This is the simplest approach and is best for patients who have concerns about fat and banding under their chin and around their neck without too much loose skin.
Dr. Ackerman makes a small incision under the chin to suction and surgically extract the submental fat in the neck using liposuction techniques. He will then tighten and suture the platysma muscles and remove a small amount of skin. This method improves the neck’s contour and definition for a better profile.
For some patients with a large amount of excess skin, Dr. Ackerman will combine the submental approach with a posterior technique. This means he will make incisions under the chin and behind the ears for more dramatic results.
This procedure is best for patients who have concerns about loose skin and fat but are not experiencing sagging jowls. Very few patients are candidates for this technique. Most patients with significant neck laxity also have facial laxity and are better suited for a facelift and neck lift combination.
For patients with additional aging features, such as droopy jowls, Dr. Ackerman recommends a deep-plane facelift combined with a submental neck lift for the best results. Because sagging jowls often accompany an aging neck, this approach is often more appropriate for older patients, as it will lift the jowls, neck, and face up to the junction of the cheeks and lower eyelids.
Only highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeons are qualified to perform the deep plane technique. While it provides natural-looking and long-lasting results, this procedure requires a high level of expertise.
Dr. Ackerman’s body of work includes many years of performing this surgery, consistently achieving superior results compared to the SMAS method. He even invented the Ackerman Retractor Tool, now widely used during deep plane facelift surgery.