Question: I’m 61 and have some jowls, but my sagging neck and the vertical neck bands bother me the most. Is there a way to treat my neck without a full-blown facelift?

Answer: With advances in technology, mild to moderately loose neck skin in combination with platysmal neck bands can be treated with an innovative yet minimal-invasive surgical technology that does not require the standard facelift or mini-facelift incisions. Jowls that drop into the upper neck can also be treated effectively with this technique.

The Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ is a modification of my original Whisper lift which requires surgical incisions using a standard scalpel. With the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™, several tiny skin openings are made in the center and on each side of the neck. These micro-openings are just a few millimeters in size, do not require a surgical scalpel and are only big enough to allow passage of a special permanent suture (thread) using a very thin light-guided cannula. This thread is used, not only to eliminate the prominent neck bands, but also to tighten loose neck skin. The tiny openings are so few and so small that they close by themselves without the need to suture them and without visible scars.

The benefits of the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ is that it is performed under straight local anesthesia, thus bypassing the risks of general anesthesia, takes less than a hour of operating time in my office surgical suite and has minimal downtime. Since there are no incisions, one does not need to worry about the larger scars that come with facelift or mini-facelift surgery.

Unlike temporary thread lifts with results that may only last six months, the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ is permanent. Unlike temporary thread lifts which are inserted blindly, the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ is performed under light-guidance to enable visualization of the sutures passed under the tissues. Since the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ also allows for deeper thread placement, it not only treats the muscle under the skin but also can lift ptotic neck glands. The temporary thread lifts are placed more superficially and don’t address the underlying muscle or neck glands. Finally, unlike temporary threads which often have to be repeated several times per year, the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ can give a substantially more defined neck contour that is also longer lasting with just one treatment.

The best way to determine if you are a candidate for the Incision-Less Whisper Lift™ is through a detailed consultation with a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon.

Dr. Anita Mandal is a double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon practicing since 1998. She exclusively specializes in facial rejuvenation and non-invasive body contouring. In addition to being on the medical staff at Jupiter Medical Center, her offices house both surgical and laser suites. Dr. Mandal is committed to giving her patients the most natural looking results.