Submentoplasty, Liposuction, or other?

Question

I went in for a consultation regarding rhinoplasty and a chin implant. My doctor instead suggested a submentoplasty, but the assistant told me it was unnessasary. Even when I was very thin, I always had a sort of "turkey neck", and I want to get something done to fix it. Is a submentoplasty a good go? When ever I look it up, it's mostly older women (I'm 19). Is there something else I should do? Lipo? Thank you!

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

Judging from your photos, your chin is
slightly recessed in comparison to your lips and mid-face. A chin implant in combination
with submental liposuction will significantly improve the proportions of the
lower third of your face.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Your photos suggest at a minimum a chin augmentation. The best recommendations to improve your neck appearance depend on your needs, desires, and most importantly an examination to determine the best procedure for you. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate you for five main features that will determine your best options for neck line improvement:Amount of excess fat typically found beneath the chin, and in the upper neck. This requires liposuction with small cannulas or direct removal especially if the fat is beneath the platysma muscle.Presence of Significant (Platysmal) Banding – this requires bringing the muscles together in the upper/mid neck to a more youthful position and occasionally their release. This procedure is called a platysmaplasty or platysma plication. Mild banding can be treated non- surgically with Botox or Dysport but this requires injections 3-4 times a year for maintenance.Amount of excess/redundant skin (cutis laxa) and condition of your skin. In advanced stages this is called a Turkey Waddle or Gobble deformity. For example, younger age, darker skin colors and no large weight loss history most likely means there will be better elasticity and therefore better post-surgical contraction. In milder cases if not too much fat is present there will be enough skin shrinkage with just lipo alone. Mild to minimal skin tightening using non-surgical means like the Sciton Laser SkinTyte procedure, Ultherapy or Thermage could also be considered. My personal preference for non-surgical skin tightening of the neck is the Sciton Laser BBL SkinTyte® procedure as there is no down time, more comfortable procdure, is effective and is a more targeted treatment. For redundant upper and mid excess neck skin: I prefer the LiteLift® (lower facelift ) procedure or MACS for skin re-draping for mild to moderate excess skin management as there are minimal scars and the skin is lifted vertically allowing for minimal hidden scars resulting in a natural appearance “non pulled” appearance. However: for moderate to severe skin redundancy , a neck lift or traditional lower facelift (e.g.Lite Lift®, MACS and others) is needed with or without lipo for best results. For advanced Turkey Waddle correction wither a traditional facelift or posterior neck lift often with a platysmaplasty is required with more extensive scars that extend at the hairline behind your ears. The advantage of a facelift procedure rather than a posterior neck lift is that your lower jawline (e.g. jowls and marionette lines) are also improved at the same time.Chin deficiency. If you have a weak chin then you will not have adequate chin support to your neckline skin which affects your entire neck line. Sometimes especially in younger individuals this is all that is required and this can be done in the office under local anesthesia. There are a number of different sizes and shapes and your plastic surgeon will pick the optimal one for you.Presence of prominent Digastric Muscles or Submandibular gland fullness from laxity or enlargement. Although not a major concern for most patients, if present then partial resection is usually the best solution.

Ali Totonchi, MD · Answer

I agree with your doctor, platysmal tightening will help you significantly, lipectomy and liposuction at the same time can improve the results.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

You would do well with liposuction alone, likely better with the implant as well, but you can get similar results without something permanent and rather use fillers for the chin.  You should see an expert in body contouring and facial rejuvenation for this type of procedure.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Humberto Palladino, MD, FACS · Answer

Form your photos I cant say anything about your nose but I would definitively reecommend submental liposuction and a small chin implant. You don't have a turkey neck and at your age I would not perfom any other invasive procedures in your neck. Best to you.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The photographs demonstrate fatty deposits in the neck and a weak chin profile. Liposuction of the neck fatty deposits can help with the jawline, while a chin implant can help give more projection to the chin. The chin implant would help with facial balance and proportions.  Both procedures would be complimentary to each other. For many examples of this combination, please see the link and the video below

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

A chin implant with submental/neck liposuction will work just fine for you. A submentoplasty involves deeper fat remove and muscle tightening which you really do not need with your young age and neck type.

Andrew Kornstein, MD, FACS · Answer

In short, lipoplasty addresses only the subcutaneous fat(and may damage the delicate fat cells that keep your neck skin youthful and smooth) whereas a submental platysmaplasty addresses the subcutaneous as well as deep(submuscular) fat layers as well as two layers of muscle.Your pictures and age(congenital fat and muscle issues) indicate you may benefit from the plastysmaplasty.I would suggest another consult; discuss the reasoning for your doctor's "prescription" as well as why the assistant disagrees with your doctor(after you both listen to the explaination).Best of luck.

Wafik A. Hanna, MD (retired) · Answer

I would definitely perform a Submental Liposuction and chin implant, as the fat under the chin at your young age is hereditary and will get worse by time. The middle third of your face has the strong nose while the lower third of your face has the receding chin and excess fat.  To do the Rhinoplasty and the submental liposuction and chin implant makes your face prettier as it reduces the strong middle third which is the large nose and adds a better dimension to the lower third as beauty is facial balance. When the fat is removed it will never come back again.  With the chin implant it will give you a beautiful neck profile and a younger look.

David A. Ross, MD (retired) · Answer

Your age and your photos suggest that liposuction is all that is needed to successfully correct your very slight double chin. This will add a subtle improvement to the other two procedures.

Submentoplasty, Liposuction, or other?

Answers (11)

More Neck Lift Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (11)

More Neck Lift Questions

Neck Lift vs Platysmaplasty Surgery. Is it possible platysmaplasty can be done without any incision under the chin?

How do you repair verticle neck bands 2 years after liposuction necklift?

What is the newest method for performing a neck lift?

Neck lift gone wrong. What can I do to help it? (Photo)

35 and thin with a waddle/turkey neck. What's my best option? (Photo)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS