10 months after necklift I have a swallowing issue, burning pain & tiny hard bumps

Question

I had a neck lift 10 months ago and since my tongue feels raised and pulled back. Swallowing is uncomfortable and i swallow a bit of air every time. Some days i feel choked. My board certified PS has no answers. Could the muscle have been attached to the hyoid bone? Can this be reversed? It is extremely uncomfortable and distressing. Also, I have had burning pain on sides of neck below earlobes. When I press down in the area I feel tiny, hard bumps. I have tried massage but can't break them up. Could these be granuloma? Fibrosis? If so, what is the best way to treat them? They are very uncomfortable.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. I'm sorry to hear about the discomfort you're experiencing following your neck lift surgery. It sounds quite distressing, and addressing these issues requires a detailed understanding of the potential causes and appropriate treatments.

1. Tongue and Swallowing Issues
The sensation of your tongue feeling raised and pulled back, along with difficulties swallowing and feeling choked, could be related to changes or tension in the muscles of the neck and throat after surgery. During a neck lift, the platysma muscle and other structures in the neck are manipulated. If these muscles or connective tissues were attached or altered, it could affect the alignment of the hyoid bone and the surrounding anatomy. This might result in the sensations you're describing. While this isn't a typical complication, it's important to address it with a specialist. If your current surgeon cannot provide answers, seeking a consultation with a head and neck surgeon or otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) might offer further insights and potential solutions. They can evaluate if there has been any unusual attachment or disruption of the muscles and discuss possible corrective measures.

2. Burning Pain and Hard Bumps
The burning pain on the sides of your neck below the earlobes and the presence of tiny, hard bumps could indicate granulomas or fibrosis. Granulomas are inflammatory responses that can occur at the site of surgery, while fibrosis involves the thickening and scarring of connective tissue. Both can cause discomfort and be challenging to treat. The hard bumps you feel could be scar tissue or residual inflammation. If the bumps are granulomas, treatments may include steroid injections to reduce inflammation and improve the appearance of the bumps. For fibrosis, massage therapy, silicone gel sheeting, or steroid creams may help soften the scar tissue. In some cases, a laser treatment or scar revision surgery might be considered to improve the appearance and function of the affected area.

3. Next Steps
Since you are experiencing significant discomfort and your current surgeon has not provided answers, it would be wise to seek a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon or a specialist in neck and throat issues. A comprehensive evaluation by a different expert can help diagnose the exact cause of your symptoms and guide you toward appropriate treatments. In addition, pain management strategies and physical therapy might help alleviate some of the discomfort and improve swallowing function.

In summary, the symptoms you're experiencing—difficulties with swallowing and burning pain—might be linked to changes in the neck muscles and possible scarring from the surgery. Seeking a second opinion and consulting with specialists in head and neck surgery or otolaryngology can provide clarity and potential solutions. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

All of these signs and explanations should be taken into consideration. Lumps will most likely improve as scars mature and soften. Injection of corticosteroid may speed up this process. Fixation of platysma muscle during platysmaplasty may be the reason of your swallowing issues. Only your surgeon has some insite in this matter; If this continues,  a redo of platysma muscle insertion may be considered. Good luck.

10 months after necklift I have a swallowing issue, burning pain & tiny hard bumps

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10 months after necklift I have a swallowing issue, burning pain & tiny hard bumps

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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.