Neck Lift Or Submentoplasty

If you want a better-defined neck, it helps to know how a neck lift and a submentoplasty differ. The two operations treat different problems: a neck lift addresses the whole neck, while a submentoplasty mainly treats the area under the chin.

Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, helps patients choose between them. The right choice depends on what is actually causing the problem: loose skin and muscle bands throughout the neck, or mostly fat under the chin.

Choosing Between Neck Lift and Submentoplasty

1. A neck lift is a surgical procedure aimed at reducing visible signs of aging in the neck area.
2. Submentoplasty focuses on removing fat from under the chin and is less invasive than platysmaplasty.
3. Recovery time from a submentoplasty is generally shorter than from a platysmaplasty, making it a more convenient option for some.
4. The choice between a neck lift and submentoplasty should be based on the specific cosmetic goals and the extent of changes desired.
5. A consultation with a facial plastic surgeon is the most reliable way to find out which procedure suits your neck.

Overview of Surgical Techniques

Neck Lift Overview

A neck lift, or platysmaplasty, treats the aging neck as a whole: loose skin, slack muscle and the vertical bands that form as the platysma muscle weakens. Tightening the platysma, including its outer (lateral) edges, and removing extra skin give the neck a cleaner, more youthful profile. Because the deeper structures are reshaped, the results are long-lasting. If you are hoping for a bigger change in your neck, a neck lift is usually the better choice.

Targeted Areas and Goals and Desired Outcomes

• Enhances neck contour by tightening neck muscle and skin
• Provides a contoured neck for a youthful appearance
• Ideal for combating signs of aging or weight change effects

Submentoplasty Overview

Submentoplasty treats the submental region, the area under the chin, to define the upper neck. It is less invasive than a neck lift: excess fat is removed to reduce a double chin, and the contour under the chin is refined. Most patients find the recovery easier than after a full platysmaplasty. It suits people who want a smaller, focused change with less downtime.

Targeted Areas and Goals and Desired Outcomes

• Concentrates on the area beneath the chin
• Aims to produce a contoured chin, reducing the double chin appearance
• Addresses poor neck contour, specifically under the chin
• Less extensive than platysmaplasty, with little or no skin removed

Procedure and Duration

Step-by-Step Procedure of a Direct Neck Lift

• Step 1 – Incision: The deep neck work is done through a small incision under the chin. When loose skin needs to be lifted and trimmed, incisions in front of and behind the ears are used as well.
• Step 2 – Muscle Adjustment: Working beneath the platysma muscle, Dr. Naderi can reduce the digastric muscles, the submandibular glands and sometimes deep fat, then tighten the platysma itself (a corset platysmaplasty) to refine the neck’s contour.
• Step 3 – Skin Repositioning: The neck is then lifted back up to where it used to be, excess skin is removed, and the incisions are closed.

Neck lift surgery usually takes 3 to 4 hours.

Step-by-Step Procedure of Submentoplasty

• Step 1 – Incision: Submentoplasty begins with a submental crease incision.
• Step 2 – Fat Reduction and Muscle Adjustment: The surgeon targets fat reduction and may adjust the platysma muscle without extensive changes to the neck skin.

This procedure typically requires about 1 to 2 hours.

Recovery and Downtime

Post-Procedure Recovery for Neck Lift

For the first weeks after a neck lift, rest and keep neck movement to a minimum so the tissues can heal in their new position. Most patients are comfortable being seen in public within 2-4 weeks and are back to all their regular activities at around six weeks.

Post-Procedure Recovery for Submentoplasty

Recovery from submentoplasty is shorter and usually less uncomfortable than after a neck lift. Most patients return to their normal activities within 1-2 weeks as the swelling goes down, which is a big part of its appeal for people who want a better chin and neck line without a long recovery.

Potential Risks and Complications

Risks Associated with Neck Lift

• Bleeding: This can occur during or after the procedure.
• Infection: A risk with any surgery; following your aftercare instructions helps prevent it.
• Reactions to Anesthesia: Even ideal neck lift patients may have adverse responses to anesthesia.
• Skin Irregularities: There is a possibility of the skin not settling properly post-surgery

Careful technique and an experienced surgeon keep these risks low.

Risks Associated with Submentoplasty

• Numbness: Temporary loss of sensation may occur.
• Bruising: Common after any surgical procedure, usually temporary.
• Swelling: Can be expected as part of the healing process.
• Scarring and Tissue Damage: These are concerns that highlight the need for careful surgical execution, especially considering the operation focuses on the area beneath the chin.

Careful technique helps keep the neck looking natural.

Longevity and Maintenance

Expected Longevity of Neck Lift Results

Neck lift results last for years, especially in patients with good skin elasticity, who tend to see a more pronounced and lasting improvement. How long they last also depends on you: avoiding sun, not smoking, follow-up non-surgical treatments and a good medical-grade skincare routine all help.

Expected Longevity of Submentoplasty Results

Submentoplasty results can also last for years. How well they hold up varies from person to person and depends on skin elasticity and lifestyle habits, and a consistent skincare routine helps keep the area under the chin defined.

Ideal Candidates

Who Should Consider a Neck Lift?

• An ideal candidate for a neck lift is someone looking to improve the appearance of extra skin around the neck.
• Suitable for individuals with adequate skin tone.
• Aimed at correcting signs of aging in the neck area.

Who Should Consider Submentoplasty?

• Good for people looking to enhance the area under the chin.
• Best suited for those with good skin quality.
• Suited to people with some fat under the chin who don’t need extensive changes to the rest of the neck.

Choosing Between Neck Lift and Submentoplasty

In short, the two procedures differ in how much of the neck they treat:

• Neck Lift Surgery: Treats loose skin, muscle bands and, when needed, deep fat throughout the neck for a well-defined, natural-looking result.
• Submentoplasty: Focuses on a specific area beneath the chin, addressing uniform fat removal and muscle tightening without extensive skin removal.

The right choice depends on what is causing the problem in your neck, not only on which recovery is shorter.

An examination in person is the most reliable way to tell which one will give you the result you want.

Dr. Shervin Naderi sees patients for neck consultations at The Naderi Center for Plastic Surgery and Dermatology in Reston, VA and Chevy Chase, MD. He will look at your skin, muscle and fat, explain which procedure makes sense for you, and plan it around a natural, long-lasting result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a neck lift and submentoplasty?

A neck lift (platysmaplasty) treats the whole neck: loose skin, muscle bands and, when needed, deeper fullness, and it usually removes excess skin. Submentoplasty focuses on the area under the chin, removing fat and tightening muscle through an incision in the crease under the chin, without extensive skin removal.

Am I a better candidate for submentoplasty or a neck lift?

Submentoplasty suits people with good skin quality whose main concern is fat under the chin. If you have loose skin, visible neck bands or changes throughout the neck, a neck lift is usually the better choice. An examination is the most reliable way to tell.

How long does neck lift surgery take?

A neck lift usually takes 3 to 4 hours. Submentoplasty is a shorter operation.

How long is recovery after a neck lift compared with submentoplasty?

After a neck lift, most patients are comfortable being seen in public within 2 to 4 weeks and are back to all their regular activities at about six weeks. Recovery from submentoplasty is shorter, and most patients return to normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks.

Is a neck lift done together with a facelift?

Often, yes. When there is loose skin to remove, Dr. Naderi combines the deep neck work done under the chin with a deep plane facelift, using incisions in front of and behind the ear to lift the neck and remove the extra skin.