Fluid Collecting After Neck Lift - Any Ideas?

Given, that you had already surgery for an "overactive" salivary gland, it is likely that the fluid represents leakage from one of your salivary glands. This can be verified by a simple laboratory test of the fluid your surgeon removes. In facelift surgery, the most likely gland is your parotid which sits in fron and below your ears. Botox injections, drainage and patience are possible treatment options. This is a very rare but well known complication that most experienced facelift surgeons have seen once or twice in their career. Have an open discussion with your surgeon about his plan and whether he feels comfortable treating you.

First, diagnostic sampling and aspiration of the fluid collection must be performed.  If the amylase level is high, indicating a salivary leak, then this should be managed surgically.  If the amylase is normal, then this is likely a seroma, which can be treated with frequent aspiration.  However, at 9 weeks out, there is likely a capsule that has formed that would benefit from surgical excision.

Persistent clear fluid collections after salivary gland removal would be concern for a salivary gland injury.  Alternatively, this could represent a seroma.  The former may be treated without surgery, the latter may require surgery this far out as the cavity may become epithelialized.  Make sure you are seeing a board certified plastic surgeon.