Had lipo, no skin removed, one week ago. My neck is still partically numb. Also, when I laugh, one side of my mouth feels like it's not working totally right. Is all this normal?
Neck Still Partially Numb One Week After Lipo?
Doctor Answers 14
It is not unusual for the neck to feel numb in areas for several weeks after liposuction. The nerves are not severed, but they can be bruised by the procedure and take a few weeks to fully recover.
Thank you for your question. Numbness in the neck after neck lipo procedure is completely normal, there has been trauma to the nerves therefore taking a few weeks for sensation to return. If it is any longer than this please seek advice from your plastic surgeon.All The Best
Learn more: https://www.bellavou.co.uk/face/neck-lift/
You are only one week postsurgery. You are still swollen and it is too early to say anything about the final result. That being said, it is very normal to have decreased sensation and some asymmetry. Nerves don't like to be pushed, squished, or otherwise. It takes a while, (sometimes several weeks), for nerves to come back. Nerve recovery is hard to predict. Make sure you keep your surgeon informed.
Learn more: http://www.jjrothmd.com/procedures/liposuction
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The numbness after neck liposuction is very common and I inform my patients about this before any neck procedures. This happens as a result of the separation of the skin from the underlying tissue and stretching of the nerves during liposuction. The nerves almost always return though in some patients it can take some time. Likewise, the nerve to the corner of the mouth can be stretched or bruised in much the same way causing a transient crooked smile. Nerves are generally slow to heal so it can take some time for function and sensation to return but most patients experience recovery as quick as 1 month and others may take up to 6 months, sometimes longer. The good news is that things will get better. Good Luck!
Learn more: http://www.northsideplasticsurgery.com
Numbness after liposuction is normal. One week is very early in the healing process and I would expect the feeling to return over time though some permanent numbness is always possible. As to the crooked smile, this is more concerning. This may be due to swelling or actual nerve damage. Unfortunately time will tell if this will resolve or not but not much can be done in either event.
Numbness of the neck skin after Chin or Neck Liposuction is common and usually resolves although sensory nerve healing takes a long time, possibly many months.
Weakness of one side of the mouth and a crooked or asymmetrical smile may indicate injury to the Marginal Mandibular Nerve, a motor nerve which controls the mouth. This nerve runs very superficial near the corner of the mouth and can be injured if liposuction is done near or through the corner of the mouth.
Fortunately when this injury does occur it is usually temporary and mouth function with a symmetrical smile returns between 3-6 weeks.
However you should see your doctor to bring this to his attention. In some cases a DC Electric Stimulator can be used to preserve muscle function and speed recovery if your function has not returned by 6 weeks.
Learn more: http://drseckel.com/double-chin/eliminate-double-chin-with-laser-liposuction/
Wagner2167,
Thanks for the question. It is not unusual at all to have numbness following liposuction. At one week, you are very early in the healing process. The numbness may take several weeks to completely resolve, and should not cause alarm. The crooked smile is typically secondary to bruising or stretching of the marginal mandibular nerve. This, again, can take several weeks to resolve. If you have concerns, I recommend following up with your surgeon.
Warmest Regards,
Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS
One week after surgery is very early--you still have swelling. The numbness you have should resolve over time (can take weeks or even sometimes a few months). The smile issue you have is usually related to swelling around the motor nerve to the lower lip--this also should resolve over time, but may take longer than the numbness to improve.
It is common for skin in the treated area to be numb for months after liposuction. The feeling that one side of your mouth is not working correctly is most likely due to temporary paralysis of a nerve that controls a muscle of the mouth called the marginal mandibular nerve. It can be traumatized or cut (rarely) during liposuction of the neck.
In performing liposuction of the neck, the skin is undermined with appropriate
instrumentation (cannulas). Combined with expected mild swelling, there is a temporary numbness produced in all cases. This numbness gradually improves but it often takes at least several weeks and often up to several months to completely abate.
Without knowing more about your specific procedure, seeing photos, etc., I am unable to comment about the function of the side of your mouth. Nevertheless, in general, time is on your side. I recommend waiting a few months to see if there is resolution. Of course, it is always best to follow-up with your doctor regarding these matters.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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