Five Options for an Improved Neck Contour

By Mark Domanski, MD

Bluemont Plastic Surgery

. https://www.bluemontmd.com/

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Five Options for an Improved Neck Contour

A young face is supported by a youthful neck. A neck exhibiting loose skin, undefined jawline, wrinkles, or excess fat can be distracting.  Here are five options for an improved neck contour.  

1.     Dysport for Platysmal bands

Platysmal bands are caused by the most superficial muscle of the neck.  The platysma originates on the skin along the lateral aspects of the chin and extends down toward the collarbones.  This muscle is missing in the midline.  When this muscle pulls, a band of skin is tented up.  Thankfully, this muscular action can be relaxed by Dysport of Botox.  Treatments take 5 minutes and last for 3 – 4 months.

2.     Chin and Jawline Filler Augmentation

Under projection of the chin or a soft jawline makes the face blend into the neck.  By augmenting the chin or lateral jawline, the natural face-neck border is restored.  Traditionally this was accomplished by surgery but a popular option today is the augmentation of the chin or jaw though filler.  This treatment takes 30 minutes and can last up to a year.

3.     Liposuction

The neck has special geometry that make it the best place in the body for liposuction.  When fat is removed from the neck skin, the neck skin tightens up (unlike other parts of the body where the skin can hang).   Liposuction uses a canula, or blunt needle to remove fat from under the skin.  First specialized numbing medication called tumescent is placed under the skin.  Then under gentle suction, fat is removed with the cannula.  The procedure can take place in the office without the need for general anesthesia.  The procedure takes an hour and can last a lifetime.

4.     Radio Frequency Microneedling

Many patients have skin redundancy, fine lines, and texture issues but are not ready for a neck lift.  For these patients, we recommend Radiofrequency Microneedling.  Microneedling is a technique of placing dozens of fine needles under the skin at the same time using a FDA approved device.  For neck rejuvenation, bipolar electric energy is applied at the frequency of radio waves to produce tissue remodeling and stimulate collagen deposition.  Topical numbing is applied to minimize discomfort.  Treatments take about an hour.  We recommend 3 treatments about a month apart to maximize results.

5.     Neck lift

Patients who are candidates for the neck lift will often place their hands on the sides of the neck, push upwards in a direction behind their ears, and say “I just want my neck to do this.”  We call this the “neck lift sign.”  A neck lift is like tailoring:  extra skin is removed and the crease is placed in an inconspicuous place.  For a neck lift, the “crease” or incision lines are behind the ears.  A neck lift typically is done with neck liposuction.  Patients go home the same day and are often out and about within a week.