Does fat affect the position of the hyoid bone?

Question

Hi! Since the hyoid bone is a freely floating bone, can fat move the hyoid bone by pulling it? For example if the body stores subplatysma fat can that lower the hyoid bone? And if someone did liposuction would the hyoid bone become elevated?

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

The hyoid bone is far from free floating.  We have muscles such as the hyoglossus, sternohyoid, mylohyoid etc. which all attach to this bone. Its position is more related to genetics and embryology than anything else.  Liposuction is superficial to the platysma muscle and would have absolutely no effect on hyoid position.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your very valid question. The hyoid bone is not free-floating. It is attached to muscles and stabilized by them. The fatty tissue is situated outside these muscles. As such, the fatty tissue drapes around the hyoid rather than within the systems that stabilize it. It will not affect the position of the hyoid.

The impression that the hyoid bone is higher or lower is affected significantly by the size of the mandible or lower jaw bone. When the mandible is smaller, the distance between the lower border of the mandible and the hyoid appears longer. When the mandible is larger, it will come closer to the hyoid and generally produce the impression that the neck has more definition. This is not related, however, to the influence of the fatty tissue on the hyoid bone.

As a result, for instance, the anterior neck lift intervention can change the volume of fatty tissue and increase the visibility of the cervical angle and hyoid bone beneath it.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

The hyoid bone is connected to many muscles which keeps it securely in place.  Liposuction can be done to fat which can somewhat change the position of the muscles in the area, but, the hyoid bone itself is not likely to meaningfully move.

Does fat affect the position of the hyoid bone?

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