Neck Liposuction and Beyond

As we age, the elasticity of the skin decreases and the laxity increases. While younger patients with excess fat in the face may only need a closed neck liposuction, older patients may need a bit more. In addition to excess fat in the neck—fat that only partly responds to a healthy diet and exercise—there is also excess skin in the faces of older people. This layered, wrinkled skin gives away a person’s age and often makes people appear older than they really are. What can be done about the excess fat in the neck when it is accompanied by excess skin? The most favorable cosmetic result comes from neck liposuction combined with one or more additional procedures.

 

 

When performed with a face lift, neck liposuction can be done open or closed. Closed neck liposuction is what many people think of when they think of liposuction. A small incision is made in the skin and a thin liposuction probe is passed into the layer of fat tissue. The open procedure involves making large incisions into the skin and exposing the fat so that the surgeon can see it directly. The open neck liposuction procedure has advantages and disadvantages. An open neck liposuction procedure permits the plastic surgeon to see all the areas of excess fat and thus remove it directly. Unfortunately when the skin is open, the vacuum that is normally created during the closed procedure does not exist. This means that the skin is more or less picked off by the neck liposuction probe. Also, since the fat layer is fully exposed, it is difficult for the surgeon to mentally envision what the contour of the neck will look like when the skin is closed. Also, an open neck liposuction approach does not permit the tumescent technique, a method that confers several advantages.

 

In addition to increased skin laxity in older individuals, the skin becomes much thinner as well. This means that special care must be taken by the plastic surgeon. She must make very precise incisions and to leave just enough skin to provide full flexibility of the neck, but not so much that it drapes unattractively. Finding this delicate balance requires a skilled surgeon. If you are contemplating neck liposuction with an accompanying face lift, you should find a surgeon that has extensive experience in treating older individuals. Ask to see before and after photos; most plastic surgeons are happy to show their work.

 

In certain cases, neck liposuction plus a face lift does not fully restore the youthful appearance that many seek. In these cases, chin implants may be useful. Once the excess fat and skin have been removed with neck liposuction and rhytidectomy (face lift), a small synthetic implant can be strategically placed in the chin or along the jaw line. This creates a stronger jaw line and more of a contrast between the line of the face and the line of the neck. While we are often not consciously aware of it, we measure those lines and angle with our eyes and brains almost instantaneously. From that calculation we make an assessment about a person’s age. For those people that are truly committed to restoring a youthful appearance to the face, neck liposuction and a face lift with chin and jaw implants can make a dramatic difference.