Direct Necklift

Q: Dr. Eppley, I previously had a mini direct neck excision with a horizontal chin scar and a vertical scar extending about halfway to the Adams apple. I am 54 years old and had this procedure done to deal with loose skin from a previous chin reduction done ten years earlier. Is it possible to update this procedure into more of a direct neck lift? Is it possible to extend the scar a little more vertically to take up some lower neck slack?

A: Since you are already have partial direct necklift scars, there would be no reason why you could not extend the vertical portion lower. The lower end of a direct necklift is very effective at tightening loose skin above the adam’s apple. While it can be technically done, the only issue to be considered is how well the lower end of the direct necklift will do. In younger skin this lower end of the scar may not heal as well as the scars directly under the skin. While the risk of significant hypertrophic scarring from the lower end of the a direct necklift is low, it is a potential issue to be made aware.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana