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I would like to have my neck skin and folds removed and tightened. I'm told I need a...

Q:

I would like to have my neck skin and folds removed and tightened. I'm told I need a complete face lift. Is this true?

A:

To remove lax skin and folds from the neck and jowls of the face, a face lifting procedure will give you the best result. Thermage and the Thread Lift are only partial, temporary fixes for a problem that will reveal itself again very soon. Many patients are seeking the face lifting procedure in their late 40's and early 50's. Most patients ask "am I too young for a face lift?" This answer depends on your genetic makeup, and possibly weight loss. The best way for you to know if you are a good candidate for the face lift is to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Ask to see before and after photos of the surgeon’s work, and if possible speak to one of his patients that have had the procedure you are seeking.

Natan Yaker, M.D. - View Other Answers by this Doctor

Plano, TX

Practice Website

A:

Neck Lift (Cervicoplasty / Platysmaplasty): restoring elegance to the face

Though it is not technically part of the face, a neck with loose, sagging skin can age the face dramatically. A neck lift is a standard part of most facelift surgeries, as the neck skin is mobilized in continuity with the lower face.

Immediately under the skin of the neck is the platysma muscle, which you can easily see in a mirror when you clench your teeth and tighten your jaw. In youth, this paired muscle meets in the midline below the chin. With age, the right and left sides of the platysma often separate, producing vertical 'cords' in the anterior neck. The platysma can be divided anteriorly and tightened during neck lift cosmetic surgery to permanently eliminate these 'cords' and improve the neck contour. One tightened in the midline below the chin, lateral traction on the platysma then creates a 'sling' which elevates the soft tissues below the jawline.

Suture suspension neck lift

In cosmetic surgery patients that do not have a sharp transition in profile between the submental area (area below the jawline) and the anterior neck, and in patients who simply want that transition enhanced, I add a 'suture suspension necklift'. A permanent suture is passed subcutaneously across the anterior neck, at the level corresponding to depth of the angle between the submental area and anterior neck, and is then anchored to the deep soft tissues behind each earlobe. This suspension cosmetic surgery procedure can dramatically enhance the definition between the jawline and anterior neck, producing a more elegant profile.