Study Reports High Patient Satisfaction with Scar-Free Neck Rejuvenation Technique
Key Takeaways
- A retrospective case series of 85 patients found that an anterior-only neck rejuvenation technique improved cervical contour without requiring periauricular incisions.
- The procedure combined liposuction, selective subplatysmal fat resection, transverse platysma myotomy, and a limited submandibular platysmal corset, with no reoperations reported during at least 12 months of follow-up.
- Investigators reported high patient satisfaction and low complication rates, suggesting the technique may be an option for selected patients seeking isolated neck rejuvenation while avoiding visible periauricular scars.
A novel anterior neck rejuvenation technique may provide meaningful improvements in cervical contour while eliminating the need for periauricular incisions, according to a retrospective case series published online ahead of print in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Anterior-Only Approach for Isolated Neck Rejuvenation
Neck rejuvenation remains technically challenging because of age-related skin laxity, excess adipose tissue, and structural changes of the platysma. Conventional surgical approaches often rely on periauricular incisions, which can leave visible scars and may discourage some patients from pursuing surgery.
Investigators evaluated an anterior-only surgical technique performed between 2019 and 2024 in 85 patients (67 women and 18 men) ranging in age from 25 to 68 years. All patients underwent a standardized procedure consisting of wide anterior skin release, supraplatysmal liposuction, selective subplatysmal fat resection, partial transverse platysma myotomy at the level of the hyoid bone, a limited suprahyoid platysmal corset confined to the submandibular region, and posterior skin redistribution without periauricular skin excisions. Minimum follow-up was 12 months.
The authors reported significant improvements in mandibular definition, cervicomandibular angle, and vertical neck length. Complications were limited to three seromas treated with needle aspiration and three cases of transient mental nerve paresthesia, all of which resolved within weeks. No patients required reoperation. Mean patient satisfaction was 4.5 out of 5.
Study limitations include its retrospective design, lack of a comparison group, and Level V evidence, which limits conclusions regarding comparative efficacy.
"This technique represents a reproducible alternative for selected patients seeking isolated neck rejuvenation while avoiding periauricular scars," the authors wrote. "Although it does not replace a cervicofacial lift, it offers natural and predictable improvements with low morbidity and preserves the option for future facial surgery."
Source
Pereira LH, et al. Neck Rejuvenation Without Periauricular Scars. Aesthetic Plast Surg. Published online July 21, 2026. doi:10.1007/s00266-026-06075-9. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42481793/