Experts can remove excess skin on the neck using a neck lift. It occurs due to excess skin, insufficient moisture, and aging of your skin. A neck lift is appropriate if you suffer from loose skin and non-invasive methods are ineffective. Both men and women can go through the procedure. The most common candidates are people aged 45-60 years. However, it is possible to perform the function in younger women and men.
| Operation Duration | Length of hospitalization | Recovery Time |
| 2-3 hours | 1-2 days | 2-4 weeks |
Usually, specialists perform the neck lift procedure together with facial aesthetics. For this reason, you must explain everything during the consultation with the surgeon and decide the ideal solution for you. In the pre-operative consultation, the operator will show you the location of the incision and what you need to do for maximum results.
In addition, the specialist will explain the course of the operation and the post-operative regimen. You and your doctor will discuss your health and any medications you take. The neck lift is a surgical procedure. Therefore, surgeons should take pre-operative examinations, ECG, and blood samples. Depending on the procedure’s scope, you choose local or general anesthesia. You will stay in the operating room for approximately 1-2 hours.
The surgeon will make incredible changes in the overall appearance by removing the skin and shaping the muscles. Specialists generally make the cut from behind the ear to the hairline. In the case of combined liposuction, surgeons remove fat from a small incision under the chin.
Small scars are hidden by specialists in the folds so that they are as little visible as possible. Don’t be afraid of ugly scars. Since the face and neck area is the bloodiest area of the body, it heals exceptionally well. It is necessary to observe a resting regimen for at least one week after the neck lift and leave enough space in the body for regeneration. Return to work depends on the type of occupation. If you have a tiring job or move into a dusty environment, you must stay home for about 2-3 weeks.
You can return to sports after about 8 weeks. Slowly add movement and listen to your body. Don’t expose the scars to sunlight, solarium, and infrared sauna 6-7 after the procedure.
What is Neck Lift?
A neck lift, also known as Platysmaplasty or Cervicoplasty, is a surgical procedure that effectively removes sagging in the neck area. The neck lift is suitable for all men and women aged 40 and over who want to restore the youthful appearance of their necks. However, of course, patients at a younger age may also prefer if there is significant loosening of the skin in the neck area earlier than average. But it is mainly for people with medical conditions to perform surgery. This procedure may have different forms and scopes. To achieve the maximum facial rejuvenation effect, experts often combine it with a facelift.
If you are considering a neck lift, it is always necessary to have an initial, non-binding consultation with a plastic surgeon, who will evaluate whether the procedure is suitable for you and explain the policy, scope, and operating procedure of the operation, before the procedure. In this process, the specialist informs you about the anesthesia method and the risks associated with the operations. During the consultation, you will have room for any questions, especially about the course of the surgery, your expectations, and any concerns about the procedure’s results.
When you make your appointment, the surgeon will provide instructions on preparing for surgery, including information about eating, drinking, smoking, and taking or not taking certain medications. You must follow all these tips. These will help the process progress and heal smoothly after the neck lift procedure.
Neck aesthetics specialists perform under local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, local anesthesia, or general anesthesia. Aesthetic neck surgery aims to pull out the sagging skin on the neck and fix the chin and neck ligaments.
There may be temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tension on the skin, pinching sensation, dry skin, and increased hair loss after the neck lift procedure. Permanent scars may occur behind the auricle (as in otoplasty).
Preferably supine, semi-sitting, and cooling the surgical site with a bandage is appropriate. Apply light pressure massages to the scars from the two weeks after the operation. Apply the moisturizing lotion to the skin of the surgical site. After the surgery, limiting chemical hair dye for 6-8 weeks and facial sun for 3-4 months is mandatory. The surgeon will remove the sutures 10-12 days after the operation after the control. Returning to normal activities within 2-3 weeks after aesthetic neck surgery is routine. Limit physical activity for 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Who Should Have Neck Lift Procedure?
The ideal candidate for a neck lift is a healthy person affected by the signs of aging in the neck area. Neck lift patients should also not smoke who aren’t allergic to anesthesia, certain medications, or other problems that may complicate surgery or the healing process.
Ideal candidates will also have a good attitude towards surgery and realistic expectations about the outcome of their surgery. Specialists may not recommend a neck lift procedure for people with significant sagging cheeks who would benefit more from a facelift or other types of treatment.
In addition, since the neck lift surgical technique requires stretching the skin, it isn’t suitable for people who are too thin to pull the skin or don’t have a certain degree of looseness.
Neck lift surgery specialists, like any plastic surgery, don’t recommend to applicants who have unrealistic expectations about the result. Patients must understand what to expect from a neck lift and what cannot change with surgery. To be clear, a neck lift procedure will not change your fundamental appearance and will not completely stop aging. To better understand what to expect from surgery, talk to your doctor about what it means to be realistic in your circumstances.
Patients with a history of complications, especially heart disease, or who are allergic to anesthesia may not be suitable for this necessary surgery. In addition, we don’t recommend neck lift surgery to people whose expectations about the surgery are unrealistic. Smokers should stop smoking several weeks or months before treatment to avoid complications during and after surgery.
In any aesthetic procedure, people get the best results if they are suitable candidates for that procedure. This means they have the conditions for this rejuvenation method to produce good results. Check out the right candidates for a neck lift in general:
- People who are obese have lost their neck and decollete skin after losing weight.
- Those with drooping necks due to genetics or old age.
- People with many wrinkles in the neck and décolleté area due to weak neck muscles.
- Those with neck skin, like chicken skin, can also use neck rejuvenation methods.
What are the Risks of the Neck Lift Process?
Every procedure can have risks. But when choosing a course, you should determine the benefits and harms. If the help of the process outweighs the injury, then that procedure will suit you. Check out the risks of a neck lift in general:
- Traces: The process will leave traces. However, most scars will cover by the hairline. Spots are usually red, then purple, gradually fading over 12 to 18 months and becoming lighter. Scars can sometimes be more prominent, thick, red in color, or bothersome. The surgeon may need to re-operate for repair. If your spots spread, they can cause a bald strip of hair that isn’t usually visible at the hairline.
- Bleeding: Heavy bleeding is rare but possible. You may need a blood transfusion or another procedure (or both) to control the bleeding. Any bleeding usually occurs immediately or shortly after surgery. Small blood spots can cause skin abnormalities that generally disappear in the months following the procedure. Before surgery, your surgeon will review medications that increase the risk of bleeding, and it’s essential to keep your blood pressure under control. Men are twice as likely as women to experience significant bleeding.
- Healing problems: The edges of the incisions may separate, especially towards the ends of the scar. Wound treatment usually solves the problem. However, additional surgery may be required to remove insufficiently healed tissue. Smokers are much more prone to healing problems.
- Lack of blood supply to the skin: If blood flow is cut off during surgery, some pieces of skin may die (a condition known as necrosis). This may mean you need an additional procedure that may affect the final result. The area affected by necrosis may have a lumpy or rough surface. Smokers are more prone to having their skin cut during surgery. This danger is even greater if the procedure removes a large amount of skin from the underlying tissue.
- Skin discoloration: Most patients can notice a discoloration of the problem skin. You can usually hide this with makeup.
- Infection: The surgeon may recommend antibiotics or surgery if the wound becomes infected. This can have an impact on the overall outcome of the procedure.
- Extrusion: Deep sutures protrude from the skin at this point. Experts remove them quickly.
- Swelling, bruising, and pain: After the procedure, there will be swelling and bruising on the face, which may last for weeks. Although rare, long-term discomfort is possible.
- Asymmetry: This is a condition where the sides of the face and neck aren’t symmetrical. Minor inconsistencies are typical and usually go away over time. Scarring can sometimes change the appearance of the earlobe or the cartilage in front of the ear (tragus). However, specialists can correct these problems, usually with treatment under local anesthesia.
- Increased or decreased sensitivity: Most patients may experience some change in sensation of the face and neck after surgery. Most commonly, there may be numbness near the scar. In rare cases, the sensory shift may be permanent.
- Damage to deeper structures: In rare cases, the procedure may cause injury to deeper tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and facilities in the neck. The facial nerve regulates the normal movement of your facial muscles. If part of the nerve is injured, the direction of the eyebrow and lip may be restricted. This damage can be temporary or permanent.
- Unsatisfactory result: Patients are sometimes dissatisfied with the outcome of a facelift or neck lift. This may be due to the appearance or feel of the face or neck or a shape that doesn’t meet expectations. Before surgery, you must discuss with your surgeon whether the surgeon can do it safely with a satisfactory outcome and the look and shape you desire. While a neck lift is often effective and produces remarkable results, it won’t make you look 18 years old again. Before accepting the surgery, the surgeon will inform you of the limitations.
- Change over time: The appearance of the face and neck will change due to aging or other conditions unrelated to your surgery, such as weight gain or weight loss. You may need additional surgery or other treatment to maintain the results of a facelift or neck lift.
- Allergic reaction: Very few patients reported allergies to tapes, sutures, or solutions. If you experience an allergic reaction, you may need additional treatment.
What Will You Encounter During a Neck Lift Consultation?
The doctor will definitely make a preliminary evaluation consultation before directing the patient to neck lift surgery. It is necessary to determine the degree of age-related or other tissue changes, suggest the scope of the upcoming intervention and choose the most appropriate.
The doctor will ask the patient about the problems, the possible contraindications of neck lift surgery, and the defects that need to be eliminated and corrected. In addition, the specialist will inform the patient about the details of the neck lift surgery and how long the procedure will take. The surgeon will undoubtedly inform about the subsequent rehabilitation period, possible consequences, and complications.
You will also undergo a diagnostic examination before this necessary surgery. Then the specialist will also take pre-operative pictures to analyze all changes. Before the procedure, you talk to your surgeon about the following:
- Expectations and targets
- Medical condition
- Current medications, including vitamins and supplements
- Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
- Drug allergies
- Previous transactions
This information allows the plastic surgeon to decide on the best surgical approach and to get a good overview of the possible risks. Before the procedure, the specialist may ask you to stop certain medications or have a blood test.
The surgeon will probably postpone the surgery if you have a poor general condition due to the flu, a cold with cough and fever, or any other reason. If you doubt whether to have surgery, contact the specialist as soon as possible.
How Should You Prepare for Neck Lift Procedure?
Platysmaplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to improve the appearance of the neck and lower face by tightening loose skin and muscles and removing excess fat. Surgeons can do this alone or with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a facelift or brow lift. To prepare for the neck lift procedure, your surgeon may recommend the following:
- Stop taking certain medications: Your surgeon may recommend that you stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking dramatically affects your healing process and can significantly increase the risk of complications after surgery. Your surgeon recommends that you quit smoking at least a few weeks before the procedure.
- Get lab tests and medical approval: Your surgeon may want you to get some lab tests and medical clearance from your primary care doctor to ensure you’re in good health and fit for surgery.
It is essential to carefully follow your surgeon’s instructions to get the best possible result from your neck lift procedure.
What are the Most Popular Neck Lift Methods?
Check out the most prevalent neck lift methods in 2023:
Full Neck Lift
We also know full neck lift as Platysmaplasty or lower rhytidectomy. Because the platysma (neck muscle) is part of the SMAS, a neck lift is an inevitable part of a comprehensive facelift. However, it can be performed as a stand-alone operation or in conjunction with one of the less invasive facelift procedures.
A neck lift shapes the jawline, defines the neck angle, and removes excess skin, neck straps, and drooping shine. The most significant advantage of the procedure is complete neck rejuvenation with dramatic improvement. It is also the mechanical part of a traditional facelift. However, when we compare it with a mini neck lift, it has a longer recovery time, and more scars form.
Mini Neck Lift
A mini neck lift (also known as submental Platysmaplasty or a single incision neck lift) is perfect for men and women with a single neck problem. Patients with a small jowl, slight signs of aging on the neck, excess fat, and minimally saggy skin can benefit from the mini size. Those with advanced signs of aging and extra skin can benefit from a full neck lift.
A mini neck lift is less invasive when compared to a full neck lift. The specialist makes a single incision just behind the chin protrusion. Your surgeon will pull up the platysma muscle and deeper layers through this incision and fix it with sutures.
During a single incision, the specialist doesn’t remove the skin but allows the skin to redistribute. The most significant advantage of this is that it has less recovery time and is less costly. However, it is unsuitable for people with moderate to severe signs of neck aging. The procedure doesn’t take care of excess skin.
How is Neck Lift Procedure Performed?
The neck lift procedure includes the following steps:
- Anesthesia
The doctor will give you medicines to help you relax during the operation. You have two different options, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia.
- Incision
Depending on your desired improvement, your neck lift options include a typical incision or a minimal neck incision.
The classic cut for a neck lift usually starts at the hairline at the level of the sideburns, continues down and around the ears, and ends at the back hairline. Fat in the mouth and neck can be excised or redistributed. The tissue under the neck skin realigns, and the platysma muscle often strengthens. The surgeon cuts off the excess skin, which becomes red with puffy facial features.
A second incision under the chin usually requires liposuction of this area and muscle recovery. To close the cuts, the specialist uses sutures or skin adhesives. A neck lift with limited incision can only include incisions around the ear.
- Closing the incisions
To close the incisions, the surgeon uses sutures and possibly skin glue. The stitches may dissolve over time, or the surgeon must remove them after a few days. Once the neck incision lines have healed, the surgeon will often effectively camouflage them within the ear’s hairline and natural folds.
- Final
As the swelling and bruises decrease, the apparent benefits of neck lift surgery emerge. Your procedure result should give you a younger and refreshed look and make you feel more confident.
What to Consider After Neck Lift Procedure?
After surgery, following your surgeon’s care instructions and giving yourself time to heal is essential. Check out what needs to consider after the neck lift procedure:
- After the process, you will have some pain, albeit mild. Take medicine as directed and tell your surgeon if you are experiencing extreme pain.
- It is normal to have swelling and bruising after neck lift surgery. These symptoms should gradually decrease over a few weeks.
- Your surgeon will provide instructions regarding the care of the incisions and drains.
- It is essential to rest and relax after the neck lift procedure. Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for at least the first week or two.
- Attend all follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure your recovery progress.
- It may take several weeks or months for the final results of your neck lift procedure to become apparent. Be patient and follow your surgeon’s instructions for the best results.
What is the Recovery Process After Neck Lift?
To reduce swelling and bruising after treatment, the specialist will gently place a bandage around your neck during your recovery from neck lift surgery. The specialist also uses a small tube to drain excess blood or fluid accumulated under the skin.
The surgeon will give you specific instructions regarding the care of the surgical site and drains, medications to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, and what you need to be careful about the surgical site or your general health. Be sure to follow your plastic surgeon. Check out the most effective recovery process after a neck lift:
- Keep the head above the heart to reduce swelling and keep the head upright.
- Resting for a few days after the neck lift would be best. In this process, you may have to take painkillers for pain. You may generally feel slight pulling pains in the neck area for about 10-14 days. Afterward, it will gradually disappear as your wound heals. At the same time, discomfort, hematomas, and swelling disappear.
- The surgeon will remove your stitches 1-1.5 weeks after the operation. Your doctor may recommend physiotherapy to speed tissue healing. First, this method is necessary to restore muscle tissue function in the neck.
- You cannot take a bath or sauna during tissue recovery after surgery.
- You cannot visit the solarium for a while, sunbathe, or swim on the beach.
- You should also limit any physical activity.
- If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations correctly, you will reduce the risk of complications after surgery to zero.
How Long After Neck Lift Will You See the Final Result?
When you want to evaluate the final results of a neck lift, keep in mind that you will have to wait a few weeks to several months for the inflammation to subside. It takes at least 6 months for the stitches to heal completely. A healthy lifestyle and long-lasting sunscreens make your skin rejuvenation results more stable.
After the swelling and bruises caused by the surgery are relieved, the results of neck lift surgery become visible. The final results will not completely restore your youthful appearance but will help significantly increase your self-confidence.
Following the plastic surgeon’s recommendations is a prerequisite for success in surgery. It is essential not to apply pressure, wear, scratch, or move the surgical site excessively until a full recovery achieve. Avoid wearing tight-fitting collared clothing.
How Much Does Neck Lift Cost?
Neck lift costs can vary according to various factors. Prices vary according to the plastic surgeon’s skill, the surgery’s technique, and the clinic’s geographic location.
Most insurance companies don’t cover neck lift surgery and its complications. However, plastic surgeons usually have more convenient and inexpensive strategies for your surgery. Be sure to ask your surgeon.
In addition, anesthesia costs, hospital and operating room services, medical experiments, clothing, disposable items, and the drugs you will use before the surgery also affect the prices.
In Which Countries is the Cheapest Neck Lift Procedure Performed?
Neck lift procedures tend to be cheaper in countries with lower living costs, such as Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, and Egypt. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s essential to carefully research the qualifications and reputation of any surgeon you’re considering, regardless of location, and evaluate the procedure’s potential risks and benefits. It is crucial to remember that travel and accommodation costs may also need to factor into the total cost of the process.
You should also consider that the cost of the neck lift procedure may vary depending on the specific type of procedure performed. For example, a mini neck lift may be less expensive than a more extensive procedure. The type of procedure that is right for you will depend on your specific concerns and the condition of your neck. Here are the neck lift costs by country:
| COUNTRY | COST |
| United States | $4250 to $15000 |
| Brazil | $4000 to $11000 |
| China | $7000 to $11500 |
| Japan | $6750 to $10800 |
| South Korea | $6500 to $8500 |
| India | $3900 to $7100 |
| Argentina | $4100 to $5500 |
| Mexico | $2200 to $7850 |
| Germany | $3800 to $10000 |
| Turkey | $2850 to $4750 |
| Colombia | $3500 to $9000 |
| Italy | $3750 to $9800 |
| France | $3850 to $12000 |
| Spain | $4200 to $11670 |
| Taiwan | $6000 to $8100 |
| Venezuela | $1500 to $4500 |
| United Kingdom | $4500 to $12100 |
| Netherlands | $3750 to $10000 |
| Egypt | $2200 to $7000 |
| Peru | $2100 to $5000 |
| AVERAGE COST | $1500 to $15000 |
Attention: For Information Purposes Only
Please note that the content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult a specialist surgeon for personal guidance.
References
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