Can I get a better Neck lift result with Submandibular Gland Resection? (photos)

You are a great candidate for a face/neck lift procedure, but unfortunately you will not be able to achieve your desired result.  Facelift is the most effective way to get rid of the loose skin, but it is not designed to alter your underlying facial structures.  Puling the loose skin up (just as you did) or looking at your own photos that were taken 15-20 years ago would give you a pretty good idea how your neck might look after the surgery.  Submandibular gland resection is an optional procedure that would not improve the neck angle, although it might reduce the fulness on the sides of your neck.  Your surgeon would be the best person to go for advice on the need for submandibular gland partial resection.  Best wishes!

There are cases where partially reducing, shaving, but not removing the submandibular gland could help the contour, but tightening the skin is usually enough. Not many plastic surgeons offer surgery on the submandibular gland because of the risks of bleeding and nerve injury. 

Sub maxillary gland resection after facelift is possible but I do not think you will get what you are looking for. I would need to see and feel this to decide. 

From the pictures that you have provided, it appears that you would get the best result with a neck lift procedure combined with lipocontouring of the neck and a lower facelift. It is possible to shave the submandibular glands for patients who have prominent, ptotic glands however, I don't think that you fit this profile. I would consult with at least a couple of experienced facial plastic surgeons who will give you options.

A neck lift is not going to give you the results you are looking for.You  will need a comprehensive face/neck lift to address excess skin, sub mental fat and loose muscles in the neck. A conservative shaving of the submaxillary gland can help with the contour irregularities in the neck, however you cannot completely remove the gland. If you remove the entire gland you will end up with a dry mouth and cavities

Very hard to respond via the internet this very interesting concern. Understand SMG resection adds increased risks and recovery to the neck lift surgery. If needed than of course consider, but over the internet impossible to decide.. Only IN PERSON evaluations allows a decision to be made.. 

nightblooming cereus, Operating on the submandibular gland (SMG) is a procedure that can be done but does increase the risk of injury to the manrginal mandibular nerve (part of the facial nerve). Look for the book is called "Neck Rejuvenation" and it is chapter 10 page 122. I talk about how and when to do a SMG shave (not resection). That chapter will address your concerns. Good luck!

Thanks so much for your e-mail.  Based on the photos you provided, I think it would be fairly straightforward to achieve a really nice result with your neck.  With regards to your specific question, it's difficult to say with certainty whether you need your gland resected based on your photos.  There are times when a gland resection is necessary for improved results, but removing someone's salivary glands needs to be done in limited circumstances.  You can usually suspend the gland with plication of the platysma muscle in which case the glands do not need to be removed.  Possible complications associated with gland removal include dry mouth and salivary fistula, neither of which is very fun situation if it happens.  So bottom line don't be cavalier about removing the gland in all situations.  Take the gland out if its necessary.  I don't know, based on your photos, if it will be necessary in your situation.

Dear nightblooming,The right side profile with you pulling on the loose face/neck tissue is the key photo.  It demonstrates some of the results that can be accomplished with a neck lift/face lift procedure.  The loose skin and soft tissue can be resuspended and tightened.  Additional fat may be removed from under the muscle and if needed either a partial submandibular gland resection or a submandibular gland suspension can be performed.  I do not think either of these will be needed however, to achieve a good neck contour.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Opinions vary widely among good
plastic surgeons as to what is required to obtain the best neck contour. One
thing for sure is that it requires more than just tightening the skin and the
underlying platysma muscle. Changes occur with aging at a deeper level and as these
changes interfere with a good contour they need to be corrected. If there is a
midline gathering of lax platysma muscle, this requires redraping the muscle to
the side. If there is excess subplatysma fat this need to be removed using a
small incision under the chin. Prominence of the submandibular saliva glands at
the side of the neck occurs in some people. Reduction of this excess gland
tissue makes a major difference if it reduces the prominence. But it doesn’t make
a difference if the gland is not responsible for a contour problem. Your
photograph suggests a moderate fullness of the submandibular glands. However
this can only be fully verified by feeling the deeper tissues of this area.
Prominence of the gland feels like a firm plum or apricot hanging down from
behind the jawline. Some surgeons are not comfortable resecting the
submandibular glands as it is difficult surgery and not without its dangers. If
the glands are prominent you should consult a plastic surgeon experienced with
this procedure. Only the part of the gland that is in excess is removed andthist
does not cause a dry mouth.

In your case, as you have
observed, the liposuction has led to laxity of the neck skin, which now has to
be corrected.

In your photographs you can see,
the presence of pronounced
labiomandibular folds. These are the foldq of lax skin that extends down from
the corner of the mouth to the jaw. The presence of this laxity tells us that a
necklift alone would not fully correct the laxity of the neck, as the laxity also includes the lower cheek.
Correction of this requires, at the least, a lower facelift, which includes a
necklift.