Is my neck fixable? The bands are still visible and it looks even worse than before. (photo)

Question

I’m almost 39 and had a mini facelift with liposuction under chin w/Platysmaplasty in June 2017. The bands in my neck were more visible afterwards, so, my PS went back in (November 2018) and “loosened” it. The bands are still visible and it looks even worse than before. He said to give it a few months and if it’s still looks the same he’ll go back in and cut the muscle. Will that help? I’m extremely skeptical and would appreciate any advice.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. There are certainly some issues here. I think results like this happen when patients and doctors try to short-cut procedures and costs and do "mini" procedures instead of just doing what needs to be done. If you wanted a neck lift, you should have had a necklift. In my practice, this would have included direct conservative fat removal in the neck, platysmaplasty, and inferior release of the platysma. Now that you have a new set of problems, it may require a more unique approach. Yes, it is fixable, but not easy. I think if your surgeon has already done two operations and you are not happy with the results, then I would be skeptical about going back a third time and expecting a different result.  I would consider a second or third opinion from a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

This may happen occasionally in patients with very thin neck without fat tissue between skin and muscles to camouflage it. There seem to be two options in your case; treatment of muscle bands with Botox or revision of neck lift and attempt to pull anterior bands of platysma muscles together further down towards the base of the neck. Only on the basis of clinical evaluation one can give you more detailed opinion. Good luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

There are many issues going on with photographs presented. This includes changes in the axis/angle of your  entire lower half of the ear, a pixie earlobe, visible scars at the earlobe, adhesions in the neck with static and dynamic wrinkling of the platysma muscle. Botox would be the most conservative treatment first, however a full and thorough examination of the neck is going in person is going to be required to make a determination about how best to proceed. Sometimes a myotomy of the platysma bands can be helpful in addition to Botox

Is my neck fixable? The bands are still visible and it looks even worse than before. (photo)

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Is my neck fixable? The bands are still visible and it looks even worse than before. (photo)

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