Is it Normal for Necklift Results to Look Worse After 2 Weeks Before Improving?

Swelling immediately after surgery does tend to camouflage irregularities.  Swelling tends to increase for about 3 days after any surgery and does worsen for bit after drain removal.  Then as your swelling settles you will feel the irregularities from other issues such as stitches that you can feel or swollen glands or residual fat that may be in the process of absorbing.  Normal healing takes approximately 6-8 weeks and full remodeling takes up to a year.  My recommendation is try to be patient with this and realize it looked good initially and likely will look great eventually. 

Without knowing the techniques applied during your procedure, it's difficult to access. Though recovery from a surgical #necklift varies from person to person, patients are generally presentable within three weeks from surgery. Generally, it will take approximately 7-10 days for the early healing. Also, wearing a #compression garment may be suggested the first week and then nightly for up to six weeks.
The #incision scars from a necklift will soften and fade away within six to twelve months from the surgery date. During this time, the rejuvenating effects of the necklift will become most obvious and the neck feels the most normal (ex. little discomfort, soft, normal sensation, no more post-op firmness). Following this stage, the true restorative effects of your necklift result will be apparent. If during your healing, you have any concerns, it is suggested to call your board-certified surgeon or their medical staff and discuss those #concerns.

What you described might be totally normal and it takes a few months to glimpse at the end result. Edema shifts, relaxing of internal stitches and changes after they dissolve if absorbable, whether or not your submandibular glands swelled as a result of surgery, resolving hematoma or seroma and many other factors that resolve often are at their worst at this time as resolving edema unmasks their presence. Follow you plastic surgeon's advice and see him regularly. Massage, ultrasound are sometimes helpful

This is not uncommon.I habe my patients wear a compression strap for at least 2 weeks post op or longer if they want.This helps with the swelling.

Hello,

Some swelling in the first week after your neck lift is normal. To.minimize this and help expedite healing wearing a neck compression garment will be helpful. Doing so as much as you can in the first 2-3 weeks will help expedite your healing. Massaging the neck area starting at 2-3 weeks will also be helpful.

All the best,

Dr Remus Repta

It doesn't sound like you need to be concerned at this point. As you heal from neck surgery, several things happen. Swelling slowly builds over several days and then starts to recede. Inflammation develops over a week, and then resolves very slowly over many months.Because of this, the neck often looks great the day after surgery because you haven't created much inflammation and the swelling has not gotten bad yet. By the second day, the swelling has increased to a point that you can't see the developing inflammation. Over several weeks, the swelling improves, allowing you to see the underlying inflammatory response. The inflammation looks lumpy and uneven and is usually somewhat tender. You can get enlarged lymph nodes in response to the irritation and this may be the enlarged glands you mention (although it is also possible that you are seeing the normal submandibular salivary glands that were exposed as the neck was contoured- if this is the case, these will not improve), in which case these will slowly go away. As the swelling continues to improve and as the inflammation gets better, your neck should start getting smoother. If you have concerns, let your surgeon know. They are in the best position to help guide you (as worry free as possible) through the recovery process. Good Luck.

The reason this area is lumpy is because there was a lot of work done under the chin.  The neck may have been liposuctioned and the platysmal bands repaired.  With the dissolving sutures it is normal for temporary lumpiness under the chin.  The swollen "glands" or lymph nodes are also very common just from healing.  A this will also go away.  Sometimes after a facelift the submandibular glands may become more noticeable and this may be what you are seeing.  Speak to your plastic surgeon at your next visit and discuss this with him.  Good luck,