A new concept in neck aging: “cervicofacial waist”

Abstract

Introduction: The aging of the lower third of the face stimulates the definition deletion of the mandibular border and the cervicofacial angle, besides the appearance of platysmal bands in the anterior neck region. Patients have high expectations that the facelift will significantly resolve such effects. To achieve these results, we have developed an approach to defining what we call the cervicofacial waist. Methods: The author proposes a new surgical facelift approach that has been performed on 444 consecutive patients since 2015, which involves an aggressive plication of the SMAS-platysma plus lateral traction, also by plication, of the platysma medial bands. Results: Despite the difficulty in comparing results with different techniques, we perceive a significant improvement in our results with the new surgical technique, without increasing the complication rates. Discussion: We are looking for new techniques because the cervical region's traditional treatments seem flawed and based on ill-founded concepts. These involve the medial plication of the platysma bands by a submental approach, bringing them closer together and impairing the cranial elevation of the SMAS-platysma. Thus, we started to directly perform lateral plications on the bands through the lateral access of the face detachment, making a cervicofacial waist. Conclusion: The sum of the effects of the plication of the SMAS with the lateral plication of the platysma medial band makes the cervicofacial definition clearer with important optimization of the desired aesthetic effects.

Keywords

• rhytidoplasty
• neck
• aging
• superficial musculoaponeurotic system
• lipectomy