Dr. Mustafa Tansel TURAN
Médico
Outros autores: Erdinc TUNC · Irem Hengirmen Acu · Hatice Aygun
A case of hypertension due to iatrogenic glossopharyngeal neuropathy after thread lift procedure
Objectives: We report a previously unreported complication of a thread lift procedure in the jowl region. This complication was caused by damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve through compression. The case also illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of iatrogenic injury to the glossopharyngeal nerve. The thread lift procedure is an blind intervention in which critical anatomical structures are not directly visualised. We describe the diagnosis and treatment of a glossopharyngeal nerve injury caused by compression of the nerve trunk following a facial thread lift procedure.
Introduction: A 52-year-old woman patient presented with complaints
following a thread lift procedure performed at a private
aesthetic clinic. The patient had sought treatment for facial contour correction and sagging of the submental region. Following the completion of the procedure, the patient developed hypotension (80/45 mmHg) and bradycardia (50 bpm), along with a sensation of impending fainting..During the ongoing complaints, intermittent blood pressure measurements revealed fluctuations from an initial 120/85 mmHg to 150/10 mmHg No organic pathology was detected
Materials / method: Neurological examination identified sensory deficits in
the left oropharynx, tongue root, palate, and tonsil. Addi
tional findings included edema in the floor of the mouth and periauricular region, ageusia in the posterior third of thetongue, and xerostomia. These findings confirmed a glossopharyngeal nerve injury. Brain MRI revealed edema localized in the posterior-inferior aspect of the left parotid gland. After otolaryngology consultation, surgical exploration and removal of the threads were performed. her symptoms gradually resolved in 20 days
Results: Thread lift procedures, though minimally invasive, carry
risks of serious complications if anatomical planes are not
respected. Glossopharyngeal nerve damage may present
with oropharyngeal pain, sensory deficits, and blood pres
sure dysregulation. In such a case, surgical revision and
removal of the threads should be considered for recovery.
This case emphasizes the importance of clinician awareness regarding rare but significant complications of aesthetic procedures and the need for multidisciplinary evaluation in the presence of neurological symptoms.
Conclusion: Thread lift is a minimally invasive aesthetic procedure
for correcting facial and submental sagging. The technique involves the placement of dissolvable or long-lasting threads under the skin using thin cannulas, fixed at strategic points to achieve lifting effects. Although the threads are intended to pass superficially, above the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), placement depth and direction deviations can occur. Excessive tension or incorrect anatomical placement can lead to complications, including nerve injury, as
described in previous case series