This case involves a 48-year-old male patient, with a history of hypertension, who underwent a neck lift and facial chemical peel. The patient was not given or prescribed any antibiotics after the surgery. Within a week, the patient began to complain about irritation around his temple by the right side incision. Additionally, his skin did not seem to be healing from the chemical peel. The doctor continued to advise him to wait longer to see if his condition persisted and said it was normal not to see immediate results. The patient was not prescribed any further treatment. When the patient consulted his own physician, she diagnosed him with an infection in the wound and prescribed an antibiotic for his skin. The wound and skin eventually healed but left significant scar tissue.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. How many neck lifts/ face lifts do you perform per month?
2. What are common complications of the procedure and what measures can be taken to prevent them?
3. Have you ever published or lectured on this subject / issue?
4. Have you served as an expert on a similar case? If so, please explain.
Expert Witness Response E-128516
I have been in this practice for 11 years and have a head to toe plastic surgery practice. I perform between 1 to 4 face, neck, or brow lifts per month, as well as several resurfacing procedures with laser or chemical peels per week. Skin necrosis, or loss, as well as wide scarring, prolonged redness, hematomas, and facial asymmetry are common complications of these procedures. Many techniques are available to prevent these, such as keeping blood pressure under tight control and blood sugar under control before surgery, pretreating with Retin A, antibiotics, and Valtrex prior to a peel, avoiding blood thinners, avoiding excessive skin resection and tension on the scars, and good surgical technique. I have lectured on the subject to students and local hospital events.
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