Swelling, Lumps and Indentations after Facelift/Neck Lift and Liposuction

Irregularities under the chin and at the neck can occur as a result of uneven liposuction, local differences in healing with uneven skin contraction, or inflammation due to small collections of blood or fluid (seroma) in the early healing period. Generally, irregularities that have not resolved by 6 months will not resolve. Revision usually involves undermining the skin and doing some kind of neck lift procedure, although sometimes undermining with a liposuction cannula can help. Indentations along the jawline are usually due to uneven liposuction, and those are best corrected with fat grafting.  At 4 months, most of the healing has occurred, and some kind of revision among the options above will likely be necessary.

Thank you for your question.
Based on your photograph, it seems that you may need to reconsider a revision
with a board certified plastic surgeon.
It would be unlikely that steroid injections alone would correct the
lumps and address the jaw definition.
Thank you for your question. I
wish you the best of luck.

Thank you for your question.I think I see sagging submandibular glands in your pictures.Submandibular glands are glands normally hidden deep and under the jawline but like everything else in the human body, they can sag. They sometimes get addressed during a necklift/facelift procedure but requires experience and knowledge as there is potential for serious bleeding.Thick digastric muscles could also be the cause but those would be almost midline.Large glands can sometimes be treated with Botox.Visit your plastic surgeon and initiate the conversation.Hope this helps!

Best regards,Dr. Marc DuPere, Toronto Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for the question, its always difficult to determine what is happening without seeing you in person, however lumps/bumps are common after a facelift and can take up to a year to fully resolve. Everyone is different, so i suggest you visit your surgeon for some advice. 

From the photograph it looks as though there are still platysma bands and loose skin of the neck. Depending on the facelift this might not have been in area directly treated. Nevertheless, for this issue to be resolved a revision will be necessary.

Most of the healing process  after a facelift and neck lift completes by the 3rd month after surgery. However, the final result is seeing 1 year after the procedure. Therefore swelling , bumps and lumps might be seeing more than 3 months after the surgery.In my practice, when patients present with not well defined jaw line or smooth neck after a facelift and neck lift, they  may require a revision surgery depending of the physical findings. Revision surgery is best performed after 1 year post surgery (or at least 6 months)  to make sure the tissues are well healed for a second surgery.

Considering you are now over 4 months out from your procedure, I wouldn't expect your concerns to improve on their own, or from steroid injections (though it may be worth a try since the injections are so easy). I would discuss your concerns with your surgeon. More than likely, some sort of revision will be necessary.Andrew Campbell, M.D.Facial Plastic SpecialistQuintessa Aesthetic Centers

From your pictures, I think the only answer here is some kind of revision surgery. The lumps may be a combination of a few things. They could be gathered and lax skin. It could be residual platysmal or muscle banding. It could be uneven fat from uneven liposuction, one of the lumps may be part of your salivary gland. In the end, steroid injections won't do the trick here. You would only benefit from a revision, so seek another opinion and go from there.Best of luck!Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Thank you for your time.  I think that most of the swelling would have resolved by now.  It appears you have some residual neck laxity.  This could potentially be treated with another procedure.  I would recommend speaking to your surgeon about your concerns.  All the best, 

I do see some residual platysmal bands but a physical examination is needed because one of the bumps may be a Salivary gland. Wait a little longer and then see what a revision might do for you.