Nerve Damage 😶‍🌫️😖😣😳😰

Two words that strike fear into the hearts of patients and surgeons alike.

In #facelift and #necklift surgery, sensory “#nervedamage” is normal and expected.

It is unavoidable when lifting the skin in front of each ear and under the chin. Like rolling up sod off of the soil - the tiny roots get disconnected. That skin goes temporarily numb.

This is totally normal, and resolves over 3-6 months’ time as the “roots” reconnect.
This can sometimes be accompanied by the feeling of little ”zingers” or ”lightning bolts.” These are good signs, and suggest returning function.

“Motor nerves” are the nerves that control the motion of facial muscles. Damage to these nerves is what most concerns facelift surgeons and facelift patients.

When they are injured, we see changes in the motion of the face such as smiling, blinking, or pursing the lips.

With experienced surgeons, permanent motor nerve injury is almost unheard of – fewer than one in 1000 cases.

Temporary nerve injury is much more common - about 1 in 30 patients (3-4%).

Temporary injuries are most likely due to stretching of the nerves, bruising of the nerves, or partial injury to the nerves by use of electrocautery to stop nearby bleeding.

These temporary injuries are not 100% avoidable, and even the most experienced surgeons encounter these a few percent of the time.

Permanent nerve injury is due to having the nerve actually cut. Even these injuries often improve with time As nearby nerves sprout and work overtime to make up the gap

With experienced surgeons, permanent nerve injuries are almost unheard of (fewer than one per thousand cases).

While it might be tempting to think that certain techniques are safer or riskier than others, in reality, it is certain surgeons that are safer or riskier than others.

Choose your #plasticsurgeon carefully!