Fluid Under Chin After Neck Lift: Fluid collection under the chin after neck lift surgery happens because of the swelling and haematoma formation in the skin and tissues, or even blood clots (hematoma) develops because of bleeding from the subcutaneous tissue, which arrives directly from trauma sustained during the cosmetic procedure.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Fluid Under Chin After Neck Lift, submandibular gland swelling after neck lift, tethering after neck lift, and puckering under chin after neck lift.
Fluid Under Chin After Neck Lift
Fluid under the chin can be a normal part of the healing process following surgery. If this happens, your surgeon might recommend draining the fluid. After you have these tests done, your physician will let you know if there are any health concerns that could be contributing to fluid retention in your chin area.
The fluid under your chin can be a remnant of a previous infection or trauma to the area, but it can also result from the neck lift procedure itself.
It’s possible that the fluid is a remnant of a previous infection or trauma to the area, but it can also result from the neck lift procedure itself. The fluid could be a combination of all three reasons: an old infection, trauma from surgery and new scarring resulting from your neck lift.
During a neck lift, the surgeon makes an incision.
During a neck lift, the surgeon makes an incision.
The incision can be made in the neck, under the chin and on either side of your neck. This accesses underlying tissue so that it can be tightened and repositioned.
The skin is separated from the underlying tissue, then cut and tightened.
The skin is separated from the underlying tissue, then cut and tightened. The skin is then sutured back together with stitches.
Fluid under the chin can be a normal part of the healing process following surgery.
Fluid under the chin is a common side effect of neck lift surgery. In many cases, it’s nothing to worry about and will go away on its own after several months. However, if you have concerns or questions about your post-surgery health and well-being, please contact our office so we can help!
If this happens, your surgeon might recommend draining the fluid.
If your surgeon sees excess fluid under the chin after a neck lift, he or she may recommend draining it. This can be done with a needle and syringe. The doctor will remove as much of the excess fluid as possible, then stitch up the area with sutures (stitches).
Afterward, you might need to take antibiotics to help prevent infection or take a steroid medication to reduce swelling and inflammation around the incision site. You may also be given diuretics (water pills) to increase urination and drain extra fluid from your body; these medications come with side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, so talk with your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you before taking any medications on your own! Finally, if there’s bleeding from around where stitches were placed in order to close up wounds after surgery–or if this happens before getting them removed–your healthcare provider might recommend taking blood thinners like aspirin
After you have these tests done, your physician will let you know if there are any health concerns that could be contributing to fluid retention in your chin area.
After you have these tests done, your physician will let you know if there are any health concerns that could be contributing to fluid retention in your chin area. If the fluid is a result of a previous infection or trauma, it will be drained. If the fluid is a result of the surgery itself and can’t be treated by draining it, then the surgeon may recommend removing some skin and fat from around your neck to eliminate pressure on the blood vessels that lead to under-chin swelling.
If this doesn’t work or if you have ongoing issues with excessive under-chin swelling following neck lift surgery (or any other cosmetic procedure), please see one of our board-certified plastic surgeons right away so they can determine what needs to happen next.
Fluid under your chin can indicate health problems in other areas of your body and should be treated with care by a medical professional
If you have fluid under your chin, it’s important to have this checked out by a medical professional. Fluid can be a sign of other health problems in other parts of the body and should be treated with care by a medical professional.
submandibular gland swelling after neck lift
Aging is inevitable. As much as we want the clock to slow down, it’s just impossible to stop our facial skin from sagging. This is why many have decided to undergo the aesthetic procedure called neck lift.
Women often resort to neck lift procedures to resolve the flabbiness of excess skin and make the face and neck appear younger. If you have already tried having a neck lift, then you might ask this question: “Is it normal to have lumps and bumps after a neck lift?” During the first few weeks, you might feel some soft lumps under your jawline, and you might be wondering if these are dangerous or not.
If you are anxious about your situation, you are in the perfect place because we will be shedding light on some of those suspicions today. But before we answer that, let’s take a closer look at what a neck lift is all about.
What Is a Neck Lift?
The more we age, the more our skin loses its elasticity, and fat deposits increase or decrease in different portions of the face and neck. The neck is one of the most obvious places where our age shows. The fatty jowls, creases, and banding all make you feel and look a lot older!
A neck lift is a great option to cope with this unpleasant experience. Though this is not a treatment intended for removing wrinkles or creases, it does help improve the overall appearance of your face and neck.
In the cosmetic surgery world, a neck lift is known as plastysmaplasty. This involves tightening the platysma muscle and removing excess skin from the neck to improve noticeable signs of aging.
Platysmaplasty can enhance the contour of your jawline and make your neck look smoother and slimmer. This is particularly good for those who have necks that have excess fat and yet still have decent skin tones.
Typically, a neck lift is performed together with other aesthetic treatments like a facelift and brow lift. The majority of people who have undergone neck lifts are satisfied with the results. So how do you know if you are qualified to have a neck lift? Well, it’s best to be evaluated first by a certified plastic surgeon, but initially, if you have excess skin, an indistinct jawline, and your neck has developed folds and lines, then you need it.
Why Lumps and Bumps Form after a Neck Lift?
Three to four weeks after a neck lift procedure, some changes associated with the healing process, such as lumps, bumps, tightness, and swelling, can occur. You may wonder why you have lumps beneath the chin, which seemed to be non-existent before.
In reality, these lumps are salivary glands that have always been there but were just concealed behind the loose flesh and muscles. As we age, our sub-mandibular glands sag from their youthful location. Re-suspending these glands again could be risky for you.
So are lumps and bumps after a neck lift usual? Yes, if they are indeed salivary glands; it could be a no if it is something else. It’s also possible that these lumps are swollen lymph nodes that developed during the healing stage or infection.
It’s essential to note that these lumps should feel soft and not hard. If they feel hard, then you have to approach a Board-Certified Otolaryngologist or ENT surgeon for a checkup. Typically, six months after a neck lift surgery, the swelling, scarring, and lumping should already be resolved. However, if all of these persist, then you should approach your surgeon immediately.
Fixing Your Lumps and Bumps
People resort to the first thing they see on Google when they panic. Before you make the same mistake, be patient and give it time. If it is still three or four weeks, then you need to give it at least a week or two unless you feel any urgent symptoms or unless the lump is unusually hard. If you feel any swelling, it can also be helpful to apply light massage or heat.
The second thing you need to check is if you have carefully followed all the post-surgery instructions given to you by your surgeon. When performing a neck lift, your surgeon sees that the surgery and healing process will be successful. You have to trust the post-surgery care recommended and make sure to comply with it.
Bear in mind that if you are not an expert, you are not in the best position to give a definite remedy to your lumps after a neck lift. So if you are doubtful of the lumpiness or things begin to worsen, connect with your surgeon immediately. Writing down all observations you can see and feel can also help as you approach your surgeon for evaluation.
tethering after neck lift
Tania underwent a face and neck lift and platysmaplasty just over a year before consulting me regarding a revision procedure. Her result had left her with an irregular jawline on both sides, a lump under the right jawbone, a tethered scarred vertical band in the midline neck, a paralysis of the right lip depressor muscle and a hollow in the left cheek.
A year after surgery it is unlikely that the lip function will fully return but I felt I would be able to get her a more symmetrical result with revision surgery. There are obviously higher risks to revision surgery and it is a case of opening up, some detective work and then repair but I felt I could achieve this under local anaesthetic and sedation. Here is her story.
One Day After Surgery
About half of my work is revision facelift surgery, sometimes it is simple, but in Tania’s case I need to use all the tools I have at my disposal!
I started under the chin where the tethered vertical band and under jawline lump lay. The band was due to a failed platysma repair and scarred migrated platysma muscle edge. Dissecting out the scar tissue, there was very little muscle left on that side so I rotated a muscle flap up to close the defect and perform a new repair. The lump was an irregular fat mass which I sculpted down and then resuspended the submandibular gland. (best seen on the 3D vectra view below).
In the face the left SMAS had split causing a triangular depression which I repaired as much as possible with what tissue was available then I relifted the SMAS creating a surprising amount of vertical excess skin which was removed. Closure was under a little more tension than I wanted as the previous lift was a more backwards vector. I suspect Tania will need a little filler in the residual triangular defect in the left cheek and also to a depression along the right jawline but her initial result is really encouraging. Looking forward to seeing her progress.
One Week After Surgery
Tania is back to see me at a week and doing really well considering the extent of her surgery. Her new facial shape is apparent as swelling decreases.
Her right lower lip is a little (more) sleepy than before but should improve over the next few weeks. The 3D scan shows the initial improvement in under chin contour. Hopefully she is on her way to a lovely result from her revision.
Four Weeks After Surgery
4 weeks out Tania is doing brilliantly. He new hair colour is just fantastic and really suits her new facial shape.
The under chin laxity is holding up nicely and her jaw and neck lines are beautifully defined, softer and much more natural looking. Her scars are well on their way to healing invisibly as can be seen from the picture below. She might need a little filler in the jawline depression going forward but she already has the makings of a lovely youthful result.
puckering under chin after neck lift
After surgery, knowing what to do – and when/how to do it – is key to the overall success of your facelift. Your surgeon should explain the various stages of recovery to you in detail ahead of your procedure in order to help you manage your expectations and heal quickly and properly. In the meantime, Dr. Buonassisi’s “facelift timeline” gives you a brief overview of what your recovery could look like, from resting in bed to the final result.
Stage 1 | Days 1 – 7 Post Op: Rest But Not Bed Rest
While it’s important to take it easy during the first seven days of recovery (and to have a caretaker with you for the first 24 hours after your surgery), any extra fatigue/nausea you experience during the week will likely be due to your pain medication rather than the facelift itself. Though your swelling/bruising should peak at three or four days post op, odds are you’ll feel good enough to get up and move around the house as early as one or two days past surgery.
As mentioned, Dr. Buonassisi will prescribe pain medication to help manage whatever discomfort you may feel after your facelift. Taken on schedule and according to instructions, you can effectively control any stiffness/soreness in your neck, ears or face so that you’re able to do some low-key activities, like light housework. Getting your body moving and your circulation going is important, as it will help you to recover more quickly.
Be sure to follow the daily incision-care routine as outlined by Dr. Buonassisi (as well as any other post-op care instructions you were given) to help ensure a speedy and successful recovery from facelift surgery. The sutures/stitches that are holding your incisions in place may be itchy, but taking good care of them will help alleviate the discomfort.
It’s also OK to see more swelling/bruising on one side of your face than the other, as each is a separate surgery site. However, if you notice a severely distorted bulge on either side of your face or neck, call your surgeon immediately to assess the issue. Do the same if you develop a high fever in the days following your recovery.
Stage 2 | Days 7 – 14 Post Op: Feeling Better and Making Progress
It’s perfectly normal to see a bit of bruising/swelling on one or both sides of your face and neck, around your eyes or even behind your ears into the second week of your recovery. Some patients report strange sensations (i.e., tingling, burning, numbness or tightness) due to the swelling/bruising – this is also normal. Again, you should see the bruising/swelling start to dissipate on or around the fourth day of your recovery from facelift surgery, but the real progress is made in the second and third weeks post op. Although things will start to improve at this stage, you still have a week or two to go before you can expect all the visible bruising/swelling to be gone – and keep in mind that it takes a full year to see final results.
Unlike the sutures/stitches in your hairline, Dr. Buonassisi will use staples to hold together any incisions made in hair-bearing skin, removing these one week after your facelift. You should still be taking it easy at this time and avoiding any heavy/strenuous physical activity – but that doesn’t mean staying in bed all day. Though you may not want to be seen at work, the gym or a public event just yet, you’re encouraged to do light activities like walking in order to keep your energy up. If you’re a bit self-conscious about the bruising/swelling that remains on your face and/or neck, the staff at 8 West can show you how to apply makeup just up to the edge of your incisions.
Stage 3 | Days 15 – 30 Post Op: Getting Back in the Game
In weeks 3 and 4 of your recovery, your incisions will start to improve. They were likely bunchy and puckered while the sutures/staples were still in place, and now they will start to settle down. Although most patients are ready to be seen at work two or three weeks after surgery, you may still have some swelling in isolated areas, or look a little tight. This is normal and will improve with time. The healing process varies dramatically from patient to patient.
You’ll look and feel much better three weeks after your facelift – good enough to get back to many activities, like work and exercise, as long as they aren’t too strenuous or pose a risk of injury. As your incisions continue to heal, they may appear pink or light red – this is temporary, and Dr. Buonassisi can recommend specific treatments that will work best for you. He can also tell you more about sun safety following your facelift, as prolonged exposure can prematurely age your skin. Apply makeup to cover your incisions, or just let your hair fall over them. The approximate life span of a scar is one year, so, while your incisions will improve day by day, it make take months before they have faded as much as you would like them to.
Stage 4 | Day 30 and Beyond Post Op: Approaching the Finish Line
Though “recovery” – i.e., the amount of time it will take for you to get back to a relatively normal routine after your facelift – is about two weeks, the time it takes for all of the residual swelling, bruising and changes in skin sensation to resolve themselves is a full year. Remember, you’ll likely be the only one to notice the most subtle side effects of your facelift; after three weeks or so, it will be hard for anyone else to tell you’ve had work done.
Remember: it’s important to use good sense in every stage of your recovery. If you have any questions around what you can and cannot do after your facelift, please don’t hesitate to call the friendly staff at 8 West Clinic and ask.