Aging of the Neck Decoded: New Insights for Minimally Invasive Treatments

Engerer, Nina; Frank, Konstantin; Moellhoff, Nicholas; Alfertshofer, Michael; Giunta, Riccardo E.; Green, Jeremy B.; Lorenc, Paul Z.; Chaney, Grace K.; Ehrl, Denis und Cotofana, Sebastian (2022): Aging of the Neck Decoded: New Insights for Minimally Invasive Treatments. In: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Bd. 46, Nr. 4: S. 1698-1705

Abstract

Background Many signs of aging manifest in the neck region, including platysmal bands, excess skin, horizontal neck lines and decreasing contour of the neck. While the clinical signs of an aged neck are well-known, data determining the underlying aging process are limited. Objective To decode aging of the neck. Materials and Methods This prospective study investigated elasticity and firmness of skin, muscle activity and skin displacement upon muscular contraction in the neck in 77 young-, middle- and old-age individuals. Objective outcome measures, including 3-dimensional imaging, cutometry and surface electromyography, were utilized for all assessments. Results Mean firmness of skin decreased significantly from young to old individuals (0.37 +/- 0.13 mm, 0.30 +/- 0.12 mm and 0.26 +/- 0.12 mm in young, middle and old subjects, respectively;p < 0.001). Gross elasticity decreased significantly from 75.1 +/- 13.0% in young subjects, to 64.53 +/- 15.7% in middle-aged subjects and 55.79 +/- 13.0% in old subjects (p < 0.001). The mean yaxis skin displacement increased from 2.48 +/- 4.33 mm in young subjects, to 3.11 +/- 4.49 mm in middle-aged subjects and 3.61 +/- 5.38 mm in old subjects (p = 0.006). The mean signal-to-noise ratio decreased significantly from 16.74 +/- 5.77 mu V in young subjects, to 14.41 +/- 4.86 mu V in middle-aged subjects and to 12.23 +/- 5.99 mu V in old subjects (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study provides insights into the interplay between skin elasticity, muscular activity and the reflected movement of the skin of the neck. Appreciation of these age-related changes lays the fundament for aesthetic treatments in this delicate region.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0364-216X
• Sprache: Englisch