Neck Bands After Face Lift/neck Lift(?)

Question

I had a SMAS face lift 5 weeks ago and I have scars on my tragus, behind my ears and under my chin. However I now have very visible strong banding in my neck which I did not have any of prior to the surgery and I cannot lift my head up with out quite bad pain. I went back to my surgeon and he put many botox injections in the bands which has helped slightly. What could be the cause of this? I should be looking better, not worse! I had a 5 hour operation under GA

Rod J. Rohrich, MD · Answer

It is not uncommon to see some neck bands or tightness after facelift. This usually resolves with massage and/or intermittent early Botox will help resolve this over 3-6 months.

Kevin Sadati, DO · Answer

Dear Sally,
	The appearance of a strong band after your face and neck lift that you did not have before is most likely caused by two factors:
	1- Platysmal muscle contracture due to irritation and inflammation after your surgery, in this case warm pad, massage, and Botox should help.
	2- If you had a neck with moderate to severe fatty deposit and just liposuction was performed in the neck area without tightening of the neck bands. The under lying neck band now is more prominent and showing. In that case a platysmaplasty in needed to correct the bands.  Wish you well.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

A painful neck band may be part of a neck plication or a platysma band that was not treated.  You will have to follow with your doctor.

Talmage J. Raine, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Sounds like the central muscle bands were plicated but not resescted in the lower half which can exacerbate and scar leading to the described deformity.If you were my patient I would resect the lower portion of the bands and tighten the upper pertion.All the best,Talmage Raine MD FACS

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

You might be experiencing pain from the muscle tightening or have early vigorous scar tissue forming.  Go back to your doctor to sort this out.

Neck Bands After Face Lift/neck Lift(?)

Answers (5)