Cobra neck 5 years post lower face and neck lift - how invasive is it to fix?

Question

I had a lower FL & neck lift 5 years ago & I still have “cobra neck”, ie an área under my chin that appears to have an indentation I can fit my thumb in sideways What causes this and how invasive is it to fix it? Thank you

Elie Ramly, MD · Answer

"Cobra neck" after a lower face and neck lift refers to a persistent central submental (under the chin) indentation with fullness on either side. The cause is often related to how the deep neck work was performed. During deep neck contouring, several maneuvers may be used to improve neck definition, including removal of excess subplatysmal fat in the central submental area. If this is performed too aggressively, or if the surrounding lateral structures are not appropriately addressed when indicated (for example, prominent digastric muscles and/or submandibular glands), a visible relative volume deficiency in the central submental region can result. Scar tissue and the manner in which the platysma was tightened during the original procedure may also contribute to this.
The invasiveness of correction depends entirely on the underlying cause. In some patients, a relatively limited revision through a small incision under the chin is sufficient, while others may benefit from a more formal revision neck lift if there are broader contour concerns. Depending on the anatomy, treatment options may include fat contouring, digastric modification, selective submandibular gland management, scar release, revision platysmaplasty, or precise adjunctive fat grafting.
A detailed in-person examination by a plastic surgeon experienced in deep neck anatomy, neck rejuvenation, and revision facelift and neck lift surgery is the best way to determine the specific cause and identify the least invasive option for improvement. Fortunately, many cases can be addressed without repeating a full face and neck lift.

Cobra neck 5 years post lower face and neck lift - how invasive is it to fix?

Answers (1)

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