Post surgery nerve endings healing: have you ever had any patients experience numbness, burning, and tingling 1 year post-op?

Question

It's been one year and I am still experiencing some numbness, burning and tingling after facelift, lip lift and chin revision - I would greatly appreciate knowing what has been the longest period of healing experienced by your patients? - I am concerned that the pain will be forever !?

Dana Goldberg, MD · Answer

Sorry you have had this side effect. I hope it improves for you. I have seen nerve sensation improvement for up to 3 or 4 years after surgery. Touching the skin with various textures and pressures can help decrease the burning and tingling over time. It’s like physical therapy for the nerves. If there are specific areas, then sometimes this can be due to scar tissue interacting with the nerves. In those cases, injecting a combination of local anesthetic and steroid can help soften scar tissue and sometimes improve symptoms.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Although numbness of the facelift takes a variable amount of time to recover, the burning and tingling sensation are pointing more towards a neuropathic response to the surgery.It would help to discuss your concerns with your surgeon and open the possibility of seeing a pain specialist who might be able to assist and speed up your recovery. Abnormal response during the nerve healing is one of the unfortunate consequences of trauma or surgery, but there are increasing options for management and a diagnosis of the problem would be the starting point.

Kevin Ende, MD · Answer

Most patients are numb after a facelift.  Some patients are numb longer than others.  Although having numbness after one year is not the norm, it certainly does happen.  There are treatments that either your plastic surgeon or a neurologist can prescribe that may help until this resolves.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. Sorry to hear you are still experiencing these symptoms, it is quite Common for numbness to still be present at this stage, numbness can last for sometime after surgery, as nerves that have been damaged need time to heal. If you feel you need reassurance or more advise then return back to your surgeon, who will explain this more in-depth and give you the reassurance you need. All the best

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question. I am sorry to hear that your symptoms have persisted this long after your facelift. Most patients experience numbness, particularly around the ears, for a few months after surgery. This generally resolved between 4 and 6 months. Around the time when the nerves are reconnecting, it is common to feel tingling or "electric" sensations. After one year, this is much less common. At this point, you may wish to see a neurologist in addition to your surgeon. This can help to identify any issues that could be remedied and make sure that something more serious is not happening. Thank you and take care.

Richard G. Schwartz, MD · Answer

It is quite common to have areas of numbness and paresthesias (various tingling type sensations) in the first 3-4 months following facelift surgery.  Such surgery involves raising the skin off the deeper tissues, separating nerve endings from the skin, and healing of the nerves produces these abnormal sensations.  Occasionally some areas of numbness and strange sensations persist for a year or so and rarely can even be permanent.  Again, this has to do with nerve healing.  I recommend a gentle massage of the areas to my patients.  You could also check with a pain management specialist to see if some medication can “calm” down the irritable nerve fibers.  I expect this will improve over time.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and I am sorry you are still seeing this side effect. Numbness can last for some time when the nerves have been damaged. You may still see some improvement in the months ahead. However, I would schedule a follow-up with your provider for an in-person assessment to determine whether the damage might be permanent at this point.

James H. Rogers, MD · Answer

It is common to experience some numbness as well as other abnormal nerve sensations (paraesthesias) after surgery. Most of these resolve rather quickly within the first several months, although can last longer. Developement of these sensations in an area that was previously numb is generally a good sign that normal nerve function is returning.Changes can certainly continue over time, but generally if the symtoms have not resolved after two years they are unlikely to do so.If a patient is experiencing this problem for a longer than average time, it is important to evaluate for treatable causes such as nerve entrapment or impingement, etc. I also recommend vigorous massage and find ultrasonic massage to occasionally be helpful.

Christine Rodgers, MD · Answer

HI sheysa,Yes, I have had patients experience some numbness, itching , tingling, etc., for almost 2 years out. It may take quite a bit of time for these feelings to subside  but they should continue to get better as time progresses. I know that it is so hard to be patient, but that really is your only option at this point.Best to you,Dr. Christine Rodgers

Andrew Wolfe, MD · Answer

It’s unfortunate that you are still experiencing discomfort this far out from your surgery.  I have seen improvement in sensation and nerve issues as far as 18 months out, so you will hopefully continue to improve in the future.

Post surgery nerve endings healing: have you ever had any patients experience numbness, burning, and tingling 1 year post-op?

Answers (10)

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