The aging process, losing excess weight, and an irregular lifestyle – all of this can eventually reflect on the neck. Over time, for these reasons, the skin on the neck begins to loosen, gradually sagging, and later – it can become visibly droopy. New neck plastic surgeries have become much simpler and guarantee long-lasting results. More about neck plastic surgery is explained by Gintaras Papečkys, the founder and plastic surgeon of „GP klinika.“.
Let's start with the fact that the neck is one of the areas of the face. The entire facial area is divided into: the upper, middle, lower third of the face, the submental area, and the neck. The latter area, the neck – has so far received too little attention. This may have been influenced by the fact that the neck area was quite difficult to correct.
This surgery is intended only for the neck. During it, we correct either the first age-related changes, or – more pronounced changes that occur in older age, or age-related changes that have become apparent after the age of 65. You can review the changes that occur in the neck area according to age in the table below:
Yes, the scope of the surgeries varies greatly. At a young age, liposuction is sufficient, jaw correction with fat transfer, jaw contouring with fillers or fat transfer, and the insertion of a special surgical thread results in a truly effective, good, and stable outcome. Later, with age, excess skin appears, the neck slightly sags, and the muscle edges become visible. And even later – the neck becomes somewhat „wavy.“ In fact, the neck is one of those indicators that shows a person's true age. While the face can be corrected with makeup to hide the first signs of aging, the neck cannot be so easily corrected.
My perspective as a plastic surgeon has changed somewhat – I do not recommend just neck tightening, as using this method results are particularly short-lived and ineffective – everything returns back after six months. Currently, our clinic performs two types of neck plastic surgeries:
– The first, with an incision in the submental area or without it. The latter is performed approximately up to (depending on the patient's condition) fifty-five or sixty years.
– In later age, when muscle edges or excess skin are already visible, when the skin in the lower neck area sags – we apply plastic surgery with an incision: not only is skin correction done, but also muscle plastic surgery in the neck area.
Using the aforementioned methodology, it is possible to avoid significant swelling and bruising – it protects against this unpleasant healing. At the same time, this method makes the whole process simpler, everything happens a bit faster.
However, there are a few problems that may bother after some time following neck plastic surgery:
– The scarring process under the skin;
– Sometimes unevenness is visible during the healing period.
I boldly say that this really does not depend on the surgeon's work, here it is more of a „side effect“ of the aforementioned methodology. Skin unevenness sometimes bothers the patient, but from experience, we can say that there is really no need to panic, as over time they disappear or can later be corrected with fat grafting.
Using this methodology, the subcutaneous layer is separated, but the above-mentioned problems beautifully fade away over time and the quality of the skin improves. Although it may seem that using our method the healing process can be somewhat more difficult, it guarantees long-lasting and effective results after some time.
At first, of course, they are somewhat visible. They are in a hidden place, therefore – not noticeable.
First of all, patients should come to talk to a specialist who performs this type of surgery. Once they have chosen the right specialist, it is important to listen to what to expect, to look at photos after the surgery, and to understand what the patient should really be prepared for. I often repeat – the patient for these surgeries is not a sick person whom we are treating for a disease, but a partner who also has their own responsibilities in this process. The postoperative period is part of the patient's work, which they must go through, believing in the doctor and knowing the results – to go through the entire process. The postoperative period is the most difficult time, as the desired result may take a little longer to achieve.
The unpleasant period is about a month after the surgery when the scarring process becomes significantly more pronounced, then the patient may feel pulling, tightness, and sometimes indentations may appear, but this is a completely natural and temporary process. The most important thing is that the patient must prepare for the challenges, the waiting, and even more importantly – listen to their chosen specialist.
This surgery is intended for people around 58 years old. For Western women, it can be from 40 or 45 years old. The necessity of the surgery depends on how the person has lived up to that point – what their lifestyle is like. Many believe that genetic factors have a significant impact on neck changes, but in this regard, I tend to disagree. In my opinion, lifestyle has more influence: harmful habits, work-rest balance, and diet.
One of the biggest myths is about lasers and meso threads. They are often used in cosmetologists' offices. For neck plastic surgery, they are too weak and do not guarantee a long-term effect.
The results are long-lasting. Usually, additional procedures are needed after 8-10 years. It should be emphasized that even if the effectiveness of the results decreases, the appearance is significantly better than if nothing had been done.
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