DISTRIBUTION OF SUBMENTAL FAT IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE PLATYSMA MUSCLE

The results of submental lipectomy often remain suboptimal, and in som e cases this may be due to the presence of residual fat deep to the pl atysma muscle. This study was undertaken to determine the relative amo unts of fat superficial and deep to the platysma muscle. A dissection of the submental region of 20 cadavers revealed a mean weight of fat l ying superficial to the platysma muscle of 8.4 grams. The mean weight of fat lying deep to the platysma muscle but superficial to the mylohy oid muscle was 3.7 grams. In three cases (15%), the weight of fat deep to the platysma muscle was greater than 50% of the total fat. This is of significance with respect to those submental lipectomy procedures that normally address only the fat superficial to the platysma.