Post neck lipo and trachea reduction - How can I get rid of this scar that pulls when I turn my head? (Photos)

Question

I had a little bit of lipo done on my neck as well as a trachea reduction, and the skin pulls when I turn my head. It’s been like this for years and I hate it, what can I do that will actually work, surgical nd non surgical?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

What you’re describing sounds like a tethered scar or adhesion—this happens when scar tissue binds deeper structures.

Non-surgical options:

Steroid injections (if thickened scar component)
Subcision to release the tethering
Laser or RF microneedling for surface improvement

Most effective option if long-standing:

Surgical scar revision with release of adhesions

If the pulling has been present for years, a combination approach (release + resurfacing) is often what gives the best result.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

From the history of prior procedures in the region, scar formation beneath the skin surface may be responsible for the pulling sensation and restriction when turning the head. If so, then the use of intralesionally injected anti-inflammatory agent(s) can be expected to diminish the scarring (much the way they reduce the size and thickness of scars and diminish the discomfort from keloid and hypertrophic scars that result on the surface of the skin). You would be wise to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist and best of luck.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

The scar is horizontal - that's from the tracheal reduction. The vertical lines, if those are bothering you, are due to skin looseness possibly after liposuction. There are ways to tighten the skin. Having done more tracheal shaves than likely anybody, we are facile at helping with this.

Gautham Ullas, BMBS, BMedSci, FRCS (ORL-HNS) · Answer

Do you mean the banding from your neck to under the chin?That is usually from partial skeletonisation of the platysma. It can be released under local anaesthetic.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on your nicely posted photos best to do a virtual consultation, but in that instead, mini or full open necklace is indicated. These could range from $5000-$20,000. Best of virtual console

Post neck lipo and trachea reduction - How can I get rid of this scar that pulls when I turn my head? (Photos)

Answers (6)

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