Submentoplasty

aka Cervicoplasty, Direct Neck Lift

Introduction
Submentoplasty, also known as a 'Cervicoplasty' or 'Direct Neck Lift' is a neck skin and muscle tightening procedure which can improve the appearance of loose skin and excess fat of the neck.

Description
Submental (the area underneath the chin) fullness and neck skin laxity are common complaints of people seeking cosmetic surgery. A Submentoplasty addresses loose or sagging tissue of the neck. The procedure involves several key steps including direct removal of extra skin, tightening of the neck muscle layer (platysma), as well as removal or sculpting of neck fat.

The Aging Process
As part of the normal aging process, the face undergoes several changes concurrently. There are skin changes including loss of elasticity, development of fine lines and wrinkles, and age-related skin  color irregularities. Separately, there is loss of the youthful fullness and gentle convex contour that accompanies youth. In other areas, there is an accumulation of fat. This is especially common in the submental area underneath the chin. In addition, there is an apparent deepening of facial creases including those around the mouth. Jowls appear along the jawline, so that a formerly smooth jawline is replaced with sagging tissue at the mid-jaw. Some of these changes can be addressed at their early stages with non- or minimally-invasive procedures.

Candidates for Submentoplasty Surgery
You may be a good candidate for a Submentoplasty if you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your neck, especially with regard to the appearance of midline neck laxity, the so-called 'turkey gobbler' or 'turkey waddle', loss of muscle tone in the neck, or the appearance of neck 'bands.'

Submentoplasty Surgery
Submentoplasty is performed either in the office or in the operating room, depending on your preferences and Dr. Pearson’s recommendations. Through carefully designed skin incisions planned for underneath the chin, the neck skin is lifted, allowing tightening of the deeper muscle tissues. At the same time, fat sculpting is often performed on the neck during which excessive fat accumulation is thinned.

Complementary Procedures
A variety of skin treatments may be considered to improve the appearance of the skin. These include Dermabrasion, Laser Treatments or Chemical Peels.

Recovery after Submentoplasty Surgery
Following Submentoplasty, you can expect a few days of swelling and soreness which is well controlled with oral pain medications. Most sutures are typically removed between days 5 and 7. Makeup can be used at this point to camouflage any bruising or scars. Swelling and bruising generally subside by 7-10 days. You can resume most normal activities after a couple of days, except for intense exercise, which may be resumed at about 3 weeks. Most people are able to return to work in 2 weeks. Submentoplasyt scars are usually not overly noticeable after enough time has passed for them to mature. In most cases, they are well disguised in naturally thick hair-bearing skin of the male neck