title: Submental liposuction versus formal cervicoplasty: which one to choose?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Esthetic rejuvenation of the submental area is a fairly common concern of patients seeking cosmetic surgery. There are several techniques used to obtain esthetic results. A common dilemma is the proper determination as to which procedure, liposuction versus formal cervicoplasty, is more appropriate. This manuscript describes the factors involved in the aging process of the submental area, as well as the inherent advantages of formal cervicoplasty over liposuction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive review of the intrinsic and extrinsic aging process is described, and advantages and disadvantages of liposuction as well as cervicoplasty are detailed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of the specific factors leading to the fullness of the anterior neck/submental area, proper rejuvenation technique must include platysmaplasty, in addition to liposuction. Isolated liposuction is only beneficial in an isolated group of cosmetic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formal cervicoplasty, including open liposuction and platysmaplasty, is a superior operation compared with isolated liposuction of the submental area. Whereas liposuction does have a role in cosmetic surgery of the submental area, it is not a comprehensive procedure and does not address all of the anatomic components leading to submental fullness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. tirbod.fattahi@jax.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Tirbod
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fattahi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D044964:Cervicoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018579:Patient Selection; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology