Releasing tight neck lift sutures after 4 years?

Question

It's now 4 years since a neck lift, with constant tightness, choking and pain from where the sutures are anchored on the mastoids, and across my neck. The knots on the mastoid haven't changed so clearly they are permanent sutures. Doc said they are Maxon 2-0, two stitches each side. I will not return to the surgeon in Costa Rica. Can't find anyone in Seattle who has cut these sutures before. Seems straightforward and worth a try. Has anyone done this before? Anything I should be aware of? Thank you.

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Patients with questions and concerns about their neck  should follow up and address those concerns with the surgeon that performed the operation. Generally, plastic surgeons in the US don't follow up patients that underwent plastic surgery outside the US due to the liability.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

if still present, can be cut and released.  Your suture should have dissolved by now so if it hasn't, it would suggest something else was used.  Regardless, I'm surprised you cannot find a surgeon locally to manage this for you, especially since you will be paying full fee for it.  If you can't find someone in Seattle (which I would be terribly disappointed in my colleague), keep enlarging the circle and making calls.  You will be able to eventually find someone.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many facelifts and Neck Lifts over the past 30 years.  This is "not" a common method of dealing with sagging tissues and platysma muscle in the neck.  Non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.  What you are describing is a "clothesline" type permanent suture that's typically placed from the mastoid bone on one side of the neck across the front of the neck to the mastoid bone on the other side.  This is well "known" to create sensations similar to strangulation in the front of the neck from the constant suture pressure to the neck tissues and airway below.  Maxxon is an absorbable suture often used in SMAS re-approximation during a SMAS facelift.  However, this suture will absorb in several months and would not be suitable for that type of suspension technique that require a nylon type permanent suture be used. Using incisions behind each ear and under the chin, the sutures can be isolated in mastoid region and in the front of the neck so they can be cut thereby believing the pressure and discomfort.  Hope this helps.

Releasing tight neck lift sutures after 4 years?

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Releasing tight neck lift sutures after 4 years?

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Everything you need to know about Neck Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.