Submental adhesion after tracheal shave? Vocal range loss, odd swallowing sensation, indentations. Is revision possible? (Photo)

Question

PLEASE HELP! Four years ago I had a tracheal shave and platysmaplasty, immediately after I had a significant decrease in the upper register of my vocal range, an odd sensation while swallowing, and the feeling of a phantom hand around my neck. My ENT said there was no damage to my vocal cords, so anterior detachment is very unlikely. I suspect it's due to excess scar tissue/adhesions in the submental region. Has anyone seen/experienced these complications, and is there a procedure to fix it?

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

This is very unusual condition. Very likely that swallowing and "other sensations" are related to scar adhesion. Direct scar release using exciting submental incision and fat grafting to avoid secondary adhesions may be some of the options. In person evaluation with a board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in face and neck surgery is recommended. Good luck.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Like skin/tissue adhesions anywhere else in the body, the skin needs to be released and interpositional tissue placed. (fat grafting) Whether this is best done with fat injections or the placement of small dermal-fat graft can be debated. This would be effective IF the primary problem is a skin adhesion/scar contracture. If this is due to an overly tight platysma muscle, of which there is no way to absolutely whether it is or isn't, then that would have ti be released as well.

Submental adhesion after tracheal shave? Vocal range loss, odd swallowing sensation, indentations. Is revision possible? (Photo)

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