Platysmaplasty

A platysmaplasty is a procedure often performed in conjunction with a neck lift. It is performed if the midline platysma muscles have split.  

The procedure can be performed in the office under local anesthesia and oral sedation or under general anesthesia at a surgery center. If performed alone (without a neck lift), the procedure will take about one hour.  

The Procedure

An incision is made in the chin crease beneath the chin. The split platysma muscles are identified, and joined by sutures in the midline again from the mandible to the clavicle. The result is a smoother appearance and a sharper angle between the jaw line and the neck. 

A bulky headwrap is placed once the procedure is completed.

A good candidate for a plastysmaplasty is someone who has mild to moderate neck aging. Most patients are between the ages of 40 and late fifties.

There are certain things a patient should do before undergoing this kind of surgery.

• Stop blood thinning medication two weeks before
• Avoid smoking four weeks before
• Don’t drink alcohol five days prior to the surgery
• Have a healthy diet, this will help with healing
• Wear a loose fitting top that buttons up rather than something that is pulled over the head

After surgery you should rest at home and let yourself heal. Dr. Chang will send you home with a detailed recovery plan. There are a number of different ways to do this:

• All patients will wear a bulky headwrap for about 1 week.
• There will be some bruising and swelling which should fade within a couple of weeks
• Sutures are removed 10 to 14 days after your surgery. Some may be absorbable.
• Strenuous exercise should be avoided during this time to help in the recovery process.
• Apply aquaphor ointment twice a day until the sutures are removed
• Most patients will take one to two weeks off of work
• Pain is negligible

As with any surgery, there are associated risks. Only you can decide whether a neck lift can achieve your goals and whether the recovery and risk is acceptable to you. Complications are rare but can include:

• Local bleeding
• Facial asymmetry
• Infection particularly from the absorbable sutures
• Loss of sensation although rare
• Widened or thickened scar
• Delayed wound healing with skin or tissue necrosis
• Extra skin at the ends of the incisions
• For men, temporary or permanent hair loss where the incision is made
• Swelling which doesn’t go down

Unsatisfactory results may require additional procedures. Patients will generally be responsible for any associated facility fees. 

Your cost for a plastysmaplasty surgery will depend on whether or not additional procedures are performed such as neck liposuction or a neck lift? And the type of anesthesia (local vs general). See the price card below

Platysmaplasty can be performed with a number of other procedures. They are a mix of surgical and non-surgical and all aim to create a smoother, sleeker, more defined neck. Procedures include:

• Neck liposuction
• Neck lift
• Profractional laser resurfacing (non-surgical)

The appearance of vertical neck bands are due to the splitting of the platysma muscle in the midline. The appearance is worsened by the the ineffective contraction of the muscles as they lose their attachment to the neck. Instead of helping to create a nice 90 degree neck angle, the tense muscles run as a straight line from the mandible to the clavicle.  

In minor cases, Botox can reduce the tension on the platysma and thereby reduce the appearance of the banding. Botox is effective for about 3 months.