Sagging skin on the neck happens for a variety of reasons. Reasons can include losing a significant amount of weight, genetics or just natural aging.
Tightening skin and removing unwanted fat or fullness under the chin, can be addressed either surgically or non-surgically.
A surgical neck lift with liposuction is a permanent surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat, and tightens underlying muscles. A cosmetic surgeon will discuss different surgical approaches for a patient who wants to reshape a full chin, versus a patient who wants to eliminate a sagging “turkey neck.
If the fat is removed and the elasticity of the skin is not good, then a neck lift is done in conjunction with the liposuction so that the excess skin can be removed.
A surgical neck lift requires the patient to be under anesthesia, and surgery can take up to three hours. Patients will require three incision points, around the ears, behind the ears and under the chin. This surgical procedure will cause bruising and swelling and may take up to 3 months to resolve.
A non-surgical improvement known as Belkyra is a non-surgical injectable treatment. Belkyra is the only Health Canada approved injection to specifically improve fullness found under the chin. Belkyra has proven to be an excellent injectable for reduction of submental fat, as it destroys fat cells. Belkyra’s active ingredient is deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that helps to break down and absorb dietary fat. After a Belkyra treatment, there is also an inflammatory response that occurs. This inflammation causes the area to swell for several days, and causes the skin in that area to tighten up. The amount of skin tightening can vary from patient to patient. Three to four treatments of Belkra are required for permanent results.
The only option for lifting a large amount of loose skin and muscle is surgery, such as a neck or facelift, since Belkyra will not address severely lax skin or underlying muscles.
To see if you are a candidate for Belkyra, visit Lasting Looks Clinic at www.lastinglooks.ca .