My Lower Lip Looks Like Popeye's After Neck Lift.

Question

Plastymasplasty done 2 weeks ago Dr. tells me that due to previous lipo under chin he had problem on right side when performing surgery. Now my lip won't pucker correctly and skews off to one side. My right side was twice as swollen and stiff around jaw/chin area and I am having trouble opening my jaw wide. I also have a lesion on my neck that started out as a bruise and is now a yellow scab with some pus that will leave a dime size scar when healed. There is some tingling/burning sensation.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

It is too soon to know if this is due to swelling or is permanent. You have to wait 3-6 months and see if the nerve recovers. No surgery in the meantime as this will make matters worse.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

The lip asymmetry is due to a type of nerve injury that can happen after face/neck surgery.  The good news is that it typically recovers fully withing 6-8 months.

Kimberly Lee, MD · Answer

There is a branch of the facial nerve that controls depression of the lower lip.  If this nerve is stretched, the function is likely to fully recover, although it will take some time.  If there is more permanent damage, then there are surgical and non-surgical options to address it.  However, it is too early to tell.

S. Randolph Waldman, MD · Answer

It almost appears from the photos that you had a chin implant inserted?  If you did then the function should reutnr earlier than later ie within a few weeks as it is muscular in origin. 

	 

	If no chin implant then it is likely that there is some injury to the facial nerve that moves the lower lip downward.  This could be in the form of swelling and irritation of the nerve or more unlikely the nerve could have been inadvertently cut during the dissection.  Hopefully that is not the case, but if it is then you may require months to regain some of the function.  Fortunately for all of the other readers out there and a message to your friends ..... this type of problem is  exceedingly rare.  I wish you the best as you recover.

Reginald Rice, MD, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately you have suffered an injury to a branch of the facial nerve that runs just beneath the jawline. Hopefully the nerve was only stretched, not cut --you can expect full recovery if the nerve was only injured without being cut. It may take months.

	 

	The swelling indicates that you probably had more oozing of blood on that side--common, and should not effect the overall outcome of your surgery. Continue careful wound care to the scab and be sure to visit your surgery as often as necessary until the wounds are healed.

	Good luck!

My Lower Lip Looks Like Popeye's After Neck Lift.

Answers (6)

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Answer: Question

Answer: Marginal branch of the facial nerve injury

Answer: Marginal branch of the facial nerve injury

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My Lower Lip Looks Like Popeye's After Neck Lift.

Answers (6)

Answer: Question

Answer: Question

Answer: Marginal branch of the facial nerve injury

Answer: Marginal branch of the facial nerve injury

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Neck Lift

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