Neck Lift
There are many factors that can prevent you from preserving an elegant and graceful neckline. Thinning skin and lax musculature in the neck are among the chief concerns that may prematurely age your face. Dr. Scott Miller is a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who utilizes the highest standard in surgical techniques to restore a refined neckline.
Neck Lift: At a Glance
- Treatment Overview: A neck lift is designed to improve signs of aging in the neck and jawline by removing/repositioning fat and tightening the skin and musculature. Each treatment plan is personalized to the individual needs of each patient with the goal of restoring a firmer, more refined, and more youthful neckline.
- Benefits: Rejuvenation from a neck lift can improve a range of common concerns, including excess sagging skin, vertical or horizontal creases (platysmal bands), and unwanted fat deposits below the chin and around the neck. After surgery, patients typically enjoy a more defined and youthful contour in the neck and jawline.
- Candidates: The best neck lift candidates are healthy non-smokers who are bothered by excess skin or fullness in the neck. Realistic expectations about the potential results are essential, and patients should be well-informed of the risks, limitations, and benefits of the procedure. Those who opt for a neck lift may also choose to combine the procedure with a facelift for more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
- Procedure: A limited incision neck lift is performed through a small, discreetly placed incision under the chin. A full neck lift is done using the incision under the chin, as well as incisions behind and slightly in front of the ears. Through these incisions, the skin and underlying platysma muscle are lifted to restore support to the neck. Excess skin and fat are then removed, resulting in a smoother, firmer contour and a more defined angle beneath the chin.
- Recovery: Patients can expect tightness, swelling, and bruising in the neck region following surgery, which gradually subsides over the following weeks. Most patients require approximately one to two weeks of downtime before returning to work, and are advised to keep the head elevated at a 90 degree angle (no looking down at your phone or keyboard) during the first week after surgery. This helps to speed up healing and provide the best surgical result.
What is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift is a facial procedure designed to improve aging in the neck and jawline. During surgery, Dr. Miller removes or repositions fat and tightens the skin/musculature that have been contributing to an aged look. A personalized treatment plan is created for each person based on their needs and concerns, and Dr. Miller can help develop the best approach for your individual goals.
What Can a Neck Lift Improve?
A neck lift is designed to treat common signs of aging, such as:
- Excess sagging neck skin
- Vertical or horizontal muscle banding (platysma bands)
- A thin, wrinkled, or loose appearance
- Fat below the chin and around the neck
After a neck lift, patients enjoy a firmer, more defined, and more youthful overall appearance.
Patient Results
Is Neck Lift Surgery Right for Me?
If you’re bothered by excessive skin or fullness in the neck, Dr. Miller can personalize modern neck contouring techniques to reveal more youthful facial angles. A consultation with Dr. Miller can confirm whether you’re a good candidate for a neck lift, but the procedure is generally most successful for patients who are:
- Healthy and a non-smoker
- Well-informed of the risks, limitations, and benefits of facial plastic surgery
- Seeking to improve the contours of the lower face and neck
- Realistic about the results possible with neck lift surgery
If your goals are consistent with the before-and-after photos of neck lift surgery, this can be a good indication that you may benefit from the procedure. Patients can also opt to combine their neck lift with a facelift to further treat signs of aging and maximize their results.
Neck Lift vs. Neck Liposuction
While both a neck lift and neck liposuction are procedures designed to help resculpt the neck, they are performed to resolve different concerns. Neck liposuction is reserved for removing excess fat beneath the chin and along the neck. Good surgical candidates generally already have sufficient skin tone to contract around their new contours once excess fat has been removed. Recovery is relatively brief, with most patients resuming normal activity within one week. The results can be profound, producing a dramatically sharper jawline and a cleaner, more youthful neck profile.
On the other hand, a neck lift is a more comprehensive surgical procedure that goes beyond fat removal to address the underlying muscles and the skin. As we age, the platysma muscle can begin to separate and band, creating horizontal or vertical cords that are visible beneath the skin. Simultaneously, the skin itself loses elasticity and often begins to sag. Liposuction alone cannot correct either of these issues — a neck lift is specifically performed to tighten and suture the platysma, remove or reposition excess fat, and excise redundant skin. This provides a firmer, smoother, and more rejuvenated neck contour.
In some cases, the two procedures are combined for those who exhibit both excess fat and skin laxity, making liposuction an appropriate complement to the rejuvenation achieved during a neck lift. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon and aesthetic facial specialist like Dr. Miller — who can evaluate skin quality, fat distribution, muscle integrity, and overall anatomy — is the only reliable way to determine which procedure is the best approach for your goals.
How is the Neck Lift Procedure Performed?
Neck lift surgery can be performed alone or in accordance with a facelift to more extensively rejuvenate the face. Through a small incision placed inconspicuously under the chin, the skin and muscle (platysma) are lifted to restore support for the neck. Excess skin and fat are removed, leaving behind a smoother, firmer, and more defined angle underneath the chin.
What Can I Expect During the Neck Lift Recovery Period?
The neck may feel tight, swollen, or bruised after the procedure; these reactions are normal and will gradually dissipate over the following weeks. Dressings or bandages will be worn to help support your new neck contours, protect your incisions, and minimize swelling after surgery. Similar to a facelift procedure, the head should be kept elevated as much as possible during recovery. Two weeks of downtime is common before returning to work, although this timeframe will vary based on the nature of your job and factors unique to your treatment.
How Long Will My Neck Lift Results Last?
Neck lift surgery treats the skin, fat, and muscles of the neck and jawline. The outcome will not “stop the clock,” but will reset it. While nothing will arrest the natural aging process, neck contouring can provide the opportunity to slow down some visible signs of facial aging and help you feel more like yourself. We encourage all of our surgical patients to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle to further maximize the longevity of the final outcome. Smoking, weight gain, and unprotected sun exposure can all thin the skin and contribute to reduced elasticity; therefore, our team recommends the following to preserve your results:
- Wear sun protection every day, including high-SPF sunscreens, hats, and sunglasses
- Do not smoke or participate in artificial tanning
- Eat a healthy diet and maintain an active lifestyle
- Maintain a stable weight
- Undergo periodic skincare treatments to help maintain tone and texture, such as peels, facials, and laser skin resurfacing
Will I Have Visible Neck Lift Scars?
In general, scars from neck lift surgery are inconspicuous and relatively undetectable to outside observers. Dr. Miller camouflages incisions in discreet areas, such as underneath the chin, and within the natural contours of the lower face whenever possible. You can be confident that Dr. Miller will show you where surgical incisions will be made during your consultation. While scarring from any surgical procedure is inevitable, the scars from neck lift surgery are generally well-hidden and fade over time.
How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?
It’s difficult to provide an exact cost figure without Dr. Miller evaluating your individual needs; therefore, our team is happy to discuss the price of a neck lift with you further during your consultation. Simply contact our practice to learn more about neck lift expenses or our financing options with CareCredit®, which can allow qualified patients to pay for their surgery through a series of more affordable installments rather than a lump sum.
Is a Non-Surgical Neck Lift Possible?
Since neck lift surgery comprehensively treats the skin, fat, and internal musculature, minimally invasive technologies are often not enough to effectively address crepey skin or a “turkey neck.” Non-surgical skin tightening treatments typically require multiple treatment sessions completed over several months to achieve a noticeable difference; even so, these techniques cannot rival the powerful and natural-looking results offered by a surgical neck lift procedure. In cases of moderate to severe skin sagging under the chin and around the neck, a neck lift can provide the highest level of rejuvenation.
Are There Any Neck Lift Alternatives?
Yes, a neck lift may not be the best option to resculpt the profile of the face and neck in certain cases. Dr. Miller offers a spectrum of cutting-edge facial plastic surgery procedures for situations in which alternatives to neck lift surgery may provide superior results:
- Lower Facelift: If skin laxity is more focused along the jawline and lower face rather than the neck, Dr. Miller may speak with you about facelift surgery. Modern facelifts restore support in the deeper facial layers rather than simply redraping the overlying skin — which was typical of more traditional facelift techniques — so results can be incredibly natural and enduring.
- Neck Liposuction: Neck or facial liposuction can also be an effective option to sharpen the transition between the face and neck. Excess fat and fullness in the submental region can not only obscure your youthful facial angles, but also creates the effect of a “double chin” — with neck liposuction, San Diego patients can gain a slimmer and sleeker profile in the neck after a relatively speedy recovery period. However, this is only effective if there is little to no skin inelasticity observed in the area.
Ultimately, only a consultation with Dr. Miller can confirm the right treatment for your needs and hopes for the outcome. We encourage you to reach out to our friendly team at Miller Cosmetic Surgery for more information about how we can help you achieve your goals.