Neck Lift Surgery

Neck Lift: Complications

As with all surgical procedures there are risks involved and these are described below:

• Infection: It is rare for major infection to occur; more commonly the wound may develop superficial infection. The risk of any infection occurring is less than 1% and is treated with appropriate antibiotics and wound care.
• Bleeding/haematoma: most prone to this infection are males and those with high blood pressure. If you have taken Aspirin or vitamin E you are also at risk. Bleeding usually occurs shortly after surgery and is treated immediately with no long-term side effects, except perhaps, marked bruising. This complication occurs in less than 0.5% of patients.
• Scarring: all surgeons aim at producing the best possible scarring, but some patients may have a tendency to form thickened scars, so-called hypertrophic scars. Very rarely, particularly in dark-skinned patients, the scar may grow (keloid scar).These scars require treatment with steroid injections and, sometimes, they may have to be revised. These scars may continue to be problematic despite treatment.
• Hair loss: it is uncommon to lose hair and it usually happens in the vicinity of the temple scar. In most cases the hair re-grows after several months.
• Bruising: is common and in some individuals, such as redheads, may be quite marked. All blood thinners including Aspirin and Vitamin E make you bruise more easily and it is important to stop taking these preparations at least one week prior to surgery. Most bruising subsides after three weeks or so.

• Numbness: it is normal to experience numbness in the neck area after surgery. In time it subsides completely. Sometimes, a patch of numbness may persist permanently.
  Injury to the facial nerve: this is a complication due to injury to a small branch of the facial nerve which may make one of the small muscles of the face paralysed temporarily, or permanently. It is extremely rare. However, most cases recover completely.
• Skin necrosis: in some cases skin may heal poorly because of poor blood supply. This is particularly the case in smokers who are advised to stop smoking at least four weeks prior to surgery. Even if they stop smoking, smokers will always have a higher incidence of this complication because of permanent damage to blood vessels and circulation.
• Sialoma: if partial resection of the submandibular gland has been carried out during neck lifting some fluid may accumulate in the vicinity of the gland and may require aspiration. It is uncommon and should lead to no further problems.
• Unfavourable result: dissatisfaction with the outcome of surgery can be the result of many factors, such as unattainable expectations. Neck lifting generally achieves good results but it cannot make you young again.