Plastic Surgery Forum & Message Board at PlasticSurgerySpot.com » Talk About Surgical Procedures » Face Lift, Neck Lift (Lower/Mid/Mini/Thread Facelift)

[veteran]

I had a lower face lift performed last December, and I'm now suffering from nerve damage on the right side. My lower lip was paralyzed for several months, and that has resolved, but my right ear is still tender and painful. I can't sleep on that ear, or wear earrings, or headphones, etc. Hurts to pull shirts over my head. I still carry some fluid under my chin on that side. Have a large, red scar behind that ear. Began as a huge lump of tissue and has gone down, but I'm getting frantic about the continued discomfort.

What can I do to address this? Can it be fixed? I also have problems with one breast implant that was performed at the same time. The left breast has settled beautifully, but the right is hard and uncomfortable. I have raised both of these issues to my plastic surgeon over the last year, and have not gotten good answers. Help!

[versace]

Sorry to hear of your problems. Did you sign arbitration papers before the operation? If you did unfortunately any kind of financial compensation will be highly unlikely. Plastic surgeons all seem to hide behind this unfair form of protection.

I had nerve damage from a broken jaw and it took several months for the feeling to return to the area that was numb. Your situation may still improve but since it's been 8 months already unfortunately I don't think your nerves will continue to improve much, but I could be wrong.

About the pain, how does it hurt? Does it feel tight or tender?

The breast implants it sounds like a revision surgery on the problematic one may be necessary. It sounds to me like there might be scar tissue.

[veteran]

I am not as interested in financial compensation - I understood the risks. I am also well aware of the financial and emotional toll litigation can cause. What I want, is to have the problems fixed. The pain is tightness most of the time, tenderness on contact. How do I go about finding a really good plastic surgeon? I got burned this time, even though his resume is great.

[la_angel]

I don't know where you located but I would recommend Dr. Frankel of the Lasky Clinic in Beverly Hills. He's known for noses but I know he does face lifts. The reason I recommend him is because he's an ethical doctor that doesn't BS to you like the other plastic surgeons do in this town I've dealt with. He's from the Midwest originally and has those values.

Trust me I had a surgeon mess up my nose pretty badly who based on his marketing you would think he's the top surgeon in the world. So don't go with someone just because they advertise a lot. Find a doctor that is ethical first and foremost because when it comes to fixing someone elses mistakes, you need a doctor that will be honest with you and also one that is good with fixing other doctor's mistakes.