Sometimes our patients wish to address several problem areas. When this is the case, it often makes sense to combine multiple procedures into a single surgery. This makes for a more comprehensive, balanced transformation while cutting costs and recovery periods. Here we’ll discuss when combining procedures makes sense and the potential benefits of doing so.
Technically, you can combine any cosmetic procedures you wish so long as your surgeon deems it safe to do so. Some procedures tend to mesh and make more sense together than others, however. As such, there are a few surgeries we often see combined with a neck lift.
As the name implies, a neck lift focuses only on rejuvenating your neck. But many patients who seek neck lifts feel that their faces are also showing signs of aging. A full facelift corrects wrinkles and loose skin to turn back the clock and create a more youthful look. Together, a facelift and neck lift can rejuvenate you from your brow all the way to the base of your neck, providing a seamless look.
Sometimes a full facelift simply isn’t necessary. If you’re more concerned about your lower cheeks and jawline, a lower facelift might be all you need. A lower facelift and neck lift combination can recontour your neck while addressing jowls or sagging along the jawline.
A weak chin can make the jawline appear less defined and allow the face to blend in with the neck. This can prove especially problematic for men by creating a softer, more feminine look around the bottom of the face. A neck lift will make your neck and chin look more youthful but won’t strengthen the chin. A chin augmentation will, and when combined with a neck lift, creates a more dramatic transformation.
Your surgeon can remove some excess chin and neck fat while performing your neck lift, but the lift is designed primarily to lift and tighten the skin and muscles. Those with a double chin or who have significant excess fat deposits in the neck and jawline can benefit from liposuction. In these cases, adding liposuction to a neck lift can greatly enhance the results of both procedures by lifting and recontouring the neck.
Neck and facelifts are great at getting rid of deep neck lines and wrinkles, but they may not eliminate fine lines. Botox does and can smooth out any lines your neck lift surgery doesn’t address. If you have fine lines on your face, such as marionette lines or crow's feet, getting Botox in those areas helps create a more youthful look overall without going so far as getting a facelift.
While Botox relaxes your muscles to eliminate fine lines, dermal fillers add volume in areas where you may have lost it, such as the cheeks. It can also help beef up a weak chin if you're not sure you want an augmentation. Dermal fillers can be the perfect finishing touch for your neck lift, whether you get them in your neck, chin, or face. Botox and dermal fillers are great for patients who want to go beyond a neck lift without additional surgery.
If you’re considering more than one plastic surgery, combining them offers substantial benefits. These include:
Combining procedures has many benefits, but it may not be right for everyone. In order to be a good candidate for a combination procedure, you must:
Plastic surgeons always have a plan when they walk into the operating room, but combining surgeries can change the planning process. The basics are, naturally, the same no matter what type of procedure you’re getting. But doing more than one surgery at a time requires your surgeon to consider how all the pieces will fit together and what order to perform the procedures in.
As always, the first step in your surgical journey is a conversation. You will speak to your surgeon or a surgical coordinator to discuss your treatment goals and what surgeries can best meet them. They will then map out a customized surgical plan for performing all of the procedures you want and answer any questions you have.
Your surgeon will order labs and perhaps additional tests to ensure that you’re healthy enough to undergo a longer surgery. They will also provide you with pre-op instructions so you know how to prepare for surgery. You may, for example, need to stop taking certain medications a few days before your procedure.
Combination surgeries take more time than single procedures. They may last several hours and then require additional time in the recovery room. This probably won’t be an issue for you since you’ll be asleep for most of the festivities, but you should warn the person who is driving you to and from the surgery to bring a book.
Skilled plastic surgeons always consider scar placement, but even more thought goes into placing incisions during combined surgeries. When possible, surgeons use one incision to perform multiple tasks to limit scarring as much as possible. A facelift and neck lift, for example, can both be performed through incisions made discreetly behind the ears.
The recovery timeline and aftercare necessities are generally the same for combined procedures as they are for a single surgery. You may, however, notice more swelling or discomfort, especially when the treated areas are very close together. There are things you can do to make your recovery smoother and more comfortable:
Although you’ll see improvement sooner, the final results of a combined neck lift procedure can take three to six months to appear. It takes this long for all of the residual swelling to go down and for your muscles and skin to settle into their new positions. The results of your procedure can easily stay with you 10 to 15 years or longer, however, so it’s worth the wait.
You can help your new look last by making healthy lifestyle choices like these:
Combining procedures is a highly personal choice and one you should discuss in depth with your plastic surgeon. They can listen to your concerns and help you choose the best options for you. If you would like more information about combination neck lift procedures, please join us for a free virtual consultation for a personalized discussion of your concerns and options.
Yes, combining plastic surgery procedures can increase the risk of complications. You will be under anesthesia longer and are likely to experience more swelling and bruising as you recover. A skilled plastic surgeon knows which procedures to combine, however, and which ones are best performed alone. They will also devise a plan for minimizing complications and ensuring a smooth recovery.
Combining procedures can slightly increase recovery time, but most patients are still able to return to work and do most of their daily activities two to three weeks after surgery.
Combining procedures can slightly increase recovery time, but most patients are still able to return to work and do most of their daily activities two to three weeks after surgery.
You may choose to enhance the results of a neck lift or neck lift combination procedure with nonsurgical treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers. You should, however, wait at least four to six weeks before doing so. This gives your body time to heal and allows you to see your initial result so your practitioner can properly enhance your look.