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Defining the fat compartments in the neck: a cadaver study.
Jeffrey D Larson1, William S Tierney, Cemile Nurdan Ozturk
1Dr Larson is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Madison, Wisconsin.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|March 18, 2014
Summary
This study details neck fat compartments relevant to cervicoplasty. Supraplatysmal fat is the largest component, followed by subplatysmal fat, guiding surgical rejuvenation.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Surgical Anatomy
- Facial Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Cervicoplasty is a key procedure in aesthetic facial and neck surgery.
- The fat distribution within the neck, crucial for surgical outcomes, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and delineate distinct anatomical fat compartments in the neck.
- To quantify the volume of fat within each identified compartment.
- To describe the anatomical relationships between these fat compartments and the submandibular glands.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of 10 fresh cadaver heads.
- Categorization of neck fat into supraplatysmal (suprahyoid and infrahyoid) and subplatysmal (suprahyoid and infrahyoid) compartments.
- Weighing of each fat compartment and the submandibular gland.
Main Results:
- Supraplatysmal fat constitutes the largest portion (44.7%) of neck fat.
- Subplatysmal fat accounts for 30.7%, and the submandibular gland for 24.5%.
- Very deep fat, located deep to the anterior digastric muscles and submandibular gland, is minimal (<1% of neck fat).
Conclusions:
- This anatomical study provides a detailed map of neck fat compartments.
- Findings offer valuable guidance for surgeons performing neck rejuvenation procedures.
- Understanding these fat compartments enhances precision in cervicoplasty and related surgeries.
