Modern neck lift without scars

Hardly any other part of the body is as exposed to gravity as the lower part of the face and neck. The skin on the neck is pulled downwards by gravity and is constantly exposed to this force both when sitting and standing.

Let's take a closer look at the anatomy of the neck to understand the processes involved. The facial skin merges seamlessly into the neck skin in the jaw area and finally flows into the chest skin in the area of the collarbone. The deeper layers of the neck consist mainly of various muscles with nerves and vessels embedded between them. This is where important nerves run from the head to the body, as well as the large vessels that supply the face and the brain with blood. You can imagine the inside of the neck as a data motorway. Nerves and vessels in the neck connect the head with the body, the trachea carries oxygenated air to the lungs and the oesophagus connects the throat with the gastrointestinal tract. All these structures are embedded by the fat body at different levels, which acts as a different layer between the structures, the muscles and the skin.

As the ageing process progresses, there is a general slackening of the connective tissue and the underlying tissue sinks downwards. This can also cause the fatty tissue in the neck area to sag, resulting in the appearance of a double chin. A double chin is basically an undesirable accumulation of fat in the neck area, which is particularly visible when the head is tilted back from the front and from the side. However, together with the tissue (connective and fatty tissue), the skin also sags and it is not uncommon for a visible excess of skin to form between the larynx and chin area. This is also affectionately known as a turkey neck.

TIGHTENING OF THE NECK AND REMOVAL OF THE DOUBLE CHIN

When patients come to the Am Rosengarten Clinic to find out more about neck lift surgery, we first analyse the current situation: is there any visible fat on the neck, how firm are the muscles that are supposed to give the neck inner stability and what is the condition of the skin on the neck? All these aspects are relevant when we talk about the right neck lift treatment.

THREE WAYS TO A FIRM NECK

If we want to categorise the available surgical solutions into groups, we can distinguish between the following three techniques:

Firstly, the open neck lift. This classic neck lift technique addresses the problem directly. The skin is opened via an incision below the chin, the structures are exposed in depth and excess fatty tissue is removed. The deep neck muscles are then tightened and excess skin is removed. This technique is very effective, but has one major disadvantage: this operation leaves a clearly visible scar along the chin line below the chin.

Secondly: facelift (face lift). In a facelift via an incision in front of and behind the ear (classic facelift approach), the skin in the cheekbone area is loosened down to below the chin. The skin on the neck is dissected and loosened. In the upper area, the facelift aims to tighten the cheek skin and reduce the nasolabial fold; in the lower area, the neck skin can also be tightened using this approach. Disadvantages of this technique: It is a relatively large tightening operation of the entire lower half of the face with corresponding risks. The skin between the tip of the chin and the larynx can only be reached indirectly with this technique and the path from the wound (in front of the ear) to the excess skin in the centre of the neck is long.

Thirdly, the MyEllevate procedure. This procedure, which we are the third private clinic in Germany to offer, is a very modern procedure from the USA. A thin thread is inserted into the neck as a curved loop without an incision and pulls the sagging tissue back up from the inside. The advantages are obvious: the operation leaves no scars and the risk profile is very low. However, the technique is limited and an open neck lift is superior for extreme excess skin. Excess skin cannot be removed with this minimally invasive operation. It may be necessary to perform liposuction on the neck at the same time as MyEllevate surgery in order to mobilise the skin and enable tightening.

CONCLUSION: MANY ROADS LEAD TO ROME?

In principle, all techniques can be considered for a neck lift. A combination of two techniques, for example a facelift in combination with a MyEllevate lift, can also be very effective and lead to a breathtaking result. Which technique is ultimately the best solution for you as an interested patient depends on the initial situation that you bring with you to our clinic for a consultation. We can often make a statement based on images and provide you with a recommendation and calculation for a possible solution.

A sagging neck, a double chin or sagging skin on the neck do not have to be accepted in any case, because today there are numerous modern and safe techniques to tighten the neck effectively and permanently.

We would be happy to send you further information material. Contact us for a personal consultation.

You can also find more information in this press release