There are different ways to address the platysma, but ALL of them, pertaining to MY situation, would have necessitated the RELEASE of this muscle, as depicted in the diagram below.  

Dr. Eppley  neglected to perform this crucial step of my operation.. Combined with the placement of  his "split" in the SMAS, his midline platysma plication, without benefit of any release whatsoever,  SHORTENED this muscle sheath in the vertical dimension. This  resulted in the immediate post operative complication of my awaking from anesthesia UNABLE TO BREATHE, caused by my tongue pulling down my throat.  Dr. Eppley literally pulled, cut and sewed up my face with such extreme force that I was unable to close my mouth with my head in a neutral position FROM DAY ONE. 

Photos ABOVE taken 1 month post op:  The tension pulling the entire jaw down and back, with force barbaric enough to pull the entire ear cartilage forward (NOT just the lobe) is evident to anyone with normal vision.  This is not due to scar formation as many doctors have since opined.  Scar tissue does not form in less than one month.  I could not lift my head, close my jaw, breathe or swallow normally since the day of my operation.  In the photo where I am forcing my jaw to close, I was only able to stay in that position for a few seconds, because my tongue was pulling down and I could not breathe.  Compare with photo taken  before surgery.  I am fully able to extend my neck, close my jaw.  You cannot FAKE this malposition of the jaw. 
 

    

BEFORE  REVISION                 1 MO. AFTER REVISION      6 YEARS AFTER REVISION 

One would have to be BLIND not to see the retraction of the mandible.  You cannot FAKE this.  Note position of the EAR in relation to other anatomical landmarks.  Of course, I cannot BREATHE with my neck extended in this manner. I choke on my own saliva and post nasal secretions go directly into the airway because they bypass the tongue base and thus produce a "silent" aspiration.  While choking is the body's safety mechanism to prevent aspiration of the contents of the oral cavity, post nasal secretions track down the back of the pharynx and do not trigger the choking reflex. Therefore, the post nasal secretions are aspirated without any warning except the accumulation of secretions in the larynx, and by that time, it is impossible to expel because of my ABNORMAL  ANATOMY.