Is it necessary to suture the platysma muscles on the midline to improve the cervical profile? An anatomic study using 20 cadavers.

Abstract

To ameliorate the cervicomental angle, most surgeons suggest different techniques of platysmaplasty. The aim of this anatomic study is to find a simple answer to the following question: Is suturing of the anterior edges of the platysma muscles during platysmaplasty the best procedure to use to obtain the best concave anterior neck angle? Three different surgical techniques using platysma muscle flaps were used on 20 cadavers prepared for anatomic dissection. Each piece of dissection was controlled by a radiograph of the profile of the cervical region before and after the application of these different techniques. Cephalometric measures were made and statistically analyzed. The analysis of the results demonstrates that the best concave anterior neck angle to perform platysmaplasty is one in which the platysma muscle flap is shifted posterosuperiorly but without suturing the medial borders of the platysma muscles. Suturing the midline does not deepen the concavity in the front of the neck.