MyEllevate

From a young age, most of us are taught to take care of our face. We know we need to keep our skin clean and moisturized, and that we should wear sunscreen daily to prevent damage that could cause bigger issues as we get older. Many of us have a consistent skincare routine with an arsenal of products and complementary in-office treatments. These are all good practices for graceful aging, but they may not go far enough — literally.

Often, while attending to our skincare routine, we skip over our neck. This is an unfortunate omission as the neck is subject to the same wear and tear as the face, and it is frequently one of the first areas of the body to show signs of aging.

MyEllevate is a minimally-invasive office-based procedure for neck and jawline rejuvenation. With minimal downtime and long-lasting results, MyEllevate is the first procedure of its kind that can treat the underlying structures of the lower face and neck without traditional surgical facelift and neck lift techniques.

What Is MyEllevate?

The MyEllevate system for facial rejuvenation was developed by a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA. Though the idea of a minimally-invasive neck lift has been around for a while, MyEllevate represents a refinement in technique that improves upon some of the limitations of other nonsurgical options, such as dermal fillers for jowls, Botox for platysmal bands or fat-melting treatments for a double chin.

MyEllevate uses unique sutures to create a support system that lifts sagging skin tissues and underlying muscles and glands. These sutures can be placed without incisions, which lowers the risk of side effects and reduces downtime. The procedure has been nicknamed the “Zoom Lift” as people seek innovative ways to look their best in a new era of remote work.

Why Choose to Have a Minimally-Invasive Neck Lift?

A surgical neck lift is typically an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. The incision traditionally begins in the hairline around the level of the sideburn, then extends down and around the ear, ending at the back of the head in the hair. Through this incision, the underlying tissue is repositioned and the platysma muscle can be tightened. Fat may be reshaped or redistributed from the jowls and neck. Finally, the skin is redraped over the lifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away.

A surgical neck lift is often combined with liposuction (which may require a separate incision under the chin) and/or a facelift to improve issues in the lower two-thirds of the face. Some patients benefit from a platysmaplasty, a type of neck lift surgery that tightens the platysma muscle by cinching it up centrally like a corset. Downtime for surgical neck rejuvenation is approximately two weeks.

Candidates for a nonsurgical neck lift receive similar benefits along with some distinct advantages. MyEllevate requires no incisions or removal of skin, and it can be performed under local anesthesia in a surgeon’s office. Most patients enjoy rapid healing with minor bruising and swelling because there is minimal tissue trauma. MyEllevate anchors to the fascia (a tough tissue layer that holds sutures securely) in the neck, similar to the technique often used in facelift surgery. This improves the longevity of the results compared to a traditional neck lift, which uses a thread lift style technique and requires more frequent revisions.

What Concerns Can Be Improved With MyEllevate?

With this pioneering approach to neck rejuvenation, Iowa patients can see improvement in a variety of common concerns:

• Poorly defined jawline
• Jowls
• Protruding platysmal bands
• Loose, hanging skin (“turkey neck”)
• Prominent glands underneath the neckline
• Double chin (when combined with liposuction)

Am I a Candidate for MyEllevate?

MyEllevate is a suitable neck rejuvenation procedure for many people who want to achieve results approaching a facelift or neck lift without the associated risks, discomfort or downtime. The ideal candidate is someone who has minimal skin laxity and is just starting to show early signs of aging. Those with more advanced concerns may achieve better results with a surgical approach.

Combining Procedures for Comprehensive Nonsurgical Rejuvenation

MyEllevate can be a standalone procedure or done in conjunction with other procedures and treatments. It is frequently combined with neck liposuction and/or chin liposuction for comprehensive neck and jawline rejuvenation. MyEllevate also pairs well with energy-based skin tightening technologies, such as radiofrequency microneedling and ThermiTight. For improvement of textural issues on the neck skin, various resurfacing techniques are available.

Your MyEllevate Procedure

MyEllevate utilizes an illuminated suture rod to place a suture suspension underneath the skin. These sutures pull the underlying muscles together like a shoelace “lacing up a shoe” and elevate the soft tissues in the jaw and neck region. There are no incisions, only small punctures through which the sutures are inserted. The procedure concludes within an hour.

Although the use of sutures may sound similar to the thread lift technique, MyEllevate is not a thread lift. The suture material used to create the supportive sling underneath the jawline is different from the material used in sutures for a thread lift, as is the placement of the sutures. The MyEllevate sutures are non-absorbable, thereby making it a more permanent procedure than a thread lift.

Additionally, the MyEllevate procedure anchors the muscles and skin of the neck to the neck fascia, as is done in a traditional neck lift. This anchoring is what produces the durability of the procedure that exceeds what is seen with a thread lift.

Recovering After a Nonsurgical Neck Lift

There is generally little, if any, bruising and swelling after a MyEllevate procedure. Patients go home wearing a chin strap that assists in healing and improved contouring. Most people can resume their normal activities within a few days. Because there are no stitches or incisions, post-procedural care is minimal. Patients can shower the next day, but should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous workouts for a couple of weeks. Recovery time may be longer if additional procedures are performed.

What Results Can I Expect From MyEllevate?

The results of this minimally-invasive neck lift are visible immediately after the procedure. MyEllevate instantly lifts and tightens the tissues of the neck and jawline, creating a more youthful and vibrant appearance. These improvements may last for five years or more.

Contact Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery About MyEllevate Today

The growing demand for minimally-invasive and noninvasive aesthetic technologies has led to revolutionary developments in skin tightening and facial rejuvenation. Dr. Andrews’ Coralville patients can now choose from a range of procedures that can be done in-office and require almost no downtime.

If you are interested in a nonsurgical neck lift, contact the office of ​​Dr. Kahlil Andrews here or at 319-800-6877. We are thrilled to bring MyEllevate to our beloved communities of Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Dubuque, Waterloo and the Quad Cities.