Imbrication of Anterior Digastric with Advancement of the Posterior Digastric and Its Implications in Neck Aesthetics.

Background

To describe a novel technique to modify the proportional length of the anterior-to-posterior digastric muscles to improve neck aesthetics.

Objective

To provide an objective measure to quantify neck rejuvenation and a novel technique to adjust the digastric ratio.

Design

We retrospectively compared 52 patients who had neck rejuvenation with or without digastric manipulation. Preoperative and postoperative images were analyzed and compared with computer software using a novel analysis technique to measure the digastric ratio and neck height. Distances between the menton, cervical point (CP), and gonion were measured.

Results

The anterior-to-posterior digastric ratio improved an average of 26.5% (p < 0.01) in the new technique group, 15.9% in the control group. Distance of the CP to the inferior edge of the mandible decreased an average of 13.9% using the new technique.

Conclusion

The ratio of anterior-to-posterior digastric muscle appears to improve as well as the neck height with manipulation of the digastric muscles.