Is my neck too far gone for Ultherapy and I therefore require surgery? (Photo)

Question

Female, 39, 5 ft 5, 9 stone, slim build.

Min Hee Ryu, MD · Answer

Hi. Thank you for sharing your inquiry.
As seen in the photos you shared, the skin appears to have significant loss of elasticity. In cases like this, non-invasive treatments such as lasers or Ultherapy are unlikely to produce dramatic results.
For noticeable and long-lasting improvement, I recommend a Deep Plane Facelift. When performed by an experienced surgeon who properly releases the retaining ligaments in the sub-SMAS plane, you can expect safe and highly satisfying results with faster recovery and clear improvement.
To address neck wrinkles and the area under the chin, I also suggest considering a Neck Lift combined with Submentoplasty with corset plasty. This will provide comprehensive rejuvenation and more balanced results. Additionally, a Face Lift and Neck Lift performed together will provide optimal tension and comprehensive rejuvenation, as a neck lift alone may not deliver the desired lifting effect.
I hope this advice is helpful, and I wish you great success in achieving your desired outcomes!
Thank you.
-Dr. Min-Hee Ryu M.DDeep Plane Facelift

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photographs and your thoughts about choosing between non-surgical treatments and surgery. Based on your images, there appear to be some features that are less likely to respond effectively to non-surgical options. Specifically, there is moderate volume excess in the neck area, likely from the digastric muscles and submandibular glands, as well as visible platysma bands.

While platysma bands can sometimes respond to botulinum toxin injections and this may be worth trying, non-surgical treatments are generally not effective for managing sub-platysma volume concerns in the neck. In your case, addressing these features surgically would likely provide a more noticeable and satisfying improvement to your neck contour.

My overall assessment is that the likelihood of achieving a result you are pleased with is higher with surgery compared to non-surgical treatments.

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. Thanks for submitting your question and photos. Ultherapy won't help this at all. Your photos show platysmal (muscle) banding and skin laxity which would require surgery to address. Hope this helps!

Best,
Dr. Tower

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Your photos show evidence of what is called platysmal banding. As we age, the platysma (a thin sheet of muscle, extending from the lower face through the neck and down to the chest) ages downward and forward and carries skin with it.  The only real solutions for this issue are surgical. A consultation would be definitive, but most likely a limited incision neck lift would be able to address the problem …..in the right hands.

Is my neck too far gone for Ultherapy and I therefore require surgery? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Ultherapy Will Not Help This Issue

Answer: Ultherapy Will Not Help This Issue

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Everything you need to know about Deep Plane Facelift

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Is my neck too far gone for Ultherapy and I therefore require surgery? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Ultherapy Will Not Help This Issue

Answer: Ultherapy Will Not Help This Issue

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Deep Plane Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.