Facelifts in Beverly Hills are renowned worldwide for their ability to turn back the clock. They redefine the jawline, smooth cheeks, and restore youthful contours to create a noticeable transformation.
However, the reality of aging is complex, and the lower face and neck often present two distinct, yet often related, challenges: jowls and conspicuous vertical neck bands.
Although a traditional facelift is highly effective for addressing sagging skin and repositioning tissues in the mid-to-lower face, it often won’t provide the necessary correction for deeper issues of neck aging.
Here’s why a facelift won’t fix neck bands and jowls entirely, and combining a facelift with a neck lift is often the procedural path of choice for transformative anti-aging treatment in Beverly Hills.
Jowls are primarily a laxity and volume issue in the lower cheek and jawline area. The formation of jowls results from several age-related changes occurring simultaneously, including:
Vertical neck bands are a muscle-related issue. These prominent, cord-like structures are the result of changes in the platysma muscle, a thin, sheet-like muscle that stretches from the chest up to the jawline. Neck bands are caused by:
Jowls and neck bands often begin to appear together because both are signs of aging in the cervicofacial region. However, the jowls are skin and volume-driven, and neck bands are primarily muscle-driven, thus demanding different surgical solutions.
A modern facelift, often called a facelift, is a specialized procedure focused primarily on the mid-face and jawline. A well-executed facelift achieves significant facial rejuvenation by:
But in spite of its power, a facelift’s pull is often insufficient to address the deep, muscular problem of the neck, aka jowls and neckbands.
For example, a facelift does not surgically correct the vertical separation of the platysma muscle. While the skin tension may temporarily camouflage mild bands, as soon as the patient speaks or strains the neck, underlying muscle cords will still become visible.
Furthermore, a facelift does not typically include the removal of significant submental (under-chin) fat, critical for an acute neck-to-chin angle.
A combination of treatments is the most effective approach for addressing neck bands and sagging jowls. For comprehensive, balanced, and harmonious facial rejuvenation, one of these specialized neck procedures is almost always necessary when moderate to severe neck bands or significant submental fat are present:
This term is often used interchangeably with the deeper components performed during a combined procedure. A true neck lift, aka cervicoplasty, specifically focuses on the area below the jawline, tightening loose skin and removing or repositioning the tissues to redefine the cervicomental angle between the neck and chin.
This procedure is the direct answer to vertical neck bands that access the platysma muscle through a small incision under the chin. The surgeon then sutures the separated muscle edges together in the center, creating an internal sling that flattens the vertical cords. An effective platysmalplasty provides long-term correction of muscle banding.
If the patient has excess fat contributing to a blunt or ill-defined neck angle, liposuction is performed beneath the chin. This procedure, also known as jawline liposuction, removes localized fat deposits, helping to create a sharp, youthful contour, aka the best result for jowl correction beyond a facelift.
The decision to combine procedures is driven by the visible signs of aging. Ideal candidates for a facelift + neck lift or platysmaplasty combination often exhibit:
Combined procedures almost always yield more natural and dramatically youthful results because they treat the entire lower face and neck unit as one aesthetic whole.
Lifting the face but leaving the neck lax and banded creates an obvious discontinuity, whereas combining the two procedures helps the jawline flow seamlessly into a smooth, defined neck.
For younger patients or those with only minimal, early signs of aging, surgical correction can be delayed using non-surgical adjuncts, including:
These treatments can be excellent maintenance tools or delay the need for surgery. However, they cannot replace the foundational lift and muscle correction provided by a surgical neck lift and platysmaplasty when skin laxity is profound.
The selection of a surgeon is the most critical decision you’ll make before getting a facelift. The expertise required for a customized combined procedure is higher than that for a standard facelift alone. Remember to:
Always prioritize consulting a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who specializes in the face and neck.
Avoid any surgeon who proposes a one-size-fits-all facelift. A nuanced approach requires a bespoke surgical plan that directly addresses your specific combination of fat, skin laxity, and muscle banding.
Ask your potential surgeon specific questions:
The Beverly Hills surgeon for facelift and neck lift you end up choosing should be able to clearly articulate why and how the combination procedure will deliver the most harmonious result for your unique facial structure.
For comprehensive and long-lasting improvements that truly address the challenges of aging, vertical neck bands and deep laxity in the jowls will typically require a specialized neck lift component, particularly a platysmaplasty.
Consider a tailored approach that integrates a facelift with a strategic neck procedure for a beautifully defined jawline that flows seamlessly into a smooth neck.
To find out whether a facelift, neck lift, or combination treatment is the best option for your anti-aging journey, schedule an appointment today at Park Facial Plastics in Beverly Hills.
