MyEllevate Neck Contouring in Colorado Springs

Yes.  The MyEllevate can be performed alone for sagging neck skin but provides additive results to neck liposuction and energy-based skin tightening procedures.  Dr. Burroughs was an early adopter and remains one of the most experienced surgeons of the technologically advanced and safe Inmode FaceTite/NeckTite radio-frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL) treatments.  The NeckTite tightens the skin tissue by up to 35% in many patients and can address mild amounts of unwanted fat.  For larger amounts of fat then suction-assisted liposuction can also be performed all while your awake but relaxed and comfortable.  It is optimal to perform these procedures together as you are already anesthetized and the improvements occur synergistically.

Skin quality improvements for fine lines, sun damage caused pigment dyschromias can further be addressed with intense pulse light, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.  Suture platysmaplasty can also be performed with non-surgical FaceTite or surgical face lifting.  Rarely, patients that have lost their skin elasticity and/or have significantly excessive amount of sagging skin will benefit from some behind the ear skin removal to avoid pleating of the skin as it is lifted.

How & Where is the MyEllevate (Suture Platysmaplasty) Performed?

Dr. Burroughs performs all of these procedures under either oral or light IV sedation in his office procedure-operating room.  Once you are relaxed, dilute anesthetic solution (tumescent) is injected into the superficial neck tissues.  This provides the comfort needed and makes the procedure most commonly bloodless.  Sterile skin prep and draping is performed followed by dissection between the skin and underlying platysma muscle, application of radiofrequency energy skin tightening (NeckTite) that provides skin quality improvement and an up to 30-35% additional skin tightening.  Thus, the neck tissues are not only lifted but they are tightened.  The neck bands can then be released, if needed, utilizing the suture in novel-technique where upon it is passed above then below the muscle bands, so they can be released.  Any needed liposuction can be performed at this point followed by the placement of the suture through the small skin holes.  The suture is placed in a hammock-like pattern with strong anchoring behind the ears followed by the final suture knot placement under the chin area in the midline.  It is amazing to see the lift occur immediately upon tightening and tying the suture.

No.  Some patients will notice some minimal tightness discomfort that typically fully resolves in the first few weeks.  Most patients take minimal to no pain medication following the procedure.

No.  A dressing wrap is placed for 48 hours, and a foam neck collar is worn for 10 days while awake to avoid flexing of the neck.  We want the newly released and raised neck skin/tissues to heal at the new higher position created by the dissection-provided sliding envelope.  Most activities that are non-strenuous can be resumed nearly immediately and all activities including intense workouts after 10 days.

No.  It is completely different as the suture is a permanent type that has been used and well tolerated in other surgeries for decades.  Threads are slowly dissolving and even the longest-lasting threads that can provide up to 18 months improvement in the face only typically last 6 months or so in the neck as the range of motion of the neck is much more extensive than the face thereby reducing the result longevity as compared to the strong support and lift provided by the “net” or “hammock-like” support of the precisely placed suture material.  The suture is also much more robust than the threads in thickness and anchored strongly to the fascia behind the ears.  Threads are also placed very superficially in the skin as compared to the more deeply placed suture.  The initial and elegant dissection to gently allow the skin envelope to freely move upward is not performed with thread lifts.  Dr. Burroughs devotes considerable procedure time and has mastered this dissection technique portion of the suture platysmaplasty.  The value proposition given the significant number of threads that would need to be placed that still only yields lower results and longevity compared to the suture technique is simply not comparable.

Absolutely yes.  This in-office procedure performed under light sedation is very safe with extremely low infection or other risks.  The training for this procedure is only provided to surgeons or experienced liposuction physicians.  Dr. Burroughs has had no severe complications, has performed this procedure for several years, and has taught his technique at numerous national and international cosmetic meetings.  Monitoring is performed during the procedure and very detailed post-procedure instructions are provided.  Dr. Burroughs always either carefully modifies his current techniques to optimize safety, comfort, and results or researches new techniques and technologies before bringing them to his surgical practice and Springs Aesthetics.  Dr. Burroughs travels and speaks extensively at Aesthetic conferences across the world and has a network of colleagues that freely exchange ideas to improve their surgery techniques and other rejuvenative technologies.  Dr. Burroughs also provides his personal mobile number if concerns arise outside of normal business hours for his post-surgical and procedural patients.

The percutaneous approach to improving the neck is one of Dr. Burroughs’ most sought neck treatments and has predominantly replaced the need for surgical neck lifting in his practice.  It has long-lasting (typically 5+ year) results, is very safe, minimally invasive, quickly and comfortably performed without general anesthesia, and carries very high patient satisfaction.  Typical patients that seek this procedure either have a neck contour they have never liked as it is too full/sloped without a beautifully defined angle or aging has caused additional sagging in conjunction with the development of neck bands, prominent horizontal neck lines folds, and a fat “double chin” appearance.  These improvements can restore public image-related confidence and comfort in person or virtually while performing work or personal video calls (e.g., FaceTime, Zoom, others).  This is why it has been called by many as the “Zoom Lift.”  If you’re concerned with the appearance of your neck then call for a consult to get all your questions answered and to find out if you are a great candidate for this amazing procedure.

MyEllevate™ is fantastic for anyone who is relatively healthy, has good skin elasticity, and unhappy with the fullness and poor definition in their neck and submental chin area.   If your skin is very non-elastic with considerable excess saggy skin, then you are not an optimal candidate for MyEllevate™. However, improvements in skin elasticity can be obtained through customized skin care, external energy-based skin tightening procedures, and PRP injections.

There may be some bruising and swelling for 2-3 days, but there is minimal discomfort.  Some tightness for a few weeks can be felt but there is minimal discomfort.  You will be sent home with a chin strap supportive dressing, but recovery is generally only about 4 days.  You can be minimally active, but downward activities with your neck are discouraged in the early phases.

No, there can be some minimal discomfort during injections, but most patients will not find the actual procedure to be painful.  We include Pro-Nox, our popular nitrous oxide laughing gas, for those patients that wish or need additional comfort during injections.

No.   MyEllevate™ uses a permanent suture material placed in a mesh-like pattern to provide very long-term results that mimic surgery for optimal candidates.  Thread lifts, on the other hand, are more temporary as they slowly dissolve over time and need repeating every 1-2 years.  The developer of MyEllevate™ has been using and improving this neck lifting technique for 10 years, and has results of 5 years or more in many patients.  MyEllevate™ can be repeated, but is not necessary for several years.  In the rare circumstance of a suboptimal result, it can be repeated at 6 months.  MyEllevate™ is definitely a “game-changer” for minimally invasive neck rejuvenation.