When the neck area doesn’t match the upper facial appearance, a neck lift may be a good solution. A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the jawline and neck. It is an option for women and men to improve:
- Excess fat and skin relaxation in the lower face that creates jowls
- Excess fatty deposits under the chin
- Loose neck skin
- Muscle banding in the neck, which created abnormal contours
Because men’s skin is much heavier than women’s and tends to sag earlier, a great solution for men is the direct excision neck lift. In this procedure, muscle, sagging skin, and fat are removed along the front of the neck. This procedure provides the best and most durable rejuvenation for the male neck without the downsides of a traditional neck lift and can be performed in the comfort of our office.
Neck Lift FAQs
The loss of youthful contours in the face and neck can be due to a variety of factors, including heredity, gravity, environmental conditions and stress. Some people are particularly bothered by excess wrinkling of the neck skin, a “turkey wattle” or double chin and jowl lines.
Neck lifts are often combined with other rejuvenation procedures. Those that can be performed in conjunction with a neck lift are:
- Brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow.
- Fat transfer, to add fullness to the lips and cheeks and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Eyelid surgery, to rejuvenate aging eyes.
Neck lift techniques may be performed as an independent procedure or can be incorporated into a facelift to achieve more comprehensive rejuvenation along the jawline, below the chin, and along the neck. During a neck lift, excess fat is removed, musculature is tightened, and the skin is lifted to create a more youthful-looking neck.
As a restorative surgery, a neck lift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.
A neck lift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results but may help delay the time at which a neck lift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery.
Liposuction of the neck or double chin treatment removes excess fat beneath the chin to reduce the appearance of a double chin, improve the balance of your facial features and sculpt a well-defined neckline.
Neck liposuction may be performed at the same time as nose surgery or chin surgery.
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
- Anesthesia risks (if applicable)
- Bleeding
- Temporary or permanent hair loss along the incisions
- Facial asymmetry
- Eye irritation or dryness
- Rare nerve injury that could cause weakness of the lower lip
- Fluid accumulation (hematoma)
- Infection
- Unfavorable scarring
- Prolonged swelling
- Skin irregularities and discoloration
- Skin loss
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation and require removal
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Persistent pain
- Poor wound healing
- Rare risk of deep venous thrombosis with cardiac or pulmonary sequelae
- Unsatisfactory results which may require surgical revision
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What to Expect During Neck Lift Surgery
Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your neck lift choices include a traditional neck lift incision or a limited incision neck lift.
A traditional neck lift incision often begins in the hairline at the level of the sideburn, continues down and around the ear and ends in the posterior hair. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the jowls and neck. The tissue underlying the neck skin is repositioned, and commonly the platysma muscle is tightened. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A separate incision under the chin is often necessary for liposuction of this area and for the repair of the muscle. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.
A limited incision neck lift may involve incisions only around the ear. A direct incision may involve an incision in front area of your neck. While these incisions are shorter, the results may be more limited. Your Water’s Edge plastic surgeon will meet with you to discuss which rejuvenation options are best for you.
Recovery After Neck Lift
Following your physician’s instructions is essential to the success of your surgery. It’s important that the incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motions during the time of healing. Our doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
Please ask your Water’s Edge plastic surgeon any questions you may have. It’s very important to understand all aspects of your neck lift. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with our plastic surgeon.