My anterior platysma muscle is separating. My doctor recommends repairing the muscle with no lift. What are the risks?

Question

Turkey neck runs in my family and I'm pretty young to be developing one. My platysma muscles are separating down the center of my neck What is causing this to happen so fast? My doctor recommended an anterior platysmaplasty with lipo. He said he'd simply stitch the muscle back together and its a fairly simple procedure. He said he didn't feel I should address my jowling at all. Only the anterior platysma muscle. Will this cause my jowls to be more obvious Will it change the appearance of my face

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

There are many risks that you should know about before committing to platysmaplasty surgery. They include bleeding, infection, numbness and other nerve damage, scaring etc. At the end, it will be all about the esthetic outcome which you will judge not much earlier than 6 months after the procedure.

Wayne F. Larrabee, MD · Answer

This is a common question and the recommendations are very specific to the individual patient and anatomy. Without photographs or more information specific recommendations only general comments are possible. If you have a fair bit of fatty tissue in the neck simple removing that with liposculpture or liposuction will frequently create a better neck profile.  Suturing the muscle as recommended will improve the banding also. If you have jowls as well they won't be worse from this procedure but perhaps by comparison be more obvious. Just from your description we would probably recommend a neck lift as shown in the reference below. The recommendations you have been given may be reasonable.

Marc DuPéré, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question about #necklift.

Pictures would be useful if you could.

I consider neck procedures in 3 levels: liposuction alone,
liposuction and anterior muscle repair (anterior platysmaplasty) and
liposuction, muscle repair and a neck-muscle lift with posterior ear incisions.

So if jowling is not significant for now, level 1 and 2 might be options for you with a small incision.  Level 3 will improve 50% the jowls.

Best way to improve the jowlings is to lengthen the neck
lift incision and convert it into a neck + facelift.

An in-person assessment would be helpful with a
board-certified plastic surgeon.

All the best,

#DrMarcDuPere, #Toronto #plasticsurgeon

Kevin Sadati, DO · Answer

The vertical bands that you’re seeing are loose
platysma band and skin. They become apparent with aging. Since you also have laxity of your jowls, what you need is a well-performed face and neck lift
by a facial plastic surgeon. This will improve your neck tissue laxity as well as
jowls.  Face and neck lift can be performed using local anesthesia and twilight sedation without the need for general anesthesia.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

can be done purely for your bands as your surgeon suggests.  That method will not impact your jowls at all.  If you are concerned about your jowls, a facelift of some sort will have to be done.  As for cause, purely genetics.

My anterior platysma muscle is separating. My doctor recommends repairing the muscle with no lift. What are the risks?

Answers (8)

Answer: Neck lift v.s facelift

Answer: Neck lift v.s facelift

Answer: Neck lifts

Answer: Neck lifts

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My anterior platysma muscle is separating. My doctor recommends repairing the muscle with no lift. What are the risks?

Answers (8)

Answer: Neck lift v.s facelift

Answer: Neck lift v.s facelift

Answer: Neck lifts

Answer: Neck lifts

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Neck Lift

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