The pursuit of youth and attractiveness is a fundamental desire in contemporary society. For many individuals, the appearance of visible signs of aging, such as skin laxity, gravitational changes in facial and neck soft tissues, and loss of harmonious proportions, can be psychologically distressing. The choice of effective methods for addressing these changes depends on their specific characteristics, the patient’s anatomical features, and the type of facial aging. The introduction of 3D imaging to determine the hyoid bone level, the volume of soft tissue structures in the cervico-mental area, ptosis of subplatysmal structures, and the volume of submandibular glands, in addition to ultrasound study of the submental projection at the preoperative stage, are key for making the best decisions regarding preoperative planning. This case report aims to illustrate how modern imaging techniques are a fundamental part of the preoperative assessment of the mid and lower third of the face to ensure the most favorable aesthetic outcomes for each patient.

The pursuit of youth and attractiveness is a fundamental desire in contemporary society. For many individuals, the appearance of visible signs of aging, such as skin laxity, gravitational changes in facial and neck soft tissues, and loss of harmonious proportions, can be psychologically distressing. The choice of effective methods for addressing these changes depends on their specific characteristics, the patient's anatomical features, and the type of facial aging. The introduction of 3D imaging to determine the hyoid bone level, the volume of soft tissue structures in the cervico-mental area, ptosis of subplatysmal structures, and the volume of submandibular glands, in addition to ultrasound study of the submental projection at the preoperative stage, are key for taking the best decision regarding preoperative planning. This case report aims to illustrate how modern imaging techniques are a fundamental part of the preoperative assessment of the mid and lower third of the face to ensure the most favorable aesthetic outcomes for each patient. Key message: To attain harmonious results in surgical correction of age-related facial and neck changes, it is crucial to consider the patient's anatomical features and the extent of age-related alterations. A comprehensive facial analysis, taking into account the type of facial aging and employing a CT scan and ultrasound examination of the soft tissues in the chin region, facilitates the development of an individualized plan tailored to achieve the patient's desired outcome.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of fat autografts for cervicomental rejuvenation procedures and chin augmentation. Material and methods. The study included 70 male and female patients aged 35-65 years with age-related changes in the lower third of the face, localized fat deposits in cervicomental area and insufficient chin projection between 2020 and 2024. All patients were divided into three groups: the 1st group (n=30) — medial platysmaplasty and chin augmentation with subplatysmal fat autograft; the 2nd group (n=15) — removal of Bichat’s fat and chin augmentation with fat autograft using Bichat’s fat pad; the 3rd group (n=25) — medial platysmaplasty and chin contouring with lipofilling. Results. Patients with various age-related changes in the lower third of the face and insufficient chin projection underwent cervicomental rejuvenation and chin augmentation. In case of chin augmentation with subplatysmal fat autograft, chin prominence increased by 0.6±0.2 cm after 3 months, 0.5±0.3 cm after 6 months and 0.4±0.2 cm after 12 months. In chin augmentation using Bichat’s fat pad autograft, chin projection increased by 0.5±0.2, 0.4±0.2 and 0.3±0.4 cm, respectively. In chin contouring with lipofilling, chin projection increased by 0.6±0.4, 0.4±0.2 and 0.2±0.1 cm, respectively. In the 1st group, 2 (3%) patients had uneven chin contours. There were no infectious-inflammatory complications. Conclusion. Autologous fat injections (lipofilling and fat autografts) are preferable for chin augmentation. Augmentation with subplatysmal fat autografts is a minimally invasive, safe, predictable, and long-term method for chin augmentation.