Will Webbed Neck Correction Improve My Neck Flexibility?

Q: Dr. Eppley For webbed neck correction apart from the aesthetic aspect, I wonder if I would be more flexible in terms of mobility? Also, is such an operation performed under general anesthesia or twilight sleep?How long does it take to fully recover and when would I be allowed to do sports again? What are the risks of the operation?

A:First and foremost the purpose of the imaging is to show that normalization of the neck shape can never be achieved completely…improvement is seen but the webs are never completely eliminated. If one sees the imaging as not enough change then the surgery is not for them. Imaging is, in essence, a patient qualifier for the surgery. Secondly it is not a surgery for functional range of motion improvement. No such improvement will occur nor is there any surgery that can have that effect. Thirdly, this is an operation done in the prone position under general anesthesia. Fourth one may return unrestricted sports activities 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery. Lastly the risks of the surgery are aesthetic…how much improvement is seen and how well does the scar heal on the back of the neck.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon