As A Male Am I A Good Candidate For Webbed Neck Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, As you can see from the photos I suspect a webbed neck deformity (pterygium colli). I have already done the Noonan syndrome’s genetic test and it’s result was negative. I would like to know if i could be operated to correct this deformity and what should i do. I wait for your news. 

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. Webbed neck surgery is based on excision of tissue on the back of the neck. Its success depends on how much laxity of the tissues exist as well as the acceptance of a midline scar on the neck.

That being said, you have two issues of concern for his surgery. First you are a male with shorter hair where the resultant scar will be exposed. Having never yet having a male request or undergo the procedure I would have concerns about the appearance of the scar in a more exposed area. (in women with longer hair this is not a concern) Secondly, intermediate neck webbing like yours is associated with tighter tissues that often resist or have greater amounts of postoperative recoil to the midline pull of the procedure.

This is not to say you can not undergo the procedure successfully, these are just preoperative issues to consider.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana