Neck numbness 18 months post face and neck lift - could this develop into facial paralysis?

Hi, thank you for your question. The numbing sensation after facelift is very common for a period of 12 to 24 months after surgery. This type of sensation loss is due to the sensory nerves . These nerves are different from the motor nerves. Sensory nerves carry signals to your brain, to help the surface of the skin feel a touch. Motor nerves, are deeper and carry signals to your brain to tell the facial muscles to move and make facial expressions. When you have less facial sensation, don't be alarmed as this is temporary and will not evolve into facial palsy. Facelift surgery is tricky because we can inadvertently cut or, damage small branches of cutaneous sensitive nerves but, the most common reason for a loss of sensation is due to the skin flap undermining and elevation . In 90% of patients normal sensations return. In your case, if it still feels numb, don't worry too much, as the loss of sensation is superficial and not the same as loss of motor nerve function nor will it result in facial palsy.

Hello, hope you are well. The short answer is a definitive 'no.' Assuming the numbness was a result of surgery, it will not spread. You likely had a sensory nerve injury, and those types of nerve injuries usually heal very slowly. Since the 'damage has been done'. you don't need to worry about motor nerve involvement or paralysis if it is not already present. Motor nerve injuries present immediately after surgery, not 18+ months later. If at some point in the future you have a new onset of facial paralysis, it would not be related to surgery but some other pathology.
Best,Dr. Tower