Cervical lifts: the value of platysma muscle flaps

Patients and physicians who are not satisfied with the results of cervical lift procedures that rely on skin tension alone frequently complain of persistent or recurring neck longitudinal bands; of lack of pleasing concave contours; or of lack of definition of the mandibular border. Platysma muscle bands can be eliminated with long-lasting improvement in the neck contour if the objectionable bands are completely incised and the platysma muscles are transformed into a deep-layer supportive neck sling. The techniques described utlilize platysma muscle flaps to eliminate vertical platysma muscle bands and folds, to achieve pleasing concave neck contours, and to produce definition of the mandibular border.