How can a surgeon avoid damaging the nerve while shaving the salivary glands during my facelift?

I am assuming you have been offered a partial removal of the submandibular gland as part of your facelift. This is not commonly done and probably can be avoided but if you had a huge and ptotic gland an experienced surgeon in the head and neck region could safely perform the procedure but there is some risk to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. Nothing should be done to the parotid salivary gland.

The question you ask is a very good one. It is not common
for patients to have reduction of the salivary glands (parotid or
submandibular), but in some circumstances it makes all of the difference in the
overall facelift result. To ensure your result it is important that your
surgeon has done this before and has even been involved in removing these
glands for other medical reasons. To this end, you have a professional that is
qualified and understands the detailed anatomy involved in achieving your
overall facelift result.Be healthy and be well, James M. Ridgway, MD, FACS