Procedure for Neck Lift with Barbed Threads

Abstract

The submental neck region becomes lax with age and produces a double chin appearance. This can be remedied with barbed PDO threads inserted to pull the lax tissue towards the more stable lateral neck region. This neck lift procedure is helpful for patients with mild to moderate laxity in the submental neck region. It not only repositions the lax skin and but also promotes tightening of the skin via collagenesis stimulated by the threads. It reduces a small amount of fat as well. This chapter will outline the steps required to perform the procedure. An illustration of the pattern of thread placement is provided for different degrees of laxity of the neck. Instruction on how to approximate the lax tissue to the more stable tissue is described in detail including which size threads to utilize. The Instructional Video included with the textbook showing thread procedures performed on a patient will also provide a demonstration of this procedure. Photos are shown of the neck to illustrate the effect of the thread insertions.