The face and neck are not only the parts of the body that the rest of the world sees but the parts that bear the brunt of our environmental exposure such as sun damage and air pollution. Those environmental factors in conjunction with the aging changes of gravitational descent (sagging), loss of skin elasticity (wrinkles), and soft tissue atrophy (hollowing) make the face and neck prime sources of concern for people, beginning in their 40’s and getting gradually more obvious as the years go by. The good news is that neck lift surgery can help alleviate these changes.
A smooth neck that is separated from the cheeks by a distinct jawline is a sign of youth. The neck tends to lose definition with age, accumulating excess fat, redundant and hyperactive muscle, and excess skin under the chin. The neck lift is a plastic surgical procedure that removes excess skin from the neck, tightens the underlying muscle, and removes excess fat. In some cases, prominent submandibular salivary glands are partially removed to increase the definition of the neck. Also, there are some patients who, even in youth, do not have a well-defined neck and may pursue the procedure at a young age.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.
