Surgery for the aging neck has become far more complex and effective, allowing cosmetic plastic surgeons to better refine the youthful architecture of the jaw and neckline. Whereas old-school methods have focused on skin and muscle tightening to lift the neck, new techniques target the deeper neck structures. These techniques create a longer, more elegant neck contour, and they enhance jawline definition. In addition, you can leave more fat under the skin, which gives it a more supple, soft and luscious look. Traditionally, with a neck lift, muscle is stitched together under the chin, then the muscle is elevated under both ears. This suspends the neck in a type of muscular hammock.
ACPS surgeon and facelift expert Dr. Henry Mentz said, “This approach has been around 30 years and has worked pretty well. But now we are going beneath the hammock to improve these 3 areas: 1. The deep muscle under the chin can be thinned to sculpt a sharper jawline angle. 2. Deep fat between the muscles may be removed to create a more youthful jawline appearance. 3. We can remove a portion of the submaxillary gland—a gland for saliva that sits under the jawline. The older you get, the more it slides down the neck. For many years, this has been one of the limitations to creating a youthful jawline. Now we can remove the bottom half of that gland. Contouring of these deep structures has created a whole new level of improvement in neck rejuvenation. I’ve been doing it for a long time but have become more aggressive with it.”
Neck lift surgery can be an excellent solution for individuals who wish to improve the following aesthetic concerns:
ACPS surgeons typically perform neck lift surgery in combination with facelift surgery and other facial surgical procedures rather than as an isolated procedure. This is because, as we age, other facial features such as the eyes and brow usually experience sagging in conjunction with the neck. By addressing the face as a whole, natural, balanced-looking rejuvenation is better achieved.
For those who are interested in nonsurgical options to improve the neck’s appearance, the spa providers at ACPS – The Spa & Rejuvenation Center offer several treatment options depending upon the aesthetic objective. Kybella, a cosmetic injectable, reduces the submental fat which can cause the appearance of a double chin. Another option for excess fat in this area is CoolSculpting, which uses a controlled cooling method to target and eliminate fat cells without damage to surrounding tissues. In addition, ACPS’s aesthetic nurse injectors are skilled at combining cosmetic injectables to soften “necklace lines.” These horizontal creases develop across the neck due to aging and a modern habit that characterizes our era: frequent bending of the neck to check mobile devices. Our skin tightening lasers such as Ultherapy, ThermiTight and Sciton Halo and Forever Young BBL can tighten sagging skin and improve its texture and tone.
With so many choices, it can be daunting to determine which treatment or combination of treatment will best deliver the results for which you are looking. The degree of skin laxity, skin quality and your aesthetic goals are a few of the factors to consider in making your choice. A consultation with one of our award-winning plastic surgeons or aesthetic nurse injectors will give you the clarity you need to make the best decision for you.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.