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Alternative to Neck and Face Lift near Boston

Surgical treatment of the aging face and neck has historically been thought of as going in for a face lift and coming out with a new look. But the downside to the traditional face lift was always its cost, recovery time, and the risk of coming out of surgery with a pulled, unnatural look. New therapies in cosmetic surgery have pushed the envelope of minimally invasive surgery, and nowhere is that more evident than in treating the neck and jaw line. While it is true that some patients benefit most from a full face lift in the Boston area, many will achieve superb results with treatment of the neck alone, or in combination with easier and less invasive procedures than a face lift.

The minimally invasive procedure most talked about in medical circles for treating the aging face and neck is liposuction. Through a series of small incisions, fat can be removed and the neck and jaw line sculpted to produce a smoother, more natural and youthful appearance. In many cases, tightening of the neck muscles further refines and shapes the neck, restoring the natural angles and symmetry of this important aesthetic unit. The beauty of all this is that it is performed as an outpatient procedure with a few small incisions instead of the large, sometimes unsightly face lift incision.

The neck and jaw line are critically important features of the adult face, and telltale signs of advancing age are often first noticed in these areas. For this reason, the uniquely elegant procedures discussed below are targeted to produce a more youthful and natural look with minimally invasive, targeted therapy.

If you are considering a neck or face lift in the Boston area, learn how less invasive techniques can improve your appearance in remarkable ways. Request a consultation online or contact us at (617) 731-1600 to schedule your appointment.

Neck Liposuction

As people age, gravity and time can cause the skin and underlying fat to sag, leading to the formation of jowls and slack skin around the neck. Neck liposuction can dramatically reduce this prominent sign of aging by creating a more youthful neck and jaw line. Since skin retains much of its elasticity as we age, the neck and jaw can be reshaped by removing excess fat from the neck and cheeks through small incisions under the chin. The skin then re-drapes itself along the jaw line for a more youthful and aesthetically pleasing appearance. In many cases, Thermage is used as an adjunct to neck liposuction to significantly enhance skin tightening.

Platysma Repair

Some individuals, particularly women, will develop linear vertical ridges on the neck that are known as platysma bands. The platysma is a thin muscular sheet located just under the skin of the neck. With time, the fibers of this muscle can weaken, causing prominent midline bands as well as the appearance of a loose, shapeless neck. Repair of the platysma muscle can dramatically improve the contour and shape of the neck. At the conclusion of the liposuction procedure, the platysma muscle can be tightened through a small incision that is hidden under the chin. A few well-placed sutures under the skin help to tighten the muscle, and the shape of the neck is restored to a more youthful appearance.

The concept of repairing and tightening the platysma muscle is central to the surgeon's ability to shape and contour the aging neck. There are a variety of muscle repair techniques used by physicians around the world, but the novel platysma repair procedures performed at SkinCare Physicians are renowned for producing smooth and eye-pleasing contours of the neck, and refining the jaw line and jowls.

Using a Combination Approach to Produce the Best Results

These procedures are very effective ways to treat changes to the lower part of the face caused by aging. Because so many people develop changes to the jaw line as one of the first signs of aging, neck liposuction and platysma repair can produce dramatic changes in a patient's appearance. Since we target the source of the problem, the need for a full face lift and its potential complications is eliminated. Ancillary procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, Thermage®, or soft tissue augmentation with collagen, Restylane® or fat transplants can help to enhance the results of neck liposuction and platysma repair.

Your surgeon will help you to choose the proper procedure, depending on your goals, complexion, skin type, and skin elasticity.

Before the Procedure

Laboratory tests will be done to ensure you are in good health. Pre- and post-operative antibiotics are given for infection control, and products containing aspirin are discontinued at least two weeks prior to surgery. Use of vitamin E must also be discontinued.

The Procedure

Local anesthesia is obtained with the tumescent technique, which has revolutionized the field of liposuction. We are now able to precisely remove fat cells without the need for an anesthesiologist in an extremely safe and effective procedure. Several small 3 to 4 millimeter incisions are made under the chin and along the jaw line to precisely remove the fat contributing to a sagging neck and jowl formation. Our physicians have helped to pioneer neck liposuction and reshaping techniques, delivered talks at national conventions, and written books and medical journal articles about the procedures used to perform safe and effective neck contouring.

Platysma repair is performed through a small, 1 to 2 inch incision under the chin. The surgeon carefully brings the muscle back into its natural position under direct visualization and sutures it into place. The incision heals almost imperceptibly within a few weeks.

After the Procedure

You will be asked to continue the antibiotics you began before surgery. Pain is minimal, as is post-operative discomfort. A compression garment is used continuously for the first week, then eight to ten hours a day for the next three to four weeks. If sutures are placed (platysma repair), they are removed one week after surgery.

Patients are able to resume normal activities within a week to ten days of surgery, and the effects and benefits of surgery are apparent almost immediately.

At SkinCare Physicians, our doctors and staff are highly experienced with alternative treatments to neck and face lift in the Boston area. To get started, request a consultation online to come visit with us.