Neck Lift Overview
A Neck Lift procedure (Platysmaplasty) lifts and tighens sagging neck and facial skin, removes excess fat, and tightens the platysma muscle, eliminating issues like a double chin, horizontal banding, wrinkling, and "turkey neck." Its aim is to enhance your appearance by creating a more defined jawline with a slimmer, smoother neck, giving your entire neckline a more youthful look.
Your platysma enables movement in your lower face. It’s a thin sheet of muscle that goes from your collarbones to your lower face. If your platysma weakens, it can affect your neck’s appearance. The general medical terms are platysmaplasty, or lower rhytidectomy or submental lipectomy. Which specific procedure or combination of procedures you have depends on what results you are looking for.
Good candidates for a neck lift have excess fat and skin but relatively good skin tone. A neck lift procedure is typically performed along with a facelift, brow lift, chin implant, or other facial plastic surgery procedures, but it can also deliver dramatic results on its own. It can be done separately if you are happy with the appearance of your face.
Neck Lift Surgery
During the surgery, Dr. Kim can use several surgical methods. The method used depends on your anatomy, your skin's flexibility and your goals.
Types of Neck Lift Surgery
Traditional Neck Lift
- Lifting and smoothing sagging skin
- Removing excess fat and skin
- Tightening the platysma muscle (muscle that defines the shape of the neck)
Mini-Neck Lift
Mini-Neck Lift is a more limited procedure. Dr. Kim will remove excess fat and skin before tightening the remaining skin, but he will not usually perform a platysmaplasty (tightening of the neck muscle). A mini neck lift is usually performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation.
Anterior Neck Lift
An anterior neck lift (cervicoplasty) is neck lift offered exclusively to men. An incision is made in the front of the neck. From there, excess fat can be removed, the underlying muscles can be tightened, and hanging skin can be corrected, depending on your unique goals.
It’s important to note that a anterior neck lift will not address the jowl or cheek area.
Deep Neck Lift
A deep neck lift goes beyond the traditional procedure to address:
- Fat deposits behind the platysma muscle (subplatysmal fat)
- Enlarged submandibular and parotid salivary glands
- The digastric muscles underneath the platysma muscle, which contribute to the angle of the neck
The placement and length of the incision may vary depending on whether other areas on the neck also need to be addressed. Usually an incision is made in front of or behind the hairline and then just in front of the ear, curving underneath the ear lobule along the back of the ear, and then into the hairline behind the ear.
Neck lifting aims to address the loose skin, muscle and fat that obscure the natural lines that separate the chin from the neck. A separate incision is made under the chin and the muscle under the neck is sutured tight (platysmaplasty) to restore a youthful contour. Liposuction of this area may also be required.
Neck Lift Recovery
Patients typically wear a pressure dressing that wraps around their head and underneath their chin for at least the first 24 hours post-procedure, to reduce swelling and bruising. Some will also get drains instead of wraps; these stay in place for one to two days, to collect excess blood and fluid. Dr. Michael K. Kim will want to see you for your first checkup within a day or two of the surgery.
Recovering from a neck lift takes time. Most people can return to work in 10 to 14 days. After your initial two-week recovery, the scar tissue around your incision will begin to soften and fade, with full healing in about three to four months, typically. You can expect minimal scarring from a neck lift, and the scars that are created should be discreetly concealed.
The results of a neck lift can last for 10 to 15 years, but you will continue to age—and so will your neck. Some skin tightening treatments, using lasers, radiofrequency, or ultrasound, can help improve the longevity of results.
In the video, you'll witness an actual facelift and neck lift procedure. The patient gave written and verbal permission to film the procedure. She is doing great and was extremely satisfied with the results.
