Neck Liposuction and Platysmaplasty (Necklift)
In today's fast-paced competitive society, looks are more important than ever. Rejuvenation of our face and neck has become easier to achieve with advanced technology and surgery that require minimal incisions.
Daily activities require us to use several muscles of the face and neck. Included in these muscles is the platysma muscle; a thin sheet-like muscle that extends from the lower neck up to the lower face. When you are young the muscle is tight and gives the throat and neck a clean, open look. With the passage of time this muscle loosens and the area under the chin becomes loose and folds appear. Patients sometimes refer to this as the “turkey gobbler” effect. The prominent bands that often exist on each side in the upper front of the neck are actually the front edges of the platysma muscle.
Improvement is achieved by a procedure called “platysmaplasty” and is performed through a one-inch incision that is made under the chin. The platysma muscle is tightened and reattached along the neckline. If liposuction is needed in the neck area, the fat is removed through the same incision. A platysmaplasty involves the neck area only. It does not include the “jowls” or anything above the jaw line. In some cases, to achieve the best results a lower face lift should be performed with the platysmaplasty to smooth the “jowl” area.
POST-OPERATIVELY
During the first week after surgery you must wear an elastic neck support 24 hours per day. The following week the wrap should be worn eight hours per day. You can choose any eight hours of the day to wear the wrap and you are allowed to break up the time into smaller increments (i.e., wear for 2 hours and then take off for 2 hours until you have achieved a total of 8 hours). The sutures are absorbable and will therefore fall out on their own after about one (1) week. You will have stiffness, numbness and bruising in your neck post-operatively. The stiffness and numbness can last up to two (2) years in some patients, but typically resolves within 6-8 months.