Will Smart Lipo make my platysmal bands and neck glands look worse? 35 y/o, 117 lbs (photos)

Question

Have smart lipo scheduled soon for a small amount of chin fat and some mild skin laxity on neck. I am 35 and weigh 117 lbs. I'm concerned I have overdeveloped submandibular glands and some platysmal banding that lipo will make more prominent. I asked about plastymal bands and the nurse said she's seen it get better or worse and they won't know at first. Should I be concerned this is not the right procedure for me?

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

Overall your submental fat pad is not overly developed, but could use a bit of an improvement. Based on our age, SMARTLipo is a good procedure to address this Your platysmal banding is similarly mild and is partially due to extra skin, which should be at least mildly corrected with the SMARTLipo.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction is a permanent and irreversible procedure.
There is significant variation in outcome for this operation depending on who does the procedure.
Insect Liposuction has more variability in and out, and any other plastic surgery procedures I’ve ever seen based only on who does the procedure.
Poor results can be delivered by well intended board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience will have an overall good reputation but don’t take Liposuction seriously enough to push themselves to go through the proper learning curve.
In the end there are only two variables that matter when it comes to getting quality results. they are patient candidacy and provider skill.
Secondary treatments like laser, ultrasound, radio frequency or heat does very little to improve outcome in comparison to choosing the right provider.
If you’re having conversations with anyone other than the provider about outcomes and anticipated concerns something isn’t right.
These discussions need to be with the surgeon who’s going to do your procedure.
Removing fat will put anything deep to the fat layer on display including glands and platysmal bands.
Removing an already thin fat layer is certainly not going to improve put the small bands if you have them.
Personally I think the most important first step is to get an accurate assessment. In other words making a correct diagnosis or understanding what the underlying problem or reason for the problem exists.
Fat distribution is not what’s causing the contour issues of the lower 1/3 of your face and neck.
The problem is primarily related to bone structure. 95+ percent of individuals seeking this procedure having undersized mandible. This means 100% of people seeking chin and neck liposuction will have an overbite dental occlusion. Profile pictures will show the upper lip has more forward projection than the lower lip. What is the origin of the platysma muscle is not sufficiently projected the muscle drapes the neck in an oblique fashion. This is what causes the premature double chin, lack of jaw line definition and premature jowls. 
Considering mild to moderate skin laxity with some loss of skin elasticities with relatively thin layers of subcutaneous fat lowers your candidacy for the procedure.
If done poorly the procedure can leave contour irregularities that border on disfigurement.
Since the procedure is permanent and irreversible it is absolutely critical that you confirm your provider can do the procedure consistently without issues.
Provider selection is the absolute most important variable from the patient’s perspective.
There is legal individuals can do to change their candidacy. Individuals who are exceptional candidates should look forward to exceptional results which in many ways justifies the procedure more than those who are less than perfect candidates.
For individuals who are average or less candidates the decision to have the procedure needs to be carefully weighed with the potential risk of an outcome being far worse than anticipated.
At a minimum individuals considering this procedure should at least that plastic surgeons and go through a rigorous selection process to at least find the best provider.
Start the process with having quality facial pictures of yourself.
Start reviewing lots of before and after pictures looking specifically for individuals who have very similar characteristics to your own face and neck. this means similar age, similar mandibular structure, similar amount of fat etc. etc.
A great candidate has the potential for a great outcome but can also end up with poor outcomes if provider selection is insufficient. A poor candidate on the other hand does not have the potential for a quality outcome regardless of who does the procedure.
Understanding your own candidacy is the first step in the process.
This is the best garden in the same manner as vetting and selecting plastic surgeons.
Schedule multiple in person consultations which time you should eventually get a good understanding of your own candidacy and can at the same time get confirmation of the skill and experience of each provider.
John each consultation at each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures. being shown a handful of preselected images most likely representing the best result of the providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like or how many of these procedures anyone provider has actually performed.
Providers may be apprehensive to show you anything but their preselected “show and tell” “best of “ results album.
Ask providers to specifically only show you before and after pictures of patients who have similar facial characteristics to your own. Bring printed copies of your own facial pictures with you as a reference. 
You should ask providers to specifically show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes and outcomes that did not turn off as well as they had hoped. We all have a variety of outcomes and it’s fair game for patients to ask to see a variety of outcomes including those that are less than perfect. Ask specifically what the revision rate and revision quality is.
For reference any experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 set a before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures like chin and neck liposuction. Highly experienced providers who been doing the procedure for decades will have hundreds if not thousands of before and after pictures of common procedures.
Careful notes during each consultation specifically regarding the quantity and quality of before and after pictures showing it as well as all the other aspects of a comprehensive consultation.
This includes medical history, examination, assessment including explanation, description of procedure and alternatives, review of before and after pictures described above, risks and benefits, preparation for surgery, recovery, revision policy and worst case scenario.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider but I suggest patients start with at least five and consider scheduling more if needed.
You’ll be reminded of your decision every day for the rest of your life.
I cannot emphasize enough importance of provider selection including the fact that delivering consistent quality liposuction results is far more difficult than most people believe.
Anybody trying to convince you to use their service because of their equipment should be an immediate red flag.
Equipment matters very little when it comes to Liposuction. All plastic surgeons have the tools they need to do their job.
When in doubt slow down and schedule more consultations. 
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Will Smart Lipo make my platysmal bands and neck glands look worse? 35 y/o, 117 lbs (photos)

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Will Smart Lipo make my platysmal bands and neck glands look worse? 35 y/o, 117 lbs (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

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