Dear Dr. Seckel: Is there a responsible, viable way to excise some loose (and unwrinkled) skin on the neck without resorting to a face lift or even a lower face lift? Also can the scars be hidden more in the scalp area instead of the sideburns/hairline area? I’m almost 59 and am in my 3rd week post Thermage. I’m not very hopeful, but there’s been a bit of improvement, especially in the jowling area. My face looks okay, however, and doesn’t have much laxity at all. I’d hate to sacrifice my face to achieve a smoother neck, but in NYC there’s just been that one consensus. I’m wondering if some out-of-state genius has invented a way to help me without “overcorrecting,” which doctors promise they need to do first to achieve long-term results, and without giving me “4-5 hours” of surgery I don’t want or really need. Thank you. Elaine, New York, New York
Dear Elaine,
Thank you for your email. Thermage and the other non-surgical technologies do work but achieve only a 20 % skin tightening compared to surgery.
It is possible to tighten the neck skin with a neck lift without visible incisions.
Depending on your particular anatomy and laxity, the neck may be tightened through an incision behind the ear. Alternatively a neck lift can be achieved with a procedure called a Platysmaplasty through a small incision beneath the chin in a skin fold which is well hidden. Either of these neck lift procedures can be done in an hour or less.
Please visit my clinical website to see my results:
http://drseckel.com/surgical-procedures/face-lift/
I do not have a picture of the neck lift alone but the face lift picture
shows the type of result that is typical in my patients.
I have a practice in the Boston area and would be delighted to see you. I have many patients from out of town in the US and the UK who come here for surgery.
Since you are from out of town I would be happy to review your photos if you would like to email them to me, then I could give you a more informed opinion about what I would recommend for you.
For further information on neck lift, face lift or non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Sincerely,
Dr Seckel
Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, Massachusetts