Corset Platysmaplasty

Abstract

Contemporary surgery to rejuvenate the aging neck commonly includes some type of platysma modification. Most currently used methods of platysmaplasty involve upper midline plication, muscle resection, or transection. These methods, however, have their shortcomings, often producing necks that display persistent or recurrent paramedian muscle bands, visible submandibular gland bulges, and various contour irregularities. Corset platysmaplasty was developed to avoid these postoperative imperfections. After an adequate subcutaneous and subplatysmal lipectomy has been performed, the two medial edges of the platysma are joined together with a continuous suture that runs down, and up, and down almost the full-height of the neck to create a smooth, flat, multilayered seam, leaving no free muscle edges to return as visible bands. Progressive side-to-side tightening along the midline seam defines the "waistline" of the neck. Additional submandibular suturing is then done to create strong, flat, vertical muscle pleats that correct submandibular gland bulging and refine the jawline and anterolateral neck contours. Corset platysmaplasty is useful for all patients with visible paramedian muscle bands and all patients who would benefit from having a decussated upper neck platysma opened for submuscular defatting, including patients with oblique, palpably firm necks that suggest a vertically short platysma muscle or low-lying hyoid bone. The paper is based on the results with 75 patients having undergone corset platysmaplasty, most having been followed for 1 to 3 years.