Neck Lift

Deciding If You Are a Candidate

Improving the appearance of the neck ranks high among my patients. “Selfies” tend to accentuate double chins and neck wrinkles, and can make women more self-conscious. Your upper face may well be projecting an image of youthfulness and vitality, but your neck may look older and make you say, “I hate my neck!”

Genetics and lifestyle play a role in determining when and how quickly your neck shows signs of aging. The neck is more prone to sun exposure and the wrinkles and brown spots sun damage causes. Women who have lost weight may be dismayed by increased jowliness and neck laxity.

Surgical Solutions

Liposuction, platysmaplasty (neck lift) and excess skin removal are the main surgical solutions for improving the appearance of the neck. Liposuction removes excess fat, while platysmaplasty tightens the neck muscles that separate in the middle under the chin causing hollows and bands. The excess skin is removed via incisions around the ear and the posterior hairline.

If there is excess fat in the neck or jowl area, Dr. Johnson will remove it with precision and an eye to aesthetic balance, being careful not to over-correct. The removed fat can then be concentrated and re-implanted into the facial lines around the mouth, the lips, the cheeks, and the earlobes to reduce shadows and restore youthful contours.

Recovery

After a neck lift you should expect swelling and a bruised appearance for about 10 days. You will go home with a bulky head bandage and small drains to remove any weeping blood or serum. This bandage will be removed a day or two later, along with the drains. Your sutures will be removed on days 5 and 10 after surgery. You will meet with an esthetician who will demonstrate and provide you with camouflage makeup so you can return to the public with no one being the wiser. However, your final result will emerge after about three months.

It is not unusual for patients to experience decreased sensation in the neck skin for several weeks after surgery. It will take some time before the neck skin will feel as pliable and mobile as normal. A feeling of “tightness” may last for several months. Dr. Johnson will explain benefits and risks of neck lift in detail to you, and will do her best to achieve a result that meets or exceeds your expectations.