What is a Neck Lift?
Medically known as a platysmaplasty, a neck lift is a surgical tool used to correct wrinkles and sagging skin on the neck. These common signs of aging often create a condition that is less-than-lovingly referred to as a turkey neck. While a neck lift does address excess fat and skin, it also tightens a muscle in the neck known as the platysma muscle. This muscle becomes weaker and thinner as you age, which is often the underlying cause of a sagging neck. Added bonus—a neck lift can also eliminate the dreaded double chin.
About The Neck Lift Procedure
The surgeons at Mia Aesthetics perform neck lifts as outpatient procedures under general anesthesia. You won’t be allowed to drive yourself home because of the anesthesia, however, so you will need to have someone bring you to your surgery. A neck lift can take anywhere from one to four hours, so your ride will definitely want to bring a book!
Now that your ride knows what to expect, you should too. After you are prepped for surgery and drift off to sleep under anesthesia, your neck lift will proceed as follows:
- Your surgeon will make a small incision behind each ear and, depending on your needs, may also make a third incision beneath your chin.
- Through these incisions, your surgeon will tighten the neck muscles and the underlying tissue.
- Excess skin and fat will be removed as needed to recontour and shape the neck.
- Your remaining skin will be pulled taut over your neck and then your incisions closed.
Neck Lift/Rhytidectomy Recovery
The specifics of your neck lift recovery will depend on the extent of the surgery and your unique healing rate. Typically, patients return to their daily activities and work about two weeks after surgery. Some patients notice a change in their profile quickly after a neck lift, but it can take a few months for the swelling to completely abate and allow you to see your final results. You will experience some swelling and bruising, which may not be symmetrical. Your neck may feel tight or stiff, as well, but this sensation will fade with time.
Your plastic surgeon will send you home with a list of post-op instructions, and it’s important that you follow them. Among other things, expect your surgeon to advise you to:
- Manage any discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers. Pain after a neck lift is mild, and OTC medications are usually enough to keep you comfortable.
- Sleep with your head elevated for a few weeks to reduce swelling.
- Keep your neck straight as much as possible. Avoid turning or twisting it.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Wear shorts with buttons or zippers that you don’t need to pull on and off over your head.
We recommend reading our complete neck lift recovery timeline to get a more comprehensive overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! We have an entire page about neck lifts for men.
Although a neck lift is generally very safe, there are always risks to major surgery. Choosing the right surgeon and following all pre-and post-operative instructions will greatly reduce the risk of complications.
Some potential risks may include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Temporary or permanent hair loss along the incisions
- Facial asymmetry
- Rare nerve injury that could cause weakness of the lower lip
- Fluid accumulation (hematoma)
- Infection
- Scarring
Unfortunately, yes. Although a neck lift may give you a rejuvenated look, it cannot stop the aging process of the skin. However, aging around the neck after a neck lift will likely be more subtle than it would without the procedure.
Incisions made during a neck lift tend to leave some scars, even if they are small incisions. However, the location of the scar and who performs the procedure can go a long way towards minimizing them. Your plastic surgeon will do their best to be discreet about the placement of incisions in order to reduce visible scarring.
If you would like to get a slender neck defining the jawline, have excess skin and fat in the neck, causing development of folds and lines, and are in good general health, you are a good candidate for a neck lift. Patients should also have a positive attitude and realistic expectations for the procedure.
Yes! We have an entire page about combining a neck lift with other procedures.