Had lower face & neck lift. Stitches on front of ears are fine, but staples at back of my ears and neck sting and itch?

I too have abandoned staples behind the ear in a facelift simply because of the reason you are experiencing. I'm not sure if you are having an allergic reaction to them or if that is just the nature of the beast. Every facelift patient I have had absolutely cannot wait to have the staples out and have a huge relief once they are out. The area itself is difficult to sleep on and prone to irritation. Ask your surgeon when they can be removed as hopefully it is soon. Additionally, ask your surgeon if a mild hydrocortisone cream (or Benadryl cream) would be OK to use. 

Thanks for your question. This could be caused by a few things. It's been years since I used surgical staples regularly (it was during my residency) but I never saw a reaction like you're talking about. I guess it would be possible if you were really sensitive to Nickel. More likely, you're having itching and stinging because of nerve regrowth and healing in the area. You can also have a contact allergy to certain topical antibiotic ointments if you're using one. In any case, you should visit with your surgeon ASAP to get things checked.