How Can My Neck Angle Be Made More Defined?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had a consultation to receive chin liposuction as I rather dislike the definition of my jawline and chin angle. However, after studying myself more closely and researching the topic further online, I’m not sure liposuction will provide a significant result. From what I can perceive, my lack of jawline and chin angle definition is due more to the shape and size of my neck muscles (and perhaps my glands? and certainly my slightly recessed chin) then the little fat that is there. I’ve been reading about necklifts, in particular cervicoplasty, where an incision is made under the chin and excess fat is removed in conjunction with tightening of the platysma muscle. From my attached pictures, do you think this procedure might work for me best in an effort to define my jawline and improve my chin/neck angle? I realize you may suggest chin augmentation by implant to that effect, but I am not keen on that option (in my ideal examples, you will note that I have augmented the jawline only and not the chin). Could you please give me some information on the surgery and recovery time?

A: I would agree with your assessment that submental liposuction alone would be insufficient to achieve your ideal neck angle result. You will only end up about halfway there based on your imaging predictions. This is not just a fat issue as you have pointed out but a plastysmal issue as well..in conjunction with your shorter chin. A submentoplasty or isolated cervicoplasty would be a better approach. I don’t know if you can achieve your ideal goal as you have illustrated in the neck flexion image but it certainly would be better than liposuction alone. As you have mentioned, a submentoplasty or limited cervicoplasty is done by a small incision underneath the chin in which fat is suctioned and the platysmal muscles and overlapped and sewn together to tighten the neck angle. There is only moderate swelling and a very quick recovery. The biggest issue with cervicoplasties in young patients is to avoid any skin irregularities or ripples after it has healed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana