Neck Lift

Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in La Jolla, San Diego, Newport Beach and Beverly Hills

A neck lift procedure is an essential solution for dealing with sagging skin on the neck. Also known as platysmaplasty, a neck lift can reduce the effects that aging, weight loss, and other factors can have on your neck. 

Are you struggling with the appearance of the dreaded “turkey neck” or loose, hanging skin around your jowls? San Diego men and women experiencing sagging skin under their chins have a way to experience positive, subtle change with very little downtime. There’s never been a better time to get cosmetic surgery that will make you look and feel better.

At La Jolla Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, we offer first-class neck lift procedures. Dr. Richard Chaffoo is one of America’s only Triple Board-Certified surgeons, and has a passion for client satisfaction. To learn more, call (800) 373-4773 or fill out this form.

About Neck Lifts

A neck lift is a cosmetic surgery that can make your neck look tighter and more youthful. Neck lifts and similar procedures have become more popular and socially acceptable as the population ages. (1) They address sagging skin under the chin, also known as a “wattle”, which can appear as a result of excess fat, weakened muscle, loose skin, or a combination of all three conditions. It can also cause frustration, making it uncomfortable to wear the types of clothes and jewelry that you like. Thankfully, with a neck lift, this sagging skin can be tightened, providing a more defined jawline. 

Neck lifts typically involve lifting and tightening the platysma muscle. The platysma is responsible for the movement of your lower face. When the platysma muscle weakens, it can cause the skin on your neck to sag. Along with excess fat and loose skin, this can change the appearance of your face for the worse. Excess fat and loose skin are also dealt with in the superficial and deep plane of the neck- the layers that surround the platysma muscle. (2) 

The precise anatomical areas of the neck that are treated during your neck lift will depend upon the condition of your neck and the underlying symptoms that are causing the cosmetic problems.

Benefits of Neck Lifts

Neck lifts address the lower part of your face and can improve its overall visual impression. With a slimmer and tighter neck, your face will appear thinner and more contoured. Your shapelier neck will help to accentuate your jawline. It can highlight the natural beauty of your face, making it less affected by the distraction of loose-hanging skin. 

Compared to a facelift, a neck lift is a less involved procedure that yields similar results. The location of the procedure may also be less likely to leave noticeable scars. With an incision  located below the chin crease in the neck, the ultimate scar will not be visible from the front. In this way, a neck lift is a win-win cosmetic procedure, as it can improve your facial appearance without the need to perform surgery directly on the face. 

Who is a Candidate for a Neck Lift?

The ideal candidate for a neck lift will have excess skin and fat on their neck. The skin on their neck will sag, perhaps forming folds or jowls. They will want to get rid of these unseemly features so that they can feel confident about their appearance. For those with a double chin or excess submental fat, we may recommend liposuction. If this description fits you, a neck lift might be just the thing you need. If you want to finally address the issues you have with the way you look, Dr. Chaffoo has the expertise and the options.

To be eligible for a neck lift procedure you need to be in relatively good health. Because the body will need to heal after the surgery, having good health will lead to a smooth surgical experience with a lower risk of complications.

Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives to a Neck Lift?

Plastic surgery may not be the best approach for everyone. Some patients may find that they have some wrinkling or loose skin developing around the neck, but not enough to warrant in-depth neck lift surgery. Others may simply want to avoid going under the knife, or cannot make the financial or time commitment surgery often requires.

Thankfully, there are many solutions to help patients look and feel more youthful! Non-surgical alternatives to a neck lift are available and include treatments such as coolsculpting, dermal fillers, PrecisionTx, laser procedures, and more.

Personal Consultation

As one of America’s few Triple Board-Certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Chaffoo strives to deliver the best neck lift San Diego has to offer. He has the experience and expertise to help you achieve neck rejuvenation that’s as natural looking as it is youthful in appearance. 

At your consultation, he will review your medical history and your current health. He will ask you about your goals for cosmetic transformation. With the information gathered, he will discuss the best way forward so that you can feel confident in your appearance. 

To schedule your personal consultation, call (800) 373-4773 or contact us online.

Preparation

Please consider the following when preparing for your plastic surgery in San Diego:

  • If you smoke, quit. You should plan to quit smoking completely — not simply cut back — at least 6 weeks prior to your neck lift procedure, otherwise healing can be compromised.
  • To build up your strength and again to promote healing, be sure to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
  • If you’re taking any medications of any kind, including prescription or the over-the-counter varieties such as vitamins, herbal supplements, aspirin, nonsteroidals (NSAIDs) or blood thinners, please disclose this information during your consultation.
  • Wear loose clothing to the plastic surgery center that is easily removed.

For your neck lift procedure, Dr. Chaffoo may give you personalized instructions in order to prepare. It is important that you follow our recommendations so that we can provide you with the safest and most effective treatment we can.

Neck Lift Procedure

A neck lift is a safe and effective procedure. Dr. Chaffoo will work carefully at correcting a neck “wattle” and help improve the overall profile of your neck, chin, and face. The procedure takes just 2 to 3 hours, during which Dr. Chaffoo tightens the loose, sagging skin and muscles of the neck. Incisions are made around the natural folds of the skin to help reduce the risk of visible scarring. To tighten and eliminate excess skin, Dr. Chaffoo will trim it away. 

Recovery

After a neck lift, patients will want to have some assistance getting home from the facility, as well as completing certain tasks around the house. Patients may be tired and sore on the first day after the procedure, but most swelling, redness, and discomfort will start to subside over time. You can apply cold compresses around the surgical site to help alleviate inflammation. Tightness around the neck is normal, and will also start to go away as the area heals. 

Most patients feel better and can return to work after two weeks, but you will still need to carefully monitor the area. You’ll have regular checkups with Dr. Chaffoo during the recovery time to help ensure you are healing correctly.

Results

After a neck lift surgery, the excess skin and fat will be gone, but full results may not be visible until after the healing process. Recovery can take some time, but as the swelling goes down, patients will be able to see their new profile. 

The results are generally tighter, smoother skin under the chin, around the neck, and on the jawline. Patients will have reduced or eliminated sagging skin, wrinkles in the area, and unwanted furrows. It may take several weeks to months to be able to enjoy your new neck, but patients can report seeing these results for up to 10 to 15 years. You can help prolong the beautiful new skin on your neck by maintaining a healthy beauty routine and applying sunscreen daily.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures 

At La Jolla Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, we offer procedures that can aid you in achieving your cosmetic goals.

Liposuction 

Liposuction is the removal of excess fat from the body. Depending on your condition, this could be an alternative option for rejuvenating your neck. It can be combined with the neck lift procedure in order to optimize your results. 

Facelift

A facelift is a more comprehensive approach to dealing with unwanted facial changes. It is much like a neck lift, although it deals with more of the face, rather than focusing solely on the neck area. Dr. Chaffoo offers a more advanced surgical approach to correct signs of facial aging called the deep plane facelift. This procedure is more complicated and only offered by highly experienced plastic surgeons who are experts in facial rejuvenation. Deep plane facelifts lift the deeper layers of the face to create a more youthful, natural, and longer lasting result. There is less removal of skin resulting in a more natural appearance and less noticeable scars as no tension is placed upon the overlying skin. In many cases, a patient’s condition and goals will facilitate a procedure that utilizes techniques from both the neck lift and the facelift.  

Dr. Chaffoo also may recommend correcting other signs of facial aging like temporal hollowing, loss of volume of the cheeks and midface, or sagging around the jawline using the patient’s own fat cells called facial fat grafting. These fat cells are easily obtained from remote areas of the body and the side benefit can be improved contour of the body much as like occurs with liposuction. In addition, these fat cells contain our own stem cells which have a regenerative effect upon the overlying skin improving the complexion and appearance of fine lines of the face. 

Overall, the goal is to help neck lift patients achieve a tauter, more youthful neck and jawline. To find out more about what we do at La Jolla Plastic Surgery, visit our blog.

How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?

As every procedure is highly customized, we will provide cost details for your treatment plan at your consultation. To find out how much your neck lift will cost, call (800) 373-4773 or inquire here.

FAQ

Will neck lift surgery leave a scar?

One of the biggest risks of surgery is scarring. It is not uncommon for an operation to leave some type of scar, but with plastic surgery, it can be especially worrisome, particularly for those who want to avoid looking like they have had “work done.” It is almost impossible to guarantee that no scarring will occur, so instead skilled plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Chaffoo, opt for techniques that help to hide them along the natural folds of the skin.

How can I reduce the chance of neck lift scarring?

After neck lift surgery, avoiding strenuous activity. Avoid overextending the incisions to help reduce scarring and your chance of keloids. It is important to remember that during the first several months to a year, you will likely see the incision scar more vividly, but it will fade away as it heals.

Who can get a neck lift?

A neck lift surgery can be performed on patients who are struggling with the appearance of excess skin on their neck. It can cause wrinkling towards the center of the neck, as well as sagging around the jowls, near the decollete, and more. To be eligible, patients must be in good general health and maintain a stable weight. 

References

  1. Dibbs RP, Chamata E, Ferry AM, Friedman JD. Revision Facelift and Neck Lift. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2021;35(02):088-097. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1727208 
  2. Mejia J, Nahai F, Nahai F, Momoh A. Isolated Management of the Aging Neck. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2009;23(04):264-273. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1242178