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I’m considering having cosmetic plastic surgery. What type of surgery might be...

Q:

I’m considering having cosmetic plastic surgery. What type of surgery might be recommended to make my jaw line more defined/stronger?

A:

A strong, well-defined jaw line is a signal mark of beauty, youth and fitness for both men and women. Fortunately, this is one area where plastic surgery offers significant improvement to people of any age group. Younger patients, with resilient, elastic skin sometimes can benefit from liposuction of the neck. This is a fairly quick operation, with minimal down time and minimal scars. Older patients may also benefit from liposuction, although lax skin and underlying muscles may need to be addressed as well with a facelift or neck lift, both of which are lengthier operations. Oftentimes, in patients of any age, a chin implant may be considered. The combination of increasing the size of the chin and reducing the volume of tissue beneath the jaw line produces a strong, youthful profile.

Elliot W. Jacobs, M.D., FACS - View Other Answers by this Doctor

New York, NY

Practice Website

A:

Cervical / submandibular liposuction

Some individuals have 'sagging' necks primarily due to fat accumulation below the jawbone (mandible). In some cases,liposuction alone can significantly improve the neck appearance. Liposuction is also frequently combined with surgical neck rejuvenation, and in selected cases some direct excision of fat (through a hidden incision below the chin) is performed. The reduction of fat in the area below the jawline and in the anterior neck almost always makes the neck appear longer, and makes the patient's profile appear more elegant or refined.

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.

The neck is without question the primary 'facelift' aesthetic area where subtractive (excisional) and tightening procedures restore a truly youthful contour. Once again, take a look at the fashion magazines: essentially every neck you'll see demonstrates something close to a right angle between the neck and jaw. When it comes to the neck, and only in the neck, flat is good.