Neck Lace Procedure
To learn more about the new techniques for tightening the face and skin, click on any of the following links:
Click Here to see the Neck-Lace Graphic
Click Here to see the USIC (Ultrashort incision cheeklift) Procedure Graphic
Click Here to see the LiveFill® procedure Graphic (lips and cheeks)
Click Here to see the LiveFill® procedure Graphic (multiple areas)
Click Here to see the 360 Facelift® Procedure Graphic
Click Here to see the Graphic of the Depressor Anguli Oris release (DAO Release)
Additionally, there are other options available to rejuvenate the face and neck:
Radiofrequency Techniques
Minimally invasive devices such as radiofrequency (RF) and (Thermage, Polaris, Re-Firme) can be used to heat the skin, produce new collagen and tighten the skin.
Submental Liposculpture
When fat reduction is needed, liposuction or liposculpture of the area beneath the chin (submental region) or the jowls can be performed. This procedure can often be done under local anesthesia. The incision is a smal, under the chin, about ¼ inch long or less. Healing time is approximately 3 days of wearing a dressing.
Wide Submental Liposculpture
Fat reduction and sculpting is performed through a small ¼ inch or less incision below the chin, in the submental area and in the jowl and neck region. Recovery usually takes 5 days before the patient is back in public and 7 days for low impact, normal activities. Patients should have someone drive them home after surgery.
Corset Platysmaplasty with Liposculpture
This technique, often combined with liposuction or liposculpture, involves suturing together the plastysmal muscles. This smoothens the neck. This technique is stronger than liposuction or liposculpture alone. However, it works best in patients who do not have a significant amount of skin laxity. The incision is usually one inch or less long under the chin. Recovery is typically 5-7 days before the patient is back in public, and 2 weeks before they attend and participate in every-day, normal events.
Neck-Lace Procedure
For patients with more fat and muscle looseness than can be handled with a corset, platysmaplasty along the Neck-Lace procedure is performed. This procedure involves extensive tightening of the muscle with NO VOLUME REDUCTION and NO CUTTING of the platysma (Dr. Moelleken believes this to be premature aging). Liposculpture is performed on the submental and jowl regions, as well. The incision is usually about one inch or less long under the chin. Recovery is typically 5-7 days before the patient is back in public, and 2 weeks before they attend and participate in every-day, normal events.
Corset Platysmaplasty with Liposculpture Plus Face and Neck Lifting
This is yet more powerful than a treatment for the neck and jawline, achieving smoothing of the neck and jawline. Incisions are behind the tragus (bump in front of the ear), below the earlobe, and behind the ear itself, and then into the hairline. Recovery is typically 7-10 days before the patient is back in public, and 2-3 weeks before they attend and participate in every-day, normal events. This is currently the gold standard for rejuvenation of the face and neck.
Neck-Lace Procedure with Face and Neck Lifting
With the more extensive tightening of the platysma muscle and the tissues above the glands, this procedure is exceptionally powerful at rejuvenating the neck without removing any volume from the platysma muscle. Liposculpture of the submental and jowl region, and the upper neck, is performed before the Neck-Lace Procedure. Dr. Moelleken believes this will be new “platinum standard” with superiority of corset platysmaplasty and face/necklifting alone.
The 360-Facelift®
Neck-Lace Procedure with Bidirectional Face and Necklift, LiveFill® and Ancillary procedures (Click Here to see the 360 Facelift® Graphic).
This procedure is for patients who want complete rejuvenation of their face and cost is no object. It combines Dr. Moelleken’s signature LiveFill® graft insertion into lips, nasolabial folds, marionette lines (and other customized areas) and his signature Neck-Lace procedure for additional neck tightening. Dr. Moelleken’s signature USIC ultrashort incision superficial cheeklift procedure for under the eyes and cheeks (using fat preservation or redistribution of lower eyelid fat, or LiveFill#8482; grafts in patients with lower eyelid hollowness); a complete bidirectional face and neck-lift procedure with 100% volume retention- no SMAS removed); cheek augmentation with superior vector SMAS transfer, an upper lip lift (gull wing); subcutaneous minimally invasive brow lift, central minimally invasive nerve-sparing brow muscle reduction, upper blepharoplasty, and conservative laser resurfacing when required.
Now I'm Really Confused
The many new procedures available for rejuvenation of the face are confusing. Patients may wish to read Dr. Moelleken’s chapter in the 8-Volume, internationally published textbook “Plastic Surgery”, Ed. Mathes, Saunders, 2006 (Click Here to read Dr. Moelleken’s book chapter on rejuvenation of the upper and midface). Considerable additional information written for the lay public is also available under the individual topics on this website (drbrent.com).
