MyEllevate Neck Lift Sydney

Minimally Invasive Neck Lift: MyEllevate

MyEllevate is a minimally invasive neck lift technique that uses a suture suspension system to support the tissues along the jawline and neck. It was developed by Dr Greg Mueller, a plastic surgeon in the United States, and Dr Maryam was among the first surgeons in Australia trained in the technique by him. It works through several small entry points rather than the long incisions used in a complete neck lift.

The technique aims to define the jawline and the angle between the chin and neck. It is usually combined with liposuction under the chin to reduce fat, and in many cases with Renuvion, an energy-based device used for skin tightening. Where vertical platysmal bands are present, the suture can be used to draw the muscle edges together and soften their appearance.

Because no skin is removed, MyEllevate suits mild to moderate change in necks with reasonable skin quality. It is not a smaller version of a complete neck lift and it will not correct significant skin excess. It can often be performed under local anaesthetic with sedation, which some patients in Sydney prefer to a general anaesthetic.

Who it may suit

• You have mild to moderate laxity in the neck rather than substantial hanging skin.
• Fullness under the chin persists despite a stable weight.
• Neck bands or a poorly defined jawline are your main concerns.
• Your skin still has reasonable elasticity and thickness.
• You would prefer to avoid long incisions in front of and behind the ears.
• You want a shorter recovery and accept a more modest degree of change.

What the MyEllevate procedure involves

MyEllevate is performed through small entry points under the chin and behind the ears, using a light-guided instrument to pass the suture beneath the skin. It is often done under local anaesthetic with sedation, or under general anaesthetic if combined with other surgery.

1. The jawline and neck are marked and local anaesthetic is infiltrated.
2. Liposuction is used through the small entry points to reduce fat under the chin and along the jawline where indicated.
3. The MyEllevate suture is passed and secured to suspend the platysma and support the neck contour.
4. Renuvion may be applied beneath the skin to tighten tissue, where suitable.
5. The entry points are closed and a supportive chin strap or garment is applied.

Recovery

Recovery is generally shorter than after a complete neck lift, though it varies between patients.

• Many people plan around one week away from work, sometimes longer where Renuvion has been used.
• Swelling and bruising along the jaw and neck are usual for the first one to two weeks.
• A chin strap or compression garment is typically worn for a period during the early weeks.
• Tightness, firmness and a pulling sensation when turning the head are common early and generally settle over weeks.
• Strenuous exercise is usually restricted for around four weeks, and the final contour appears gradually over some months as oedema resolves.

Risks and considerations

Risks include bleeding and haematoma, infection, seroma, sutures that become palpable, visible or exposed and may need removal, dimpling or puckering of the skin at suture points, contour irregularity or asymmetry, altered or reduced sensation, injury to nerve branches affecting lower lip movement, and, where Renuvion is used, burns, blistering or prolonged swelling. Sedation and general anaesthetic carry their own risks including blood clots.

The degree of change achievable is more limited than with a complete neck lift, and skin laxity can recur or progress with continued ageing. If assessment shows significant skin excess, MyEllevate is unlikely to give you the definition you are after, and Dr Maryam will say so rather than proceed. Some patients go on to have a complete neck lift later.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

A referral from a registered medical practitioner is required before cosmetic surgery in Australia, and a GP referral is preferred so your medical history is considered. There is a cooling-off period of at least seven days between your consultation and booking surgery, and three months for anyone under 18, along with an additional assessment requirement.

Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, MBBS FRACS, AHPRA registration MED0001341746, consults at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington NSW 2021 and operates at hospital and day hospital sites across Sydney including Sydney Day Hospital, Double Bay Day Hospital and East Sydney Private Hospital. She will examine your neck and skin quality, explain the risks above, set out the alternatives including a complete neck lift, liposuction alone or no treatment, and answer your questions before you commit. Fees are quoted after consultation. Call 1300 067 668.