Important

Description

Face Lift Procedure Summary 

Face lift and Neck lift (also known as neck rejuvenation) procedures are increasingly popular to significantly improve the look of loose face skin. The lower face lift and neck lift will accomplish drastic results.

Plastic surgery is performed to lift and tighten neck skin and eliminate sagging. In the very beginning of necklift operations, the only thing addressed was the skin and for good reason. Soft tissue loss, bony atrophy, and overall volume diminution typically affect the face more than the neck. The neck is more affected by skin laxity, and skin elasticity changes.

Common Complaints from Face Lift Candidates

Skin bunching, wrinkling, and jowls are all common complaints. The resolution to address these complaints are by excision, or removal. This is a bit different than the face because the face also requires fill and possible resurfacing in addition to taking tissue away or up in the attempt to lift it.

The jaw bone defines the junction between the face and neck.   When we deal with jowls we must remember that the fat that forms the jowl comes from the face and falls or drapes over the rigid fibers that mark the junction of the face and neck. The only way to address that tissue is to lift it back up which requires in the very least a facelift involving the lower third of the face. Even if it were possible to adequately address the neck in an isolated neck lift, leaving this behind would look terrible. The neck lift or lower face lift contours the jawline making it more defined while tightening the neck.

Resolution

If the problem is related to the presence of superficial fat (adipose found under the skin), direct excision or liposuction is the answer. In cases that involve separation of platysmal bands; the fat may be excised directly at the time of addressing the skin. In addition, deep fat that is located centrally may also be addressed through direct excision. If fat is the only issue; liposuction or the injection deoxycholate (Kybella for example) will yield a good result provided skin quality will allow retraction. This may be aided by the addition of laser modalities.