Neck lift anatomy

Skin laxity

The skin loses elasticity with age and with sun damage. After major weight loss, loose skin can also form folds in the front of the neck and under the chin.

In a deep neck lift the skin is redraped over the reshaped neck, and the excess is removed through incisions around the ears, so the result is smooth and the scars are well hidden.

Volume excess

Fat in the neck lies in two layers: just under the skin, and deeper, beneath the platysma muscle. The deeper fat often contributes most to a full neck, and it cannot be treated by liposuction or skin tightening.

The anterior bellies of the digastric muscles, which run under the chin, can be large and add fullness. They can be reduced in an anterior or deep neck lift.

The submandibular glands, below the jawline, can also make the neck look full, and the lower part of the glands can be reduced at the same time.

Underdeveloped jaw and chin

The size and shape of the jaw and chin vary widely from person to person.

Reshaping the bones is possible, but a clear jawline can often be achieved by reshaping the neck itself, sometimes with a chin implant or fat transfer to strengthen the bone contours.

Platysma banding in the central
part of the neck

Platysma bands are the vertical bands that appear in the centre of the neck with age. They are more visible in slim people, and can be partly hidden by fat.

They form as the edges of the platysma muscles separate and loosen. In a deep neck lift the muscle edges are brought together and tightened, which gives firm support under the chin and along the jawline.

This is often called a corset platysmaplasty, because the muscle is tightened in the centre and at the sides, forming a sling of support under the chin.