New Procedures Restore Youthful Appearance to the Neck

EMBARGOED UNTIL MARCH 20, 1999

NEW PROCEDURES RESTORE YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE TO THE NECK

NEW ORLEANS (March 20, 1999) - The neck is often one of the first areas of the skin to show signs of aging. Now, two innovative procedures - one involving a new type of laser and the other combining two restoration procedures - help to remedy obvious signs of aging to the neck area.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's 57th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, dermatologist Ronald Moy, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Dermatology, UCLA, discussed his latest development in neck resurfacing and jawline restoration.

While lasers, dermabrasion and chemical peels have been used successfully on the face for years, they were too harsh to treat the delicate skin of the neck - which is twice as thin as the skin of the face. Using a new generation of ultra-gentle lasers, Dr. Moy created a non-invasive procedure to resurface the front and sides of the neck.

"The new lasers produce less heat, which makes them conducive to treating thinner-skinned areas such as the neck," explained Dr. Moy. "I have found that this procedure typically results in a 10 percent to 20 percent tightening of the skin and also removes wrinkles and blotches."
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The ultra-gentle lasers used in the procedure are either a carbon dioxide laser with a short pulse duration or an erbium laser. Because the skin of the neck is thin, two passes of the laser are used over the affected area. Patients undergoing neck resurfacing with these lasers can expect about half the improvement that they would expect for similar resurfacing on the face.

Prior to using ultra-gentle lasers for neck resurfacing, the only option for rejuvenating the neck and improving wrinkles, sun damage and loose skin was invasive surgery. The new, non-invasive procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and requires a local anesthesia. Patients usually require a 10-day recovery period.

Another procedure designed to redefine an aging or sagging jawline is jawline restoration. Also known as the suture suspension, jawline restoration combines performing liposuction under the chin and tightening the muscle in the neck. With this procedure, a 1-inch incision is made under the chin and the platysma muscle - the muscle that extends from the face to the clavicle - is then snipped and tightened to lift the neck and pull it back along the jawline.

"Having a firm jawline makes the cheekbones seem higher and eliminates the flaps that pull the face down," said Dr. Moy. "Jawline restoration is ideal for middle-aged and overweight patients who have lost a defined jawline and want to look more firm and youthful."

The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes and can be performed in the office with local or general anesthesia. Patients can return to work in four-to- five days, but they must wear a neck strap at night for two weeks and a bandage under the chin. While bruising and swelling typically last one-to-two weeks, overall tightening of the neck takes two-to-three months.

The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership over 11,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the science and art of medicine and surgery related to the skin; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; supporting and enhancing patient care; and promoting a lifetime of healthier skin, hair, and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at 1-888-462-DERM or www.aad.org.

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