Question:
I know that during a neck lift the neck muscle are tightened to add definition. What techniques, implants, or tools does the surgeon use to make sure the neck lift is a permanent solution?
Answer:
In order to perform a neck lift the patient has to be evaluated for the tissue that is causing the sagging of the neck. Often times it is a combination of skin and the muscles of the neck that for a natural sling for the neck that have aged and thus have developed laxity. If fat is present in the neck, this will also have to be addressed in some way to better define the neck lift procedure. Muscles of the neck will need to be trimmed during the neck lift and then sewn back together in order to recreate the natural sling that support the neck and gives the neck youthful contour. Excess skin of the neck will need to be removed and the incisions are generally hidden behind the ear and into the hairline. I only use implants if during your initial consultation I find that your chin is deficient and needs to be augmented, otherwise no implants are used. The longevity of the results is usually about 15 years as you will continue to age and will likely require a touch up procedure in that period of time.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld