Why do I have these vertical pleats, folds, bands under my chin after having chin lipo, lower facelift, and neck lift?

Question

I have had many laser treatments along with other procedures like Kybella and Morpheus 8 to reduce volume under my chin and to tighten the lax skin. After menopause, the elastin in my skin has gone downhill. I finally elected to have a lower facelift and neck lift with chin lipo to resolve the dangly loose skin under my chin. One year later the skin looks puckered or pleated. It's worse in the morning and only looks less prominent if I moisturize. Why does it look like this and what can I do?

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs. The area of laxity just under the chin is usually addressed better by a more vertical vector and is sometimes helped more by the facelift than by neck lift interventions. For a facelift procedure to have a more significant impact on the submental region, the facelift scars need to extend also to the edge of the hairline in the temporal region.

If your procedure for the neck did not involve a deep plane approach, work on the deeper layer in the neck can help define the contour of the jawline and chin, but would still benefit from the more vertical approach of a facelift.

In general, elasticity of the neck skin will have an impact on the degree of improvement that is achievable. But, unfortunately, none of the treatments available restores elasticity. As such, optimisation of the vectors for lift is the area where cosmetic treatments, and in particular surgical cosmetic treatments, can contribute to the results.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

From your history, there are a number of possible causes of this skin irregularity. The scarring, resulting from your Kybella and the loss of subdermal fat from your Morpheus 8 and your chin Lipo and the facelift have all created some scarring underneath the skin underneath your chin. These may be scar bands that you’re witnessing, unresolved loose skin or platysma bands, which have been uncovered from the chin liposuction. It is very difficult to know without a physical examination. I would return to your plastic surgeon and address these issues. Best wishes.

Michele A. Shermak, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
This could be related to a delayed settling after necklift or possibly to intrinsic skin changes from your prior treatments. I would recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon to see what can be done to improve the area. It's possible under local the incision under the chin can be reopened and the skin released and smoothed. Best to assess with an in person visit.
Best of luck to you!

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Loss of elasticity and subcutaneous tissue support are some of the elements that contribute to this condition. In some cases injection of micro and nano fat grafts may improve this appearance. Good luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

You have excess and elastic skin in your neck, which is going to require a revision lower face and neck lift procedure to be able to tighten the skin from the incisions all the way from behind your ears. It's only possible to tighten the skin so much behind your ears, otherwise you'll have poor healing in that location.

Why do I have these vertical pleats, folds, bands under my chin after having chin lipo, lower facelift, and neck lift?

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Answer: Why do I have these vertical pleates, folds and bands under my chin?

Answer: Why do I have these vertical pleates, folds and bands under my chin?

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Why do I have these vertical pleats, folds, bands under my chin after having chin lipo, lower facelift, and neck lift?

Answers (6)

Answer: Wrinkles after neck lift

Answer: Wrinkles after neck lift

Answer: Why do I have these vertical pleates, folds and bands under my chin?

Answer: Why do I have these vertical pleates, folds and bands under my chin?

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