Throughout the aging process, the face and neck are two areas particularly vulnerable to sagging, wrinkling and damage from sun exposure. A neck lift involves excess skin removal, muscle tightening and the removal of fat deposits with liposuction. This procedure helps restore firmness to the neck and enhances the definition of the chin.*
What Causes Neck Sagging?
The platysma muscle, which is a very thin muscle in the neck just under the skin surface, has a tendency to stretch, relax and widen with age. The inner borders of these muscle bands can become prominent, appearing as two parallel lines at the front of the neck. You can tense these platysma muscle by showing your bottom front teeth.
The effects of gravity or major weight loss may also be the culprit for a loose neck. There are several changes in the face that normally accompany the aging or weight loss process. Most of these changes are contributed by loss of elastic collagen and elastin fibers which help make skin firm. When these are broken down or weakened, wrinkling and/or sagging of the skin and under-structures can occur. The result: an aged-looking turkey neck.
How to Treat Loose or Sagging Neck
No neck exercise out there can really drastically tighten the muscles in the neck and it certainly won’t tighten loose neck skin. Although we carry a fairly impressive neck firming lotion called Nectifirm, it will never be able to do what a formal neck lift or platysmaplasty (surgical tightening of the neck muscles) can do.*
What Happens During a Neck Lift Procedure?
Plastymaplasty and neck lift surgery are usually performed on an outpatient basis. However, we will perform your neck lift surgery in Beverly Hills in our accredited Stitch Surgical Center which is located in our building.
Dr. Danielpour and Dr. Layke will normally make incisions around the neck with the first being behind the ear and a possible second under the chin to gain access to the neck muscle (platysma). Liposuction is first performed to remove any excess fat and undermine the area. The neck muscles are adjusted, tightened and partially removed (if necessary). The doctors then use deep permanent sutures to sew the muscles together like a corset.
When performing a neck lift in conjunction with plastysmaplasty, excess skin is also eliminated.
What Can You Expect After Your Neck Lift Surgery?
There can be some soreness or tenderness immediately following surgery that is easily controlled with prescription pain medications.
Swelling and bruising can occur following a platysmaplasty and/or neck lift procedure but typically subsides within a few days. For about two weeks after surgery, a neck compression wrap will be worn to minimize swelling and enhance the neck’s contour. It could take up to six weeks of healing before all the swelling is gone and a patient is feeling and looking their best.*
Frequently Asked Questions
Does skin color change after the procedure?
Skin may appear pale, bruised or puffy following the surgery, which will subside within a few weeks.
What should I expect post-operation?
Normal discomfort includes numbness of the skin and swelling. Most post-operative discomfort can be alleviated with pain medication.
What is the recovery period for this procedure?
It is recommended that patients take it easy for the first three weeks. Avoiding strenuous activity is crucial during this time, as well as elevating the head for at least fourteen days.
How long will the results last?
The effects of a neck lift are very durable. However, lasting results are dependent on individual patient characteristics including bone structure and skin elasticity.
Are there any visible scars left from a neck lift?
Some scars will remain initially, fading with time and becoming scarcely visible.