Surgical correction of aging in the neck lays a foundation for years of improvement.
A neck lift is the only procedure that addresses the changes in skin and muscle laxity while contouring the fat in the neck. Your board-certified plastic surgeon is able to tighten the muscles and connective tissues, remove excess fat both above and below the muscle, and then reduce skin laxity in a way that turns back the aging process to restore a more youthful, natural appearance. One thing that a neck lift will not address is skin damage issues like fine lines, crepey skin texture, and sun damage. However, many patients will choose to incorporate a laser treatment into their procedure to treat these skin concerns.
Neck Lift Quick Facts
- Tightens loose skin and muscles for a streamlined, lifted neck
- $12,500 – $17,000 typical surgeons’ fees (anesthesia & surgery center fees additional)
- Red-carpet ready after 4 weeks
- More youthful, rejuvenated appearance
Today’s Best Options for Neck Lift
Whether you call it your neck flab, turkey waddle, or submental sag, a wrinkled and sagging neck is something that can be treated with neck lift surgery!
Does your neck give away your age? Oftentimes patients will mention feeling like their face looks young, but their neck looks old. They will say that they don’t like to facetime their family or wear collared shirts, because of how much attention these draw to their necks. Some will even resort to turtlenecks to hide what becomes a subconscious assault on their self-confidence. Neck creams, Botox, lasers, or other non-surgical procedures are often a good way to delay or treat early signs of an aging neck, but if you’re not getting the results that you hoped for, a neck lift might be the right choice for you to address excess skin and loose neck muscles.
Neck Lift Concerns Addressed
There are 3 types of changes that contribute to an older-looking neck and face:
- Loose & Damaged Skin: wrinkles, uneven texture, and pigmentation changes, as well as skin laxity and thinning
- Sagging & Drooping Muscles: loosening of connective tissues, sagging skin, and loss of muscle tone
- Excess Fat: our necks tend to accumulate more fat as we age, while our faces tend to lose fat. Excess fat will weigh down the skin and cause it to stretch and sag.
A neck lift facial cosmetic surgery addresses numbers 2 and 3 of this list but many patients opt to also have a CO2 Laser or RF Microneedling treatment to address skin quality for more comprehensive results.
Learn More on Neck Concerns
“I see a reflection that speaks of my young spirit! I don’t look “flattened” or “pulled”, I look refreshed. Thank you!”
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“"I will be forever indebted to him for giving me my youth and beauty back (naturally looking) at age 56”
View My StoryCombining Procedures for Maximum Results
Pairing procedures allows patients to achieve multiple cosmetic goals in one treatment and to reduce overall downtime, as healing takes place simultaneously. A neck lift can bring about more comprehensive change when paired with a lower facelift to address sagging along the jawline and through the cheeks, CO2 Fractional Ablative Laser Skin Rejuvenation to address fine lines and wrinkles as well as sun damage, liposculpting for a leaner, sculpted neck, or an array of other facial plastic surgery treatments for other cosmetic concerns.
Our facial plastic surgeons are careful to create natural, beautiful results that will leave others wondering what has you looking so refreshed, not what procedures you’ve had done. Our gallery of before and afters are a testament to the skill and artistry our team prides itself in providing for each and every one of our patients.
Why Choose Reflections Center
for Neck Lift
A sagging neck can make you look and feel older than you really are and we want to help you restore your confidence! At Reflections, our expert plastic surgeons collaborate within our multi-specialty physician team to select the right procedures, providers, and treatment plans for each patient.
Our team approach allows our physicians to draw on the expertise of industry leaders in all facets of cosmetic surgery and, in combination with our wide assortment of devices, allows us to hand select the very best treatment for your physiology, aging patterns, and lifestyle. A neck lift can even be combined with laser treatment for a more dramatic, lifted appearance, and our laser physicians will consult your plastic surgeon to effectively create this treatment combination.
Schedule A Consultation
At your consultation, you will have the opportunity to speak with your physician for an in-depth discussion about your cosmetic concerns and goals so that you can feel confident about your treatment as your move forward. Schedule a consultation today by calling our office or filling out an online contact form.
Every care will be taken to ensure your discomfort and downtime are minimized while your results are maximized.
How to Find the Best Neck Lift Doctor Near You
Here are some selection criteria for choosing an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon for your neck lift:
Look for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Facial Plastic Surgeon
Both facial plastic surgeons and plastic surgeons are qualified to safely perform neck lift surgery. Board certification ensures they are up-to-date on new training and techniques.
Ask for Their Additional Credentials
Some surgeons are newer than others, while others have decades of experience. Experience really does matter, as there are many nuances to creating great results that are only learned by doing. Society memberships are also an important way to validate a surgeon’s skill. ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), in particular, requires that the surgeon practice mainly in aesthetics and be nominated by other plastic surgeons, for their skill, to join. Finally, ask about hospital privileges. The best surgeons can perform their surgeries in the best hospitals and can choose between venues.
Ask Them to Show You What Changes They See that Need Correction in Your Neck
You want to see that they not only show that things have shifted in more than 1 direction over time, but also that they’re talking about the varying layers of change within the fat, muscle, and skin layers.
Ask to See Their Before and After Photos
The proof is in the pudding – or the photos in this case. Someone who can show you how they’ve treated patients like you before is likely well-equipped to create the same kind of results for you. You want to see an example of the same gender, similar skin tone, and possibly someone with a similar hairline to you (if you’re concerned about visible scars).
Non-Surgical Neck Lift Alternatives
A neck lift is the most comprehensive treatment for neck rejuvenation and the only treatment that allows us to address all 3 causes of an older-looking neck: sagging muscles, excess fat, and loose skin. However, for those with only one or two of these concerns, or who are simply opposed to a surgical procedure of any kind, Reflections does offer a variety of non-invasive and minimally invasive options.
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ThermiTight
ThermiTight injectable radio frequency allows for targeted tightening of the skin throughout the neck. This is a good minimally invasive option for those with moderate to mild skin laxity and no real concerns about fat or muscle changes.
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Exilis
Exilis offers radio frequency in a non-invasive procedure that reduces excess fat, smooths away wrinkles, and tightens the skin over a series of treatments. This is a treatment that works well for those for whom downtime isn’t a possibility.
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Ultherapy
Ultherapy captures the power of micro-targeted ultrasound for lifting. This non-invasive technology creates a lifted look that develops over several months, so it’s well-suited for those for whom downtime isn’t a possibility and who wish to have the most discreet results possible.
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Laser Liposuction
Laser liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure for removing excess fat and tightening loose skin throughout the neck. This procedure has shortened downtimes when compared to a neck lift, and does not address muscle change.
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Kybella
Kybella is an injectable fat reduction product that was specifically formulated to target the fat under the chin. Over a series of treatments, the patient will see a dramatic decrease in the amount of excess fat in this area. Kybella works best for those with only a moderate or mild degree of skin laxity.
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Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions About Neck Lift
- How is a neck lift performed?
In general, the procedure is performed by first making a small incision in the natural crease under the chin, which allows the doctor to remove any excess fat above the muscle. Next, the two vertical bands of muscle are reconnected and tightened back to a youthful position. Any excess fat under the muscle can be removed at the same time. Finally, if there is excess skin, it may be gently trimmed away by using very thin incisions that are hidden in a natural skin crease and behind the ear for a smoother, toned look. The location of your incisions, as well as the details that are specific to your unique aging pattern, will be discussed by your board-certified plastic surgeon at your personalized consultation.
- Who is an ideal candidate for a neck lift?
Almost anyone who wants to see a dramatic rejuvenation of their neck is a good candidate for a neck lift. In general, the ideal candidate is someone who:
- Has both skin and muscle laxity in their neck (vertical neck bands, a “turkey wattle,” or a “double chin”)
- is willing to achieve maximal improvement in the neck through surgery
- is medically eligible
- What is recovery like after a neck lift?
Every care will be taken to ensure your discomfort and downtime are minimized while your results are maximized. You should plan for a few days’ rest immediately following your procedure. You will leave the office with a temporary compression garment that you will not remove for two days. You will follow up with the doctor on the day after surgery to have the temporary compression garment changed and to be fitted for a compression garment that will be worn only at night starting about 48 hours after surgery. This will help minimize swelling and speed up the recovery process. You will wear this until the night after your one-week follow-up visit.
Most patients feel comfortable returning to their normal activities within 3-5 days after surgery. Exercise and strenuous activity must be avoided for 14 days. Bruising and swelling are usually minimal. During the days when patients might experience bruising, makeup can be worn to disguise the discoloration. Our physicians have a long history of making recoveries as comfortable and easy as possible.
- What is the pain level during recovery from a neck lift?
With most of the surgeries we perform, there is usually little to no discomfort afterward. You can expect that you will feel a tightness in your neck following the procedure, but it will come to feel natural within a few days after surgery.
Patients have usually been prescribed some pain medication for their recovery period, but most find by day 2-3 that they no longer need something that strong and are comfortable with just over-the-counter pain medication, like Tylenol. Patients will be in close contact with their surgery coordinator during the recovery and we will take every precaution to ensure you are comfortable throughout the process.
- What kind of scarring should I expect from a neck lift?
Our physicians believe natural-looking results include discreet incisions disguised in natural folds. Artful placement of incision lines, a gentle surgical technique, and skilled suturing are key in minimizing scar appearance.
- What risks are accociated with a neck lift?
We pride ourselves on our safety record. Your plastic surgeon will make sure to go through all of the potential risks with you and answer any questions you have about your specific situation. Each patient is different and we want to be able to speak to your specific health concerns individually. However, you should know Reflections is meticulous and has an excellent safety record.
- What happens during neck lift procedure?
We will begin by making an incision in the natural crease just below the chin. This is followed by liposculpting of the neck and jawline. Next, we will tighten and realign the muscle structures that have loosened with aging. In many cases, fat will be removed from under the muscle. Finally, we will remove any excess skin if needed and then suture the incisions. Sometimes this will include the removal of excess skin along the crease between the ear and neck as well. The whole procedure usually takes about 60 – 90 minutes.
- Will my results from a neck lift last?
By addressing the underlying structural changes caused by the aging process, a neck lift makes changes that will ensure you’ll always look better than if you hadn’t had the surgery at all. Over time, you may find great benefits from procedures that, before your neck lift, would have given only minimal to negligible results.
Sources:
- https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift
- https://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/head-face/neck-lift/
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/wrinkle-treatments-and-other-anti-aging-products
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2884910/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/neck-lift/about/pac-20384583
- https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-neck-lift#1
- https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/turkey-neck#exercises
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/neck-lift-surgery-2710044
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1294301-overview
Dr. Joe Fodero is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. For 20 years, Dr. Fodero has built an amazing resume of plastic surgery work in the New Jersey area and is recognized as a Top Plastic Surgeon in Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation, and Body Sculpting. We’re so happy he’s decided to join forces with the Reflections Center team of physicians.
