Neck LiftAbout The Procedure
A Neck Lift is designed to reduce the loose look of sagging skin in the neck area and under the jaw line. A Neck Lift is not designed to rejuvenate the area above the brow or around the eyes. If this is what you seek a brow or forehead lift may be more appropriate. You may even wish to have laser resurfacing, if you are a candidate, for increased wrinkle ablation and facial rejuvenation.
Some patients who complain of having a fleshy neck, "jowls", plastysma or neck "banding", or a "turkey waddle" can benefit from Necklift surgery.
Patients frequently choose to have a Neck Lift performed with their face lift procedure.
Procedure Description
Lasers can be used to tighten the skin that is only a little loose, while neck liposuction is accomplished through tiny incisions placed behind the ears and under the chin. With neck liposuction, little straw-like cannulas are used to suction the fat away.
Neck Lift surgery through a small incision placed underneath the chin may be used to tighten the neck muscles if you do not have excessive skin.
A Neck Lift may be the best approach if the excess skin is significant. The skin is pulled up and back and the excess skin is removed. This provides a new, more pleasing neck and jaw line. The incisions are hidden inconspicuously behind your ears.
Best Candidates for Neck Lift Surgery
Candidates for Neck Lift surgery must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. Most Necklift patients are over age 40 with sagging skin or muscle bands in the neck.
Length of the Procedure
A Neck Lift usually takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of the procedure.
Anesthesia
Neck Lift surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia.
Inpatient or Outpatient?
Neck Lift surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis.
Possible Side Effects
With a Neck Lift, swelling and bruising can last for several days. Patients may feel tightness or tingling, and different sensations including burning or pulling. Patients also experience numbness. These are all very normal in the first few weeks following surgery and should not be cause for concern.
Recovery
Most Necklift patients return to work in 10 to 14 days.
If you participate in other sports or are physically active, you will have to wait at least three weeks, if not longer, to resume those activities. Don't rush! It's not worth it. You've put a lot of time and energy into making this happen, so make it worthwhile.
You will have swelling and bruising that can last for several days. You may feel tightness or tingling, and different sensations including burning or pulling. You also will experience numbness. These are all very normal in the first few weeks following surgery and should not be cause for concern.
Duration of Results
Usually a Neck Lift lasts five to ten years. While you will always look younger than if you had not had a neck lift, the aging process will continue.
Risks
As with any surgery, you run the risk of infection. Please keep a watchful eye on your temperature. At the first sign of a fever, contact your doctor. If you have unusual discharge from the incision site, such as pus, contact your doctor immediately.
Numbness, a frequent side effect, may become permanent. Puckering of the skin may occur and deeper than desired depressions may result. Excess scar tissue and lumps are also possible.
Cost
Expect to pay $3,000 to $7,000 for Neck Lift surgery.
Scars
The placement of the incisions permits hiding the scars behind the ears.
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