Quick Facts
- Procedure: Outpatient
- Anesthesia: General or local anesthesia with sedation
- Duration of Procedure: About 90 minutes
- Initial Recovery Phase: About one week
- Results: Apparent immediately, but continue to improve as post-op symptoms subside
Do you feel as though unsightly neck contours are making you look older than you feel or are simply detracting from your overall beauty? If so, consider undergoing cosmetic neck lift surgery with Dr. Sean Maguire, which can provide patients with a smoother, more youthful-looking neck.
When Is It Time to Consider Having Neck Surgery?
Common aesthetic concerns or visible signs of aging that affect the neck region include sagging skin and displaced fat underneath the chin or throughout the neck area as well as horizontal neck bands that make the neck look segmented. Individuals suffering from these aesthetic concerns should consider having cosmetic neck lift surgery.
With neck lift surgery, Dr. Maguire eliminates extra skin that hangs off the neck, excess fat and / or undesirable neck bands that extend across the neck. He can also perform the procedure to remove drooping skin from the underside of the chin, which some people colloquially refer to as a “turkey wattle.”
Is Neck Lift Surgery Right for Me?
In general, suitable neck lift candidates include those who:
- Are concerned with excess skin and fat that hangs off the neck or the underside of the chin
- Are perhaps frustrated with horizontal neck bands
- Are in sound emotional and physical health
- Are not currently pregnant
- Have decided to have neck lift surgery of their own accord
- Have realistic expectations for what neck lift surgery can accomplish
- Understand both the advantages and potential disadvantages of the procedure
What Are the Different Neck Lift Techniques?
Dr. Maguire performs the two main approaches to neck lift surgery: cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty. Cervicoplasty is designed to remove excess skin from the neck or underside of the chin, for a smoother neck profile. Platysmaplasty is performed to repair or eliminate neck musculature to improve the appearance of horizontal neck bands. For patients with extensive signs of aging throughout the neck area, Dr. Maguire may recommend both approaches.
How Is Neck Lift Surgery Performed?
To start the procedure, Dr. Maguire makes an incision in the treatment area. The pattern, length and placement of the incisions vary by patient, depending on the person’s surgical goals and anatomical needs. For example, Dr. Maguire places the incisions used for platysmaplasty behind the ears and under the chin, so he can access the neck musculature. The Louisville plastic surgeon might utilize an alternative incision pattern when performing cervicoplasty.
Once Dr. Maguire has made the incisions, he excises the extra skin and adjusts the musculature and other tissues of the neck, as needed. This may involve placing permanent internal stitches in the treatment area to tighten the underlying tissue structures and hold them in place after surgery.
Once the surgeon is satisfied with the new, smoother neck contour, he uses sutures to close the incisions and dresses the neck area with bandages.
Which Procedures Complement Neck Lift Surgery?
The dual-trained plastic and head and neck surgeon may recommend that certain patients undergo an adjunct procedure at the same time as neck lift surgery. For instance, Dr. Maguire may suggest including liposuction in the neck lift procedure to optimize the slimming effects of surgery. He might recommend that some patients undergo facelift surgery, for a more comprehensive rejuvenating effect. Or, Dr. Maguire may recommend that patients with horizontal neck bands undergo BOTOX treatment to help relax the muscles that are causing the look of the bands.
Neck Lift FAQs
How Is a Platysmaplasty Different from a Cervicoplasty?
A neck lift goes by many names and includes several techniques. The procedure can remove excess skin tissue and fat from the neck and under the chin, eliminate a double chin and/or improve horizontal neckbands.
Platysmaplasty gets its name from the platysma muscles found at the front of the neck. The procedure alters and tightens the underlying neck muscles and skin tissues. Platysmaplasty differs from cervicoplasty in that cervicoplasty focuses on removing excess skin. Both are often combined with a facelift.
Dr. Maguire may recommend both platysmaplasty and cervicoplasty to improve your neck appearance.
Are there Non-Surgical Alternatives to the Neck Lift?
Certain injectables and cosmetic treatments may improve visible signs of aging in the neck. Neuromodulators, including Botox and Dysport, can reduce neck wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles to smoothen neckbands. These injectables can slim the muscle along the jawline to improve jawline definition and provide a narrow lower face appearance. However, these products offer temporary improvements and require maintenance treatments to keep your results. Botox and other non-surgical options will not improve loose neck skin.
What Can I Expect During Neck Lift Recovery?
You will have a bandage around the neck and lower face to reduce swelling and bruising after your neck lift. Dr. Maguire will give you instructions for neck lift recovery and may prescribe pain medications short-term to manage your discomfort during the initial days of healing. Over-the-counter medications can ease additional discomfort. Your recovery directions will include wound care to reduce the risk of post-surgical complications, and you could have a small drainage tube to stop blood and fluid from collecting under the skin.
Keep your head and neck strait and elevated above your heart to ease swelling. Make sure you do not twist or bend the neck excessively. You can improve your comfort and recovery experience by creating a healing space in your home with everything you may need for the first few days, including water bottles with straws, healthy snacks, hand sanitizer, a phone charger and access to the TV remote or a good book. Have a close friend or family member help you through the first one to two days after your neck lift.
Does a Neck Lift Leave Visible Scarring?
The incision sites for a neck lift vary based on the surgical technique and each patient’s anatomical needs and cosmetic goals. A platysmaplasty involves incisions beneath the chin and behind the ears, but a cervicoplasty uses a different incision pattern. The scars are hidden under the chin and behind your ears for a younger-looking neck with easily concealed marks.
When Will My Neck Lift Results Settle In?
It can take several weeks for your neck lift results to start settling in, with full recovery taking a few months. Your complete neck lift results will be evident up to six months after your procedure when incisions lines have fully healed and started to fade.
You can enjoy your elegant, youthful neck appearance for a decade or longer with a healthy lifestyle and sun protection. A neck lift provides a semi-permanent outcome, but it doesn’t stop the natural aging process.
How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?
The cost of your neck lift depends on the surgical technique and whether Dr. Maguire recommends both a cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty approach. Combining a neck lift with a facelift or another facial plastic surgery will influence the price estimate. Physician’s Center for Beauty will provide a quote for your procedure during your consultation at our Louisville office. Our staff may offer financing options to help you achieve your cosmetic goals with a neck lift.
Find Out Whether You Can Benefit From Neck Lift Surgery
To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Maguire to find out whether you can benefit from cosmetic neck lift surgery, contact Physician’s Center for Beauty.