Muscle or Nerve Damage with Forehead Lipoma Removal?

Question

I had a small lipoma removed from the right side of my forehead by a plas. surgeon a week ago. It was performed in the hospital under gen. anest. The next day, my right eye was swollen & very black and blue. It is just starting to look better, 7 days later. What I'm more concerned about is the numbness on the top of my head and soreness when I squint or raise my eyebrows. My Dr said he had to move a muscle, but didn't damage it. I'm worried that he did do some damage. How do I know?

Norman Bakshandeh Day, MD, FACS · Answer

Most if not all of forehead lipomas are subgaleal or underneath the muscle. Some swelling after head and neck surgery is normal. All swelling/bruising in the forehead eventually migrates south to the eyes before resolving.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

You need to understand that 90% of lipomas of the forehead are under the frontalis muscle and on top of bone. When removing these lipomas the muscle fibers has to be seperated, pushed aside to get to the lipoma. The sensory nerve fibers, many of them are distributed above and under the muscle, during surgery they can be stretched, and will result in numbness that can last up to three months. Most of the time the sensation will return.

Muscle or Nerve Damage with Forehead Lipoma Removal?

Answers (2)