Don’t Look Down, you may Notice that you’re Aging!

Friday, August 24th, 2018

Over the course of history, humans have been all-but consumed with personal beauty. Perhaps we want to mimic nature. Perhaps we are narcissists. Or maybe, just maybe, we realize that confidence comes in part by our appearance, and we simply want to maximize what we have been given. Whatever your reason for wanting to maintain a youthful appearance, you can do just that – keep it young. Aging has become much more of a choice than a consequence. However, with all the focus that gets put on the face, you could be missing an important giveaway to your age: your neck.

Swan-like or Scary?
We all like to think that we have beautiful, youthful contouring across the neck and upward toward the face, a la Katherine Hepburn. When we realize we have lost the right angle from neck to face, and start to notice lines and sagging skin just a few inches below the face, our imagination may do a switch-a-roo and channel Diane Keaton, in all of her turtleneck splendor. What is happening down here, and what can we possible do about it?

Neck skin becomes very inelastic. When the underlying ligamentous support structures begin to break down, it can seem as though everything from the chin to the chest changes overnight. Next below the neck skin, the platysma muscle is normally supported upward by a ligament to keeps it angled. The strong horizontal  pull of the muscle gradually changes the shape from a strongly angled to a loose straight line. All tissues around it including those from the face follow. Fat also accumulates under the chin becoming more noticeable., and crepe-like skin becomes more apparent since it is now loose.

Facial Aging, you have a Rival!
We put a lot of effort into reducing fine lines and wrinkles under the eyes, on the forehead, and around the mouth. But if we forget to look a little farther South, we could be missing the mark on our intended goal. To address an aging neck, consider:

• Liposuction to diminish a double-chin caused mainly by excess fat.
• Skin care to correct the sun damage and tighten and smooth the surface.
• Simple localized neck lifts.
• Face and Neck Lift in those with severe gravitational aging.

Several things, therefore, can give you a look that you will love. To see how we can help you, call our Highlands plastic surgery office at (828) 526-3783.