Success with Lateral Skin-Platysma Displacement for Treatment of the Aging Neck: A 4-Year Single Center Experience

Goals/Purpose: Dissatisfied with the recurrence of anterior neck banding with corset platysmaplasty, senior author (JPH) and his partners enlisted a new technique originally described by Dr. Pelle-Ceravolo- the lateral skin displacement (LSD) for treatment of the aging neck. LSD platysmaplasty employs a skin-muscle flap, developed via a vertical and transverse division of the platysma at its anterior border, which successfully transfers the vertical band to a horizontal skin muscle flap which is secured to Lore’s fascia laterally. This technique eliminates the need for a submental incision to access the neck.

Methods/Technique: This is a retrospective study of patients that underwent a face a neck lift using the LSD technique. Patient demographics including gender, age, BMI, and pertinent co-morbidities were collected. Concomitant and previous facial procedures performed prior to and during the LSD face and neck lift, as well as information related to complications and revision surgeries were also recorded.

Results/Complications: Over a 4 year time period, 222 LSD platysmaplasty face and neck lift procedures were performed at the Hunstad/Kortesis/Bharti Center for Cosmetic Surgery. 77% were performed by the senior author. 23% had a complication that was managed in clinic (seroma, severe swelling, etc) and 12% had a complication that required a surgical revision (skin puckering or incomplete release, recurrent or incomplete treatment of platysmal bands, need for additional skin excision).

Conclusion: The LSD platysmaplasty technique for treatment of the aging neck is a relatively newly described procedure with limited data. This is the largest reported series from both a single author and from a single institution. 4 year data has shown that the revision rate is comparable to that described by Dr. Pelle-Ceravolo, and significantly less than traditional corset platysmaplasty with muscle transection. This is a reproducible, reliable and safe method for treatment of the aging neck and should be considered as an alternative to more traditional methods.