A well-defined jawline frames the face. With age, sun damage, and individual features such as bone structure, fat and the neck muscles, the face can appear to sink into the neck without a clear contour.
A deep neck lift restores that contour by reshaping the neck beneath the skin, not only by tightening it.
Women are usually flattered by a softer contour of the jaw and neck, which contributes to a heart-shaped face. Men often want a stronger angle at the jaw and a cleaner, sharper line.
Both are achieved mainly by reducing volume beneath the platysma muscle: the deeper fat, the anterior bellies of the digastric muscles and the lower part of the submandibular glands. Where the skin has loosened, the platysma is tightened and the skin redraped. Chin enhancement or fat transfer can add to the effect.
With age, the skin of the neck loosens and sun damage becomes more visible. Smoking adds to the damage and gives the skin a leathery look. Most of us also gain some fat under the chin and along the jawline, which blurs the boundary between the face and the neck.
In the centre of the neck, the platysma muscles separate and loosen from the deeper structures. This produces the vertical bands and the hanging skin sometimes called a "turkey neck". It is caused mainly by the muscle, not only by the skin.
This is why a deep neck lift works on the muscle and the deeper fat, as well as redraping the skin.
In younger people, the jawline may lack definition despite a healthy lifestyle and normal weight. This is usually hereditary: the deeper fat, the digastric muscles or the submandibular glands are fuller than average. The skin is good, so there is nothing to tighten.
An anterior neck lift reduces this volume through a short incision under the chin, and is a very important part of Mr Ion's practice.
Some also feel that their chin or jaw is underdeveloped, and want a stronger profile. This can be achieved by combining a reduction of the deeper fat with chin enhancement or fat transfer.
Facial beauty is personal, and it is neither possible nor desirable to copy the jawline of someone else.
Instead, you and your surgeon design a contour that suits the rest of your face. 3D imaging with the Canfield VECTRA H2 lets us plan the change around your own features, so that the result looks natural and personal.
Learn more about neck lift planning
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Talk to our helpful team or book a consultation
with Mr Lucian Ion. Call 0207 486 7757
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