry scab under the skin of my neck and cheeks. Do you think this fibrosis/scar tissue?

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

There seems to be a lot of questions on this website about tightness even years after facelift. I really have not seen this in my own patients and wonder what might be going on. Do you have any foreign material in your face as part of your previous facelift?

Ivan Wayne, MD · Answer

Tightness after a facelift is normal. In most face lifts some type of suture is usually used to pull back a tighten the deep tissues. They can be permanent or dissolving. What ever suture is used the one universal fact is that all tissue under tension will stretch over time. I would advise you to first talk to your surgeon. If they are ok with it I would recommend that you stretch out your neck by twisting side to side. This should help...  Good luck.

Michael Stefan, MD · Answer

This is a very good
question.Facial rejuvenation
today has undergone a substantial improvement in how we treat the aging
face.In essence, I want to
restore the “inverted cone of youth”. A face lift involves two factors, (1) Volumetric restoration of the face
due to loss of facial fat and (2) re-elevation of the malor fat pad to its
normal position along the cheek bone.By doing so, you eliminate the process of facial jowling. A surgeon must
also know and consider the vector of the skin.The vector is vertical and when the skin is pulled
horizontally towards the ear, tightness of the skin and the “windswept”
appearance of the face are created. This is permanent and not natural.By following the two tenants listed
above, relaxation of the facial elements following a face lift will occur
within a three month period.The
patient will look rejuvenated and refreshed, but not different.Prolonged problems with a facelift
indicate poor planning pre-operatively or poor execution of the lift.All scars on a facelift should be
camouflaged so that no one can see that a plastic surgeon has touched you.

Roy A. David, MD · Answer

Dear notforme,
thank you for your question.Swelling
after a facelift may persists from weeks to months, causing bumps or
asymmetries to appear. In San Diego, we
monitor our patients closely for one year to address any issues. Follow up with your surgeon to check if this
is swelling versus something else and if treatment is indicated. Best of Luck.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Some patients have specific procedures done in the neck which may feel exaclty as you describe. This can be as simple as releaseing a suture if this is one of those techniques. Best to get the records and review with a surgeon.

Why has my face and neck felt tight since my facelift?

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Answer: Facelift tightness

Answer: Facelift tightness

Answer: Neck and face issue years after surgery

Answer: Neck and face issue years after surgery

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Why has my face and neck felt tight since my facelift?

Answers (6)

Answer: Facelift tightness

Answer: Facelift tightness

Answer: Neck and face issue years after surgery

Answer: Neck and face issue years after surgery

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.