Ask a doctor

Loose Skin Under Chin After Lower Lift (Photos)

Follow up to this question.

It's been about 16 months since my lower, or what my doctor called, a subtle facelift because I didn't have a lot of jowling or loose skin; unfortunately, I have it now. I had some lipo under my chin and the scar is pretty jagged and the loose, bumpy skin is visible from one side of my face.

I could tell a week after surgery that something was not right. My surgeon doesn't share my concern. Is there anything that can be done, short of revision? Steroid injection or a tightening laser?

Doctor Answers 31

Submental tuck (platysmaplasty)

May 6th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

would rectify your loose skin and muscle. This could be performed in the office under local anaesthetic if you desired.

Dominic Bray, MBBS, FRCS


London Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 172 reviews

Neck irregularity after neck lift

September 1st, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello,

Thank you for the question and the photos.  I believe I am seeing both theunderlying platysma muscle edges as well as contour irregularity of the underlying fat.  A neck lift would involve suturing the muscle edges together, possibly evening the fat irregularity out, and redraping the skin.  A more thourough evaluation may indicate that fat grafting to the neck may also be beneficial but this is more likely in aggressively liposuctioned necks in youger individuals.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta

Web reference: http://drrepta.com

Remus Repta, MD

Remus Repta, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 166 reviews

Loose Skin Under Chin After Lower Lift?

July 22nd, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

If you elected to have the liposuction under the chin after the facelift, it is possible to get an area of skin that is displeasing; especially if your skin has less elasticity. These two procedures are usually done in conjunction to get the best possible outcome. I recommend you consider scheduling a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon and talk about revision options to correct the area of skin there. “Dr. D”

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD
Fayetteville Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 120 reviews

Redundant skin below chin after facelift

May 26th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

After 16 months your concerns will not disappear on their own. I believe you need to have your procedure revised and would approach it locally below the chin (submental approach). I do not believe that at this late date that non-surgical procedures will be of much benefit. If you have lost faith in your plastic surgeon see another who is board certified in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 157 reviews

Loose skin after facelift

May 19th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

I agree with many of the other posts that a submentalplasty is the way to go and you may need some posterior vector skin lift with revision of facelift incisions. As a caution to other readers when a doctor says "subtle face life or partial facelift" and  you are not happy with the results you probably should have seen a board certified plastic surgeon who knows how to do a complete facelift. There are always shortcuts and mini procedures out there but, they may not make you look much better and in this case of course the patient looks worse!  Best wishes, you should look better with proper revision surgery.

Gregory T. Lynam, MD

Gregory T. Lynam, MD
Richmond Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 59 reviews

Facelift

May 11th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Revision platysmaplasty and liposuction or direct excision  from a midline incision likely will improve things for you .  Your surgeon may need to undermine the area of concern broadly and possibly trim some of the redundant skin from the sides. Good luck.

Web reference: http://www.solomonfacialplastic.com/facial-plastic-surgery/facelift-procedure.php?a=2

Philip Solomon, MD, FRCS

Philip Solomon, MD, FRCS
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.3 out of 5 stars 96 reviews

Submentoplasty revision.

May 11th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It would appear that there are 2 issues contributing to the less than ideal result:  1) irregular contours of the deep structure (platysma muscle and fat) and 2) excesss skin.  An ideal correction will likely require a revision open procedure with a dual approach:  a) from the front (submentoplasty) to recontour the platysma and fibrofatty tissue and b) from the back (face-neck lift) to tighten the platysma-fascial layer and remove the excess skin by redistributing it from front to back.

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC.

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS
Denver Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 117 reviews

What is the best way to improve my neck?

May 4th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

From the pictures that you have provided it looks like the muscle is creating much of the contour abnormality that you are dissatisfied with. A revision neck lift with tightening of this muscle could provide you with some benefit. It also appears that you have some skin contour irregularity underneath the chin. It's possible that a procedure such as ultherapy may provide some benefit for this problem. Make sure to consult with experienced facial plastic surgeons who will provide you with options.

Todd C. Miller, MD

Todd C. Miller, MD
Newport Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 34 reviews

Facelift resu

April 30th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Non surgical treatment of this will be a waste of time and money. It looks to me like you need the lift redone along with a sub mental platysmaplasty, which may not have been done the first time. You say you had some sort of mini lift or not a full lift and that would explain the result. You need it revised, along with muscle tightening under your chin.

Web reference: http://edelsonplastic.com/face/facelift/

Ronald J. Edelson, MD

Ronald J. Edelson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 27 reviews

What To Do For Loose Skin After A Very Subtle Lift

April 30th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It has been said that many times minimal surgery equals minimal results. We have been very good at finding less invasive ways of doing our surgeries, but have often done so by accepting less satisfactory results. It appears that this is what has happened to you. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that a  laser procedure or steroid injection will help the sagging that remains under the chin (other than making the scar itself look a bit better). In order to get a nice, smooth, natural result you will need to have a neck lift done. An evaluation using computer imaging to give you an accurate idea of what kind of results you can expect would be the best next step. Good luck.

Michael R. Menachof, MD

Michael R. Menachof, MD
Greenwood Village Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.4 out of 5 stars 26 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.