This procedure is designed to produce the most chiseled neck available. A neck lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is appropriate for patients who, either due to genetics, weight gain or aging, find that their neck sags or lacks definition. Traditional neck lifts are performed with either liposuction and/or fat excision over the platysma muscle, which is the muscle located just under the skin that creates the “turkey neck” look. Most neck lift procedures focus on tightening that muscle to correct the looseness that results with age and/or genetic tendencies and using liposuction to remove some of the superficial fat in that area. Neck lifts are performed alone or as part of a face lift or other facial procedure.
For patients who have a more advanced or specific condition with excess fat and loose muscle structure, the deep neck lift is the best choice. Less than 5% of plastic surgeons perform the deep neck lift, as it is extremely time-consuming and meticulous surgical technique must be employed to create the best results.
The deep neck lift, also called the deep subplatysmal cervicoplasty, addresses three specific areas of the neck that are not addressed in a routine neck lift.
The deep fat found underneath the digastric muscles, which extend on each side of the neck, just under the center of the chin to the back of the neck. The fat between these muscles can extend sideways over the salivary glands, like wings. That fat cannot be removed by liposuction because there are many blood vessels in that area and it’s too easy to injure them with liposuction alone. This fat must be removed under direct visualization, ie, the surgeon must be able to see it to remove the fat.
The digastric muscle can become loose or bulky. That can be congenital, ie, from birth, or developed during aging. It creates a waddle on the side of the neck that becomes uncovered during a traditional neck lift and later will become visible as puffiness on the front sides of the neck. This is tightened during the deep neck lift procedure.
Enlarged and/or loose salivary glands. The salivary glands can become enlarged and loose with aging, creating a sagging effect. As we age, our salivary glands enlarge, the fluid becomes thicker, and stones may form in the salivary gland ducts. During the procedure, we check this, and in more than 60% of cases, the glands are not healthy. If enlargement is minimal, we will tack the glands with a suture. If enlargement is greater, we may do a partial salivary gland excision. This is highly unlikely to disturb your digestive process, as we are removing only a small portion of the gland (the superficial lobe).
The key is that the deep neck lift is a very complicated, intricate procedure that requires great skill on the part of your plastic surgeon. Compared with a traditional neck lift, however, the results are not only superior but will last longer, as in a traditional neck lift, the areas mentioned above are not addressed.
Good Candidates
Deep neck lift surgery can be performed on any healthy adult who is displeased with the contour of the neck and jawline. Your surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure at your consultation to confirm that a deep neck lift is the best course of action for your particular needs. Patients who have had a previous neck lift and still have excess neck fullness, particularly at the angle between the neck and under the chin are particularly good for the deep neck lift.
How the Procedures is Performed
Deep neck lift procedures are performed under general anesthesia in our Boca Raton accredited in-office surgery suite on an outpatient basis. It can be performed along with a face lift or other procedure. The procedure itself takes about 3-4 hours, as it requires meticulous work by the surgeon. This time will depend on the depth of correction required.
What to Expect During Recovery
For a deep neck procedure, recovery time is usually brief but may be slightly longer if additional procedures were done at the same time, such as a face lift. You will experience some swelling and bruising which can be relieved with pain medication and ice packs. You may want to eat a soft diet for the first 3-4 days. Most patients are back to full activity within 5-7 days. When you leave our office after the procedure, your follow-up appointment will be set and you’ll visit us within a few days to check on your progress and within 5 days for suture removal. Patients should avoid strenuous physical activity for about a month after their procedure and avoid any contact sports or other activities that might cause trauma to the neck area.
Visit us at 4800 N. Federal Highway, C100 in the Sanctuary Centre, Boca Raton, FL or call us at 561.367.9101 to schedule a consultation.
