Neck pleating. Why did this happen? Will it go away? (Photo)

Thank you so much for sharing your photos.  After 3 months, your pleating will not resolve without surgical intervention.  A platysmaplasty, and further neck tightening will certainly give you a smooth and  chiseled contour.  

I would assume that the neck skin excess will not disappear on its own. In fact, this may get a little more pronounced over the coming months. We do not judge the lasting benefits of a face and neck lift earlier than 6 to 9 months. Everything before that is temporary and will change. Depending on your starting point, this may still be a very reasonable result after your face and neck lift.

It is not uncommon to have some wrinkling show up from skin stretch back after surgery. In my humble opinion the best option is Thermitight in that area and after that some more thermismooth treatments. Surgery will not fix it. RegardsDr J

I'm sorry to hear about the contour problems of your neck following your lift. Sometimes with swelling immediately and for 6 weeks or so you can have some subltle contour issues. However based on your pictures and time out from surgery I do not see this resolving in its own. Likely you would need your muscle addressed and/or a retightening behind your ears. Seek out a second option from a bc plastic surgeon. Best wishes.

You should have the neck muscle tightened and smoothed with a platysmaplasty. It seems as if the muscle was untouched at the initial surgery.

Not liposuction, that will remove the underlying support layer for the skin.I would suggest fat grafting to restore circulation and support(a thin layer; no you won't have a "fat" neck) or non invasive skin tightening.Hope this helps

Appears and sounds like a short cut option of not doing full open neck but usage liposuction in the submittal area only. Thus the presented results! Only open full neck dissection would smooth this result out. Sorry... 

The neck pleating is referred to as the "Conbra " neck.   It occurs when excessive liposuction is performed or the platysmaplasty or neck tightening is performed on a thin indiciduals's neckThe condition often develops after over auctioning  the neck skin so that the neck muscles are seen.    With more aggressive muscle tightening procedures--  any irregularity will show in a thin patient Best to let your doctor know and discuss options to improve. 

Unfortunately, without a physical exam, it is difficult to say if your neck problem is due to remaining skin laxity or scarring just deep to the skin.  If the problem is skin laxity, then a small direct skin excision just below the skin may be warranted.  If it is due to scarring, hydrocortizone injections and massage may resolve the problem.  At just three months post op, things may improve further with time. I would allow things to settle for at least three more months before considering any surgical revision.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon.  He/she will be in the best position to assess the problem and help.  Best wishes, Dr. Lepore.

Hi, based upon the attached photos it appears that the pleating might have been caused by Laser heat applied within  or more precisely below the skin or by the liposuction.  You may want to ask the facelift surgeon for possible causes and treatments.