NECK LIFT
Overview
Frequently, patients develop dissatisfaction with the redundancy
of skin that occurs in the neck. This appears as folds of skin that
are sometimes graphically described as a "turkey gobbler."
Others note fullness of the neck due to excess fat that obscures
the appearance of the jaw line.
This is a common appearance that is associated with aging. Many
people object to this change in appearance even more than other
recognized evidence of facial aging, like jowls, deep folds and
wrinkles. For the patients with isolated problems, we at Associates
in Plastic Surgery, Inc., focus on their concerns to improve the
appearance and contour of the neck.
The attractive neck is characterized by a smooth jaw line, a flat
area extending from the jaw line down to the neck itself, and then
a smooth cylindrical surface extending to the collar area of the
chest. Improvement is achieved by removing the extra skin. This
can be done by pulling the skin backward and removing the excess
skin along incisions located around the ears. A small incision beneath
the chin is often used to provide access to the middle portion o
the neck. Fat often accumulates centrally in the area beneath the
jaw line. Through this approach, this central fat can be more readily
sculpted to provide a trimmer contour to the neck. The platysma
muscle, a muscle that envelopes the neck, often separates, forming
bands that extend from the chin to the neck. By approximating these
muscles a much more youthful appearance of the neck can be developed.
Males have an additional option. Direct excision of the excessive
tissue in the neck can be carried out. This leaves scars in the
area of the mid portion of the neck extending from the chin down
to the thyroid area (Adam's apple). In bearded skin of the male
these scars generally become very faint in time. This procedure
is not as available to females, as the scars in this area of non-bearded
skin may remain noticeable.
In addition to surgical tightening, as described above, liposuction
is another option for rejuvenating the neck. In those patients in
whom the skin is not redundant and subcutaneous fat is thick, liposuction
alone can offer significant improvement. This procedure can require
less anesthesia and patients have a shorter recovery period.
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