Platysmoplasty - surgical neck lift

Platysmoplasty is an operation to restore the lower contour of the face (cervical-mental angle) and eliminate signs of aging skin in the neck area.

Platysma is a thin subcutaneous muscle plate located on the front surface of the neck. This muscle is responsible for the movement of the corners of the mouth and lower jaw. Platysma consists of fibers. Their density may differ between patients. The denser the fibers, the thinner the platysma. Most of the time, this muscle remains in a relaxed state, taking only a passive part in chewing processes and facial expressions. Therefore, with age, platysma atrophies, the skin on the neck loses its elasticity and sags under the chin in the form of a drop.

The anatomy of the platysma can vary: the edges of the muscle can reach the level of the orbicularis oculi muscles or end no higher than the chin. In the neck area, the platysma can be divided from the chin into 2 “petals” or have the form of “petals” fused together. Behind the platysma between the “petals” is localized interplatysmal fat, which differs in structure from subcutaneous fat.

Platism

Anatomy of platysma

Medial and lateral platysmoplasty

There are various surgical techniques that allow you to get rid of age-related changes in platysma and related problems:

• medial platysmaplasty - access to the platysma is carried out through a small incision in the natural fold of the chin, the purpose of the operation is to stretch the muscle tissue to the central zone and fix it in a new position; thus, this platysmoplasty technique does not involve correction of the lateral surfaces;
• lateral platysmaplasty - involves small incisions that go around the ears in the temporal zone, involves peeling off the platysma, tightening it, fixing it in a new position and removing interplatysmal fat; the technique is indicated in the presence of significant age-related changes, as it corrects not only imperfections in the lower third of the face, but also the neck;
• mixed platysmaplasty is a combination of medial and lateral techniques that allows you to most effectively correct the cervical-mental angle.

Photos before and after platysmoplasty

Preoperative preparation

A consultation with a plastic surgeon before surgery is intended to identify the severity of the problems, determine the required volume and technique of surgical intervention, and eliminate contraindications. A thorough examination of the patient allows us to assess important parameters for platysmaplasty:

• degree of skin elasticity;
• the presence of excess fat tissue;
• state of platysma (degree of sagging, projection, symmetry of edges);
• openness of the cervicomental angle;
• location of the salivary glands.

Each patient undergoes comprehensive laboratory tests before surgery. With its results, it is necessary to consult an anesthesiologist. The Clinic’s specialist, who is proficient in all types of anesthesia and has extensive experience in administering it, selects the optimal procedure for a particular case. An assessment of all parameters forms the basis for developing an individual plan for platysmaplasty for each patient.

Indications

The neck betrays our age. And even very young people have indications for platysmoplasty and neck lift. The operation is performed if the following problems exist:

• deep vertical wrinkles and horizontal folds in the form of rings (the so-called “rings of Venus”);
• double chin;
• sagging and sagging neck skin;
• pronounced cords (two or more);
• loss of definition of the mandibular angle;
• excessively wide neck with a small chin.

When should you contact a plastic surgeon?

The skin of the neck loses its elasticity with age due to loss of tone in the superficial cervical muscle, the platysma. Its atrophy is facilitated by the low activity of the neck muscles and the absence of a network of feeding blood vessels in this area. Over time, the skin sags, becomes covered with deep wrinkles, and fatty tissue accumulates in the lower cheeks and chin area. To eliminate these problems is the task of platysmoplasty.

Indications for surgical neck lift surgery include:

• the presence of deep ring-shaped wrinkles and sagging tissue on the skin of the neck;
• pronounced sagging folds of skin (cords) and a double chin;
• loss of a clear contour of the chin combined with blurred outlines of the lower jaw;
• lack of an angular contour between the neck and chin.

Is it possible to remove a double chin without surgery?

In short, no, a double chin cannot be removed using hardware cosmetology or injections.

But let's figure it out. In the subcutaneous fat fold of the chin there is cutaneous fatty tissue: fat that is under the skin (preplatysmal) and fat that is located under the muscle (under platysma). This fat stretches the platysma, so sagging skin folds indicate that the problem is not only excess fat, but also laxity of the muscles of the diaphragm of the mouth. This means that in order to create a beautiful cervical-chin angle, you need not only to remove fat, but also to tighten the muscles and redistribute the skin. Otherwise everything will hang. Prevention and maintenance of muscle tone is possible in cosmetology. But excess fat and skin can only be removed surgically.

Methods of performing platysmoplasty

Giving the neck a clear outline and eliminating signs of aging is achieved through the complex use of several types of surgical interventions:

• Cervicoplasty is the removal of excess sagging skin through discreet incisions in the natural crease under the chin or behind the ears.
• Liposuction is a procedure for removing excess fat tissue through a small transverse incision in the chin area.
• Deep platysmaplasty is an operation that allows you to tighten not only the skin, but also the muscles, with fixation in the behind-the-ear area.

Depending on the severity of the problems and the individual characteristics of the patient, two techniques are used for neck plastic surgery:

1. lateral , when tissue sagging is eliminated by tightening the superficial cervical muscle and giving it the desired position;
2. medial , in which they are additionally subjected to longitudinal dissection, the anterior muscular edges of the platysma are united and secured.

Unlike contour plastic surgery and liposuction, which give good results for minor problems, the complex of median and lateral platysmaplasty restores youth and beauty to the neck in almost any condition. Compared to genioplasty, which uses implants and removal of excess bone tissue, this type of chin plastic surgery is not as traumatic, and the resulting effect lasts much longer than that of thread lifting.

Methods

There are medial and lateral platysmoplasties.

Lateral – is part of SMAS lifting and is performed during a facelift, which allows you to correct not only the neck, but also the cervico-mental angle. In cases where lethal platysmaplasty is not enough to obtain the desired result, it will be supplemented with medial platysmaplasty.

Medial – performed through a small skin incision in the chin area. After excision of the preplatysmal fat and isolation of the platysma (neck muscle), a corset suture is placed between the two wide bellies of this muscle. Next, an intradermal suture is placed on the skin incision. The stitches are removed after 10-12 days.

How to determine which platysmaplasty is indicated for you? Where to begin?

It's simple. Consult a good plastic surgeon.

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Prices for platysmoplasty

A plastic neck lift in our clinic costs from 60,000 rubles. It can be combined with plastic surgery of the middle zone (from 120,000 rubles) and other operations. During the consultation, the surgeon will tell you the final cost of the operation, taking into account consumables, anesthesia, hospital stay and other expenses. The price for a neck lift announced by the doctor will not change. No unexpected extra charges!

Plastic surgery is a priority area of ​​the Medial clinic. Since 2002, our doctors have been performing all types of plastic surgeries on the face and body, including surgical lifting of the area under the chin.

Our clinic provides a comfortable room for stay before and after surgery, delicious food and attentive service.

Our chief physician Anzhelika Vladimirovna Nikolaeva-Fedorova and plastic surgeon Levan Leonidovich Valiev operate with us.

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Your questions

Is it possible to remove a double chin with liposuction? Double chin is not an easy problem to solve, because... the way to resolve this issue, to some extent, depends on both the patient’s age and gender. You can perform liposuction - that's one price, or you can perform anterior platysmaplasty. Therefore, a face-to-face consultation is necessary to decide what is best for a particular patient.

Is there an age limit for the operation? Age does not matter. Patients can have surgery at the age of 75, if their health condition allows. Another thing is that at an older age, for the best result, a combination of a classic lift of the lower 2/3 of the face with SMAS plastic surgery and anterior platysmaplasty may be indicated.

Rehabilitation after a neck lift procedure

The recovery period usually takes a month, during which it is necessary to wear a special fixing bandage. After surgery, swelling, bruises, and increased body temperature may occur. These signs are normal and you should not be afraid of them. The pain syndrome is relieved by taking medications prescribed by the surgeon. In the first days, the patient takes antibiotics. You cannot drink alcohol. During the first 3-5 days after surgery, when swelling is observed, it is better to exclude foods that cause allergies from the diet.

You must come to the clinic for dressings before the stitches are removed. They are removed one week after surgery. Both in the first week and in the remaining three weeks, intense physical activity, swimming pool, sauna, solarium, and hot baths are prohibited. You can't sunbathe in the sun.

A month after surgery, laser scar resurfacing can be done to achieve an ideal cosmetic result.

The effect of platysmaplasty is visible 3-4 months after the operation, and the final result will be formed after a year.

The effect of neck plastic surgery lasts on average 10-15 years.

Postoperative rehabilitation

Upon completion of the surgical operation, the patient remains in a compression bandage for 2 days. After the two-day period, it must be worn at night for another 2 weeks. Wearing a support corset is recommended for about 3 weeks. 7-10 days after plastic surgery on the neck, bruising and swelling disappear, and stitches are removed.

To speed up recovery after platysmaplasty, patients are recommended cosmetic and physiotherapeutic procedures:

• ultrasound treatment to stimulate regeneration processes in tissues;
• magnetic therapy, which reduces pain and the growth of harmful bacteria;
• microcurrent therapy, which relieves swelling and increases the tone of weakened tissues.

The final result of neck plastic surgery can be seen after the completion of the rehabilitation period, which, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, can last up to 3 months. During rehabilitation, in order to quickly restore the operated tissues, active facial expressions and sudden turns of the neck should be limited. For a month, you must refrain from visiting the bathhouse, sauna, solarium and prolonged exposure to the sun.

Alternative Methods

An alternative to surgery can be minimally invasive techniques. For example, a neck lift using cosmetic threads. This option is suitable if you are not ready for a traumatic intervention, or it is contraindicated. However, the effect of thread lifting is much shorter - about two years.

A course of alterotherapy - special procedures using the Ulthera System device - can also improve the condition of the neck skin and significantly tighten the tissues. The effectiveness of the device is determined by its unique ability to influence the deep layers of soft tissue and change the subcutaneous structure, which functions as a supporting frame for facial tissue.

Preparing for surgery

Consultation with a plastic surgeon. Conversation and detailed examination, determination of appropriate tactics for correction, collection of anamnesis for the presence of contraindications.

Examination:

• fluorography;
• electrocardiogram;
• blood tests: general, biochemical, to determine the group, for infections, as well as a coagulogram - determination of blood clotting;
• general urine analysis.

Consultation with a therapist. Analysis of test results and studies to exclude contraindications for surgery. Consultation with an anesthesiologist. Determining appropriate anesthesia for neck surgery.

General preparation. Before surgery, it is necessary to exclude blood thinning medications. If you are taking them, tell your plastic surgeon. It is also necessary to avoid high physical activity, not to drink or buy alcohol, and to minimize stress.

Features of the operation and result of the operation

At the CONSTANTA Clinic in Yaroslavl, platysmaplasty is performed under general anesthesia using local anesthetics to reduce tissue bleeding. Depending on the severity of age-related changes and the scope of correction, the operation lasts from 1 to 2 hours.

In some cases, a neck lift alone may not be enough to create a pronounced anti-aging effect. Neck plastic surgery without additional procedures is easier for the patient and easier for the surgeon, but there is a risk of disharmony in appearance due to different degrees of tissue tension. We take into account all the nuances and offer the best option for platysmoplasty in combination with other necessary manipulations on the face and neck.

Photos of our patients after comprehensive rejuvenation of the lower face and neck demonstrate a pronounced aesthetic effect that lasts up to 10 years. The operation allows:

• eliminate sagging skin, deep wrinkles;
• get rid of a double chin and folds of saggy skin;
• form a clear angle between the neck and chin;
• remove the “turkey neck” effect, when the edges of the platysma, which has lost its elasticity, diverge;
• give the desired shape and size to the lower part of the face.