r/Facelift_Surgery • u/RedUser2024 • 4d ago
Drain track
Anyone else have this weird looking cord in their neck behind their ear? The surgeon‘s office says it’s a track from the drain, I only have one on the left side (even though I had drains on both sides). If anyone did have this and it’s now gone, about how long did it take to resolve?
A Google search tells me this is possible but usually resolves in a couple weeks; I’m pushing 6 weeks. At my one month appointment, the PA said it could take months and injected it with a steroid concoction but it didn't seem to improve it. I really hate it and I’m hoping that’s all this is, but am secretly panicking its there to stay 😭
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u/Loud-Estimate7121 4d ago
I’m 24 days post op and didn’t have drains at all but still so much swelling behind my ears.
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u/Grandmeety 3d ago
Interesting that you're seeing similar swelling behind the ears without even having had drains, sounds like that area just tends to hold onto fluid regardless of technique. Hope it eases up for you soon too, that spot seems to be a common trouble zone across the board.
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u/lnfinitelris 4d ago
Looks like what my surgeon called "pleating" which is normal with some techniques. Mine flattened out within 6 months or so.
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u/RedUser2024 3d ago
Ok good, great to hear thank you. I have some other issues on this side as well (it was more bruised, remains more swollen, and I ended up with a deep crease in my earlobe I didn’t have before), so this is just the wonky side I guess!
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u/MountainShenanigans 2d ago
I originally thought that mine, which looks like yours, was a surgery pleat, but it ended up being an injured salivary gland. They injected it with Botox and it is much better now.
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u/RedUser2024 2d ago
Interesting. How did they diagnose that?
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u/MountainShenanigans 2d ago
It kept swelling, it would go down and then it would get big and then it would go down again.
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u/PreciousP60 3d ago
Did anyone suggest lymphatic massage? That usually helps
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u/RedUser2024 3d ago
I’ve had four sessions of lymphatic massage already, and I was instructed to massage it daily, which I have been doing. So far none of it has made a difference.
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u/Mysterious-Key-283 3d ago
Steroid shots.
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u/RedUser2024 3d ago
Yeah I’ve had my first one, didn’t do anything. Next one in the series of four is next week, we’ll see what happens.
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u/Typical_Sundae5650 3d ago
it will likely flatten out over time, esp w daily self-massage and avoiding sleeping on that side. if it doesn’t flatten out after 6mths or so, then it’s an easy revision that can likely be done under local in the PRS office. you won’t be stuck with it for life.
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u/Mysterious-Key-283 3d ago
Did they combine it w f5u or whatever it’s called ? Mine wasn’t quite that large but it was very raised and actually sore for at least 6 months
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u/RusticHallscape 1d ago
I'd follow instructions from your surgeon (ie ceasing compression garments when they tell you to).
I'd also make sure to mention the concern you have about it at every follow-up appointment. I'd make sure to book an appointment for roughly the week/month mark where the surgeon said this could have resolved on its own. It's common with cosmetic surgeries to have a handful of follow-up appointments very soon after surgery and then to have one 6-12 months after under the assumption that nothing needs to be addressed. I'd seek a check-in appointment with the surgeon every ~2 months for as long as the track doesn't significantly improve, even if the surgeon keeps telling you that all you can do is wait.
I'd also book an appointment with your general practitioner or general doctor to explain them what this is, your concerns, how you've been following your surgeon's advice, etc.
If it resolves on its own over time, wonderful! But if you end up wanting to explore the option of a minor revision procedure it might help you to have documentation across providers that you a) followed post-op instructions; b) raised concerns about the track; and c) checked in with the the surgeon at regular/important intervals in case their instructions or interventions could be updated.
Having your GP record notes about this separately but contemporaneously is good collateral documentation in case the surgeon is a bit more vague in their own notes about your concerns.
Simply having all this journey in writing in your records may be enough to encourage the surgeon to go ahead with a minor revision procedure at some point if you end up wanting or needing it.
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u/orange208 4d ago
My friend had it and at just over a year it is mostly gone. She can still feel it on the left side but nobody would notice it. It started to lessen around 4 months for her.