Comparing Lateral Rhytidectomy With and Without Neck Suture Suspension

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Facial Anatomy

Background:

• Aging neck aesthetics involve skin laxity, submental fat, platysmal bands, and ptosis, leading to an obtuse cervicomental angle (CMA).
• Various cervical rejuvenation techniques exist, aiming to restore the CMA with variable outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the restoration of the CMA by adding midline platysmal plication with a modified Giampapa stitch (using PDS suture) to standard deep plane lateral rhytidectomy versus rhytidectomy alone.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study of 264 rhytidectomy patients.
• Comparison of pre- and postoperative CMA degree and hyomental distance.
• Groups: Traditional Deep Plane Lateral Rhytidectomy (TDPLR) alone vs. TDPLR with Modified Suture Suspension and Platysma Plication (MSSPP).

Main Results:

• The TDPLR with MSSPP group showed a statistically significant increase in CMA depth (13.9° ± 6.26°) and hyomental distance (1.38 cm ± 0.87 cm).
• The TDPLR alone group had smaller increases in CMA depth (6.87° ± 6.7°) and hyomental distance (0.75 cm ± 0.68 cm).
• Statistical significance was observed with P < .05 for both outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The addition of midline platysmal plication using a modified Giampapa stitch with PDS suture is effective in restoring the CMA in aging neck rejuvenation.
• This minimally invasive approach enhances outcomes when combined with standard deep plane lateral rhytidectomy.