Innovations in platysma rhytidectomy.

Cervical and submental deformities are the major complaints of many patients who have had rhytidectomies. Unfortunately, traditional rhytidectomy techniques have failed to provide satisfactory and lasting results in this region. During recent years, the superficial muscular aponeurotic system has been described and multiple platysma surgical techniques introduced. Our technique emphasizes a youthful cervical and submental region. It involves an anterior submental incision, total surgical excision of the anterior platysma bands, conservative submental lipectomy, routine rhytidectomy dissection, submandibular and mandibular fat contouring, and division and rotation of platysma flaps. This technique has been used for two years on 94 patients. There have been no complications specifically related to this technique.