The lower third of the face, neck and submental region remained the most tuff area to treat because we don't completely understand the anatomy here before, thus the classification system is diverse. Also there is in lack of effective treatment tool until now after the Helium plasma-activated radiofrequency system (Renuvion) was introduced to help tightening the skin envelope and soft tissue.
From June 2020 to August 2022, we apply the Renuvion system to our routine jawline and neck rejuvenation surgery. There are 52 patients, aged from 35 to 66 years old; they are classified into Class I (n=16), Class II (n=25), Class III (n=8), Class IV (n=3). Patients in different class received difference combined procedures, including:
Class I: Liposuction +/- Suture suspension medial and lateral platysmaplasty
Class II: Liposuction + Suture suspension medial and lateral platysmaplasty
OR
Liposuction + Submentoplasty + SMAS-Platysma Split + Lateral
platysmaplasty +/- Chin Augmentation
Class III: Liposuction + Submentoplasty + Short scar rhytidectomy
Class IV: Liposuction + Submentoplasty + Open rhytidectomy
The postoperative satisfactory rate is higher than 95% during more than one-year follow-up. Common adverse events include prolonged edema and ecchymosis, temporary nerve injury, crepitus, pain and tenderness and thermal injury, which can subside spontaneously without intervention. The relapse patients are usually those with small chin, low hyoid bone, ptotic submandibular gland, and those who hesitated to receive open or short-scar rhytidectomy.
Conclusion
Skin tightening is very important in submental and neck contouring suergery. Before we tightened the skin far away from retro-auricular and preauricular incision without treating skin tone and quality directly. Combing the Renuvion with other rejuvenation procedures can improve patients’ outcome and satisfactory rate in my personal experiences.
Keywords: Liposuction, Submentoplasty, Rhytidectomy, Renuvion, Thread lift