The face and neck are not only the parts of the body that the rest of the world sees but the parts that bear the brunt of our environmental exposure such as sun damage and air pollution. Those environmental factors in conjunction with the aging changes of gravitational descent (sagging), loss of skin elasticity (wrinkles), and soft tissue atrophy (hollowing) make the face and neck prime sources of concern for people, beginning in their 40’s and getting gradually more obvious as the years go by. The good news is that neck lift surgery can help alleviate these changes.

What is neck lift surgery?

As the name suggests, neck lift surgery is performed on the neck to improve its appearance and provide a more youthful look. This plastic surgical procedure focuses on tightening the tissues of the neck, including the skin, fat, and muscle, to yield a cleaner jawline and smoother contour.

A neck lift can be performed under local anesthesia but is more commonly performed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The surgery takes about 2-3 hours. Patients are usually discharged within an hour or two after the procedure. Some surgeons allow the patients to recover at home while others require patients to recover in a hotel or in the surgeon’s facility.

What are the Benefits of Neck Lift Surgery?

Neck lift surgery comes with multiple benefits, which include the following:

 Skin tightening: The skin is redraped, improving the excess skin under the chin.

1. Muscle tightening: The bands of excess muscle that appear in the central neck are improved.
2. Defatting: Some patients have excess fatty tissue in the jowls and under the chin which is removed.  
3. Minimal scarring: Necklift surgery requires incisions but if well performed the evidence (scars) of those incisions is well concealed behind the ears and in the hair.
4. Short recovery time: Depending on exactly what is done
5. Neck, patients can return to normal activities 1-3 weeks after the procedure.  
6. Younger outlook: The procedure gives the neck region a more youthful, refreshed, and rejuvenated look. 
7. Improved self-esteem and confidence: Many people experience a boost in self-esteem and confidence after a neck lift procedure.
8. Achieves what diet and exercise cannot: Diet and exercise are the single best activities for overall health, but they sometimes make the neck look worse as fat is lost and the sagging tissues become more apparent. . The only way to correct the appearance of your aging neck is with a surgical procedure. The less invasive procedures promise a lot but deliver only a little benefit and have to be repeated over time. In addition, these procedures may lead to scarring under the skin that makes surgical procedures more difficult.

Consult a Plastic Surgeon

If you “face” any aesthetic issues in your neck region, neck lift surgery may help you. Consulting an experienced plastic surgeon will provide you with answers to your questions and information on whether you are a good candidate for such a procedure.  

Dr. Charles Thorne is a plastic surgeon in New York City with over three decades of experience caring for patients with aging changes in the face and neck.  

Schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Thorne today. Discuss your concerns and determine your candidacy for the neck lift or any other procedure.