Best Solution for Redundant Lax Neck Skin After SMAS Lift?

asked 1 year ago by jillbean in Phoenix
Latest answer by Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Question viewed 325 times
Tags: face, neck, tightening

I had a SMAS lift in May. I think my PS did an excellent job, as overall, I have been very pleased with the result. However, in the last month, I have noticed my wattle is returning. Right at my throat - I have that line of skin that stretches under my chin back. So much so, that I can flick the loose skin with a finger. I know he tightened me as much as possible during sx, so this clearly is my skin settling back in. What is my best option and when would you suggest any revision be done?

11 answers to Best Solution for Redundant Lax Neck Skin After SMAS Lift?

Lax neck skin following facelift

Hello and thank you for the question. Following a facelift procedure there is always an element of skin laxity that returns and can be expected several months after the face has reached a stable state. Facelift procedures, while designed to reposition the internal soft-tissue structures and thus produce a more youthful and refreshed post-operative appearance, do not in themselves address the actual skin/soft-tissue quality which becomes compromised during the aging process due to... more

Glenn Vallecillos, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Treatment for sagging skin after SMAS facelift

If laxity is minimal, you may want to consider Ultherapy. Ultherapy is a great non-surgical way to treat minor sagging skin. If the sagging is significant, then you may need a limited revision facelift. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon as he can asses your situation.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Redundant Lax Neck Skin after SMAS Lift

A facelift addresses the jowl and neck by tightening the underlying SMAS and platysma. The neck improvement depends on how extensive your surgeon addtiionally addressed this area. For example was a separate incision made under your neck and a playtysmaplasty done?Was there extensive undermining of the skin in the area of the "turkey waddle", etc. Each of these maneuvers improves the result if applicable to you. Also realize that in most cases after the swelling resolves... more

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Loose skin after a facelift

It is not uncommon for the central skin of the neck to loosen after a facelift as the further you are from the incisions, the faster the problem returns. It might need a neck procedure to tighten the skin a bit more.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Residual skin excess after face lift

You likely had a platysmaplasty or a neck tightening procedure along with the face lift which sometimes can exagerate the skin excess. Sometimes the skin tightens alittle bid as scar tissue matures but if it persists or worsens there are several options. Nonsurgical options are Fractional CO2 LASER resurfacing which can improve skin texture and tightness, radiofrequency treatment like Thermage or Triactive which will require multiple treatments and results may be temporary. I find that... more

Edwin Ishoo, MD
Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon

Recurrent excess skin after a facelift

It's great that you're pleased with the results of your facelift. Small revisions can be done around 8-12 months after the initial surgery and all of the swelling has resolved.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Recurrent looseness after facelifting may be addressed 3 ways

If you looseness is very mild, and your improvement great overall, I'd recommend leaving well enough alone! More moderate recurrent looseness, concentrated at the midline and "high up" is often best addressed with a direct excsion of skin, plus or minus T- or Z-plasty. Significant recurrent looseness is best addressed with a full revision necklift. I would discuss these options with your surgeon, as you seem to have a good relatinoship with him/her. If you would... more

Laxmeesh Mike Nayak, MD
Saint Louis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and neck

There is always some laxity of skin that returns after a facelift and after the swelling comes down. Sometimes a little tuck can be performed to correct that.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Some Rebound Relaxation After A Facelift Can Be Expected

During a facelift, the neck and jowl skin is tightened about as much as possible in most cases. But due to the swelling afterwards and the natural loss of elasticity in some skin types, the phenomenon of rebound skin relaxation will be seen in some patients. Six months after facelift surgery is when this becomes apparent. For some patients, a little tuck-up procedure may be needed to do a little re-tightening within the first year or two after a facelift if one wants the best result... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Face and neck lift

I recommend seeing your PLASTIC SURGEON, and discuss your concerns. This could be swelling, hematoma, or LAX SKIN due to loss of elasticity of the skin(SEVERE). If this is excess skin you will need revision of the neck lift. It should be done after complete healing has occured.about 6 months.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Lax neck skin after a facelift

This can be a reflection of your skin's lack of god elasticity. It also can be from not undermining the skin all the way across the neck from side to side in the surgery. Unfortunately, one of the only real fixes is to redo the entire surgery across the entire neck if that wasn't done in the first place.