How long for prominent platysma muscles and scar tissue to abate? 6 months post Face lift. (photos)

Neck bands after a facelift can be caused from scar tissue or tight platysma muscle fibers. After looking at your photos, it appears to me that most of the problem is from scar tissue as your doctor has explained. Deep massage, while stretching the neck can help soften these bands. Kenalog can also be injected into the bands which often dramatically helps to soften this scar tissue. If these conservative measures fail, then retightening of the SMAS laterally without elevation of the skin over the scar tissue can be very effective in making the bands less prominent. 

Hello, Thanks for your question. At 6 months, if you see any banding, my opinion would be that it is permanent. Typically, when we do a neck lift and platysmaplasty, you should see no edges of the muscle or at least very minimal edge. If the surgery does not work perfectly, you can sometimes start to see the muscle again. In my opinion, a revision surgery would likely be required to correct this. Dr James Bonaparte

There are different approaches to platysma bands in the neck, but in your case I would not expect further improvement at 6 months post op. A revision with platysmaplasty might be considered, and this would include sewing the muscles together, cutting them horizontally to disrupt the bowstring effect, or both.

These bands look too prominent to be treated with Botox. Because they are more medial, you may need further medial tightening of the muscle and skin flap undermining of the entire neck. It's best to seek evaluation from your surgeon or seek a second opinion if needed.

At 6 months post op, your swelling and inflammation should be fairly stable. I would suggest that you schedule another appointment with your surgeon to discuss your options. It looks as if you may need some work done on your platysma muscle to release the tension. Kindly,Kouros Azar

and when can you critique results so that revisions can be undertaken to improve upon your results?  You look like you had aggressive liposuction under your jawline.  And you do have separated muscles that may be 'indurated' but at 6 months, most of your inflammation is gone.  Find out what your surgeon's revision policy is and ensure he is properly credentialed.   Get a formal second opinion if you want some objective advice and recommendations.

Thank you for posting your questions. Even though your body should still be readjusting and reshaping itself six months after the lift, your photos do show plastymal bands and separation of plastyma muscles. A revision procedure may be needed, but botox injections can also help in the meantime. I recommend consulting in-person with an experienced, board certified physician. Best of luck.

Thank you for the question and photographs.  Your platysma muscles are separated.  Occasionally skin bands without platysmal bands can occur   from scarring, and you appear to have some element of scarring on the first photograph.  A trial of botox is reasonable, but you will likely need revision surgery to suture the edges of the muscle together.  I hope this helps and good luck.

so you have an active platysma causing banding. There are a couple of ways to treat them. Botox is effective but needs to be done every 4-6 months but avoids any further surgery. There are a couple of simple surgical techniques to treat them as well as an open revision. Certainly ask your surgeon what he thinks. For me a trial of botox for 12 months might do the trick.Hope that helps. Adam Goodwin

This is a good question.  A proper facelift also includes re-draping the neck and contouring the muscles as well.  the neck should be worked on for smoothness and eliminating the bands of the neck.  This requires knowledge of the neck surgically and the anatomy as well.  If this was not performed at the time of surgery, the neck can be operated on alone.  Facelifts can unmask neck bands and they must be removed at the time of surgery.  This can be done surgically and the surgeon must know how to do this.  In y practice, I do many necks by themselves because this is a youthful feature for both Woman and Men.  If your problem persists, the bands can be removed with a neck lift alone.  Non surgically, they can be temporarily relaxed with BOTOX, but this does not solve your problem long term.  Thank you.