Does partial resection of the submandibular glands (for a deep neck lift) cause dry mouth later in life?

Question

I've read a lot of academic journal articles and doctors' responses on RealSelf about the pros and cons of partial submandibular gland resection for a better jaw contour. My doctor is experienced with them and seems to be well-regarded. I understand there are risks because of nearby nerves, and possibly dry mouth, but many doctors say that dry mouth is rare. However, is it possible that the possible slight reduction in saliva production only becomes apparently/problematic in old age?

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

In average submandibular glands produce about 15-20% of saliva. Resection of external, lower portion of submandibular gland ( deep, upper portion is not visible and is not removed for neck lift contouring) will not cause a significant loss of saliva production even in older age. However, individual differences are hard to consider. Hope this helps.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your question. You raise a very valid point to which science has not offered good answers so far. Dryness of the mouth can occur later in life without any prior interventions on the salivary glands. Sjögren’s syndrome is one potential reason, and it does affect a reasonably large proportion of the Western population.

Another factor that tends to lead to dryness of the mouth later in life is the tendency to drink less fluids and the likelihood of sleeping with the mouth open at night, which then feels very dry in the morning.

Submandibular glands are sometimes removed completely for health reasons. Maxillofacial and ENT specialists who carry out this type of surgery indicate that, in their experience, removing one of the submandibular glands completely, which totals more than the reduction of both in terms of salivary tissue, does not seem to lead to dryness of the mouth in people who did not have pre-existing problems.

That being said, these conclusions are based on shorter follow-ups rather than lifelong monitoring.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

We frankly do not have the data to answer this question yet. It is certainly a possibility. I try not to remove glands unless it is necessary for the desired outcome.

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. The short answer is 'no', this will not appreciably impact your saliva production at any stage of life. We are built with a lot of redundancy including other major salivary glands that easily compensate for partial resection of the submandibular glands.
Best,Dr. Tower

Does partial resection of the submandibular glands (for a deep neck lift) cause dry mouth later in life?

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