A neck lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is performed to remove excess fat and skin located under the jawline. This procedure rejuvenates the appearance of the neck below the angle of the jaw to the chin of the patient. Some of the issues besides excess fat and skin that the surgery addresses include the appearance of wrinkles from the aging process, creases in the neck and the loss of a smooth contour and slender profile. A neck lift provides a neck that is more youthful in appearance as well as one with a better definition. A neck lift can be performed on its own or at the same time as a facelift, liposuction, or a cheek lift. The incision for a neck lift often starts behind the ear, and into the posterior hair. The necessary amount of fat is removed or sculpted while the platysma muscle is tightened and the tissue under the neck is repositioned. The surgeon will also remove any excess skin from the treated area. It is an ideal procedure for patients who feel their neck is old and sagging in appearance.
Medically Reviewed by: Kevin Sadati, MD, FACS - Dec 2021
A cervicoplasty is a neck lift procedure where excess skin and excess fat from the chin and neck area are removed for a rejuvenated and refreshed appearance.
A Platysmaplasty surgery tightens the skin and underlying muscles in order to lift the neck. This improves and sharpens the contour of a persons jawline.
The cost of neck lift surgery depends on the amount and type of work that needs to be performed by the surgeon, the technique used by the doctor, any additional fees charged by the doctor or the facility and the area of the country where the neck lift is performed.
In general, the cost of a neck lift is:
A neck lift is performed to give the patient a more youthful and contoured look to the neck by eliminating excess fat and skin that is present around the jawline. See how some of the most popular neck lift techniques are performed.
The amount of downtime and recovery a patient will need after a neck lift depends on the individual person and the neck lift technique performed by the surgeon.
Once the recovery process begins, there will be some swelling and bruising experienced by the patient. Most patients will need at least a week of recovery time at home after the procedure. Some patients will have a bandage placed around the neck and face in order to minimize the amount of swelling and bruising they experience. A thin tube might also be placed in the treated area in order to drain any excess fluid or blood that collects under the skin. Patients should also keep their neck straight (no excessive amount of twisting or bending of the neck) and keep their head elevated to minimize the amount of swelling.
After about four weeks, the swelling will start to lessen but it might take up to three months for the swelling to subside.
The amount of downtime and recovery a patient will need after a neck lift depends on the individual person and the neck lift technique performed by the surgeon.
Once the recovery process begins, there will be some swelling and bruising experienced by the patient. Most patients will need at least a week of recovery time at home after the procedure. Some patients will have a bandage placed around the neck and face in order to minimize the amount of swelling and bruising they experience. A thin tube might also be placed in the treated area in order to drain any excess fluid or blood that collects under the skin. Patients should also keep their neck straight (no excessive amount of twisting or bending of the neck) and keep their head elevated to minimize the amount of swelling.
After about four weeks, the swelling will start to lessen but it might take up to three months for the swelling to subside.
Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin)
Infection
Nerve injury
Blood clot
Scarring
Seroma (collection of fluid under the skin)
Changes in skin sensation
Tightness in the neck
Skin irregularities
There will be some swelling and bruising immediately after the surgery which will obscure the results of the neck lift. Once the inflammation and bruising begin to go away on their own, the results will start to become visible.
The results should be fully visible anywhere from six months to a year after the procedure. The results are long-lasting and can be considered to be semi-permanent. The patient will continue to age which means they will likely experience additional loose and sagging skin at some point in the future.
There will be some swelling and bruising immediately after the surgery which will obscure the results of the neck lift. Once the inflammation and bruising begin to go away on their own, the results will start to become visible.
The results should be fully visible anywhere from six months to a year after the procedure. The results are long-lasting and can be considered to be semi-permanent. The patient will continue to age which means they will likely experience additional loose and sagging skin at some point in the future.
Botox
Even though it is considered to be an off-label use, some doctors use Botox injections along the neck and the vertical neck bands to reduce the muscle movement of the neck, so the downward pulling motion of the neck is relaxed.
Dermal Fillers
The injection of fillers will help to restore lost volume to the neck and also reduce the look of wrinkles. The use of fillers is considered to be an off-label use, but some doctors use it to improve the definition of the jaw and promote the growth of collagen to the neck.
Kybella
For patients that accumulate fat in the upper neck and under the chin, Kybella can improve the contour of the neck. Kybella is an injectable deoxycholic acid that breaks down fat cells and then metabolizes them.
Radiofrequency Devices
Radiofrequency devices, using microneedling, treat the appearance of both loose skin and wrinkles by promoting the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin with the radiofrequency energy. Microneedling uses short needles to resurface the skin and enhance the tightening results created by the radiofrequency energy.
FaceTite
It is an advance non-surgical face and neck tightening device that uses bipolar radiofrequency in a predictable manner to heat up the deep tissue fat to melt as well as tightening of the skin from deep to superficial layer. Normally it is combined with liposuction to remove melted fat. This procedure can be performed with oral sedation with local anesthesia.
Ultherapy
This is an ultrasound treatment that penetrates the skin and makes changes to the neck and chin by stimulating collagen providing a firmer neck through the elimination of subcutaneous fat.
J-Plasma
Also known as J-Plasty or Renuvion, is a minimally invasive neck lift technique that tightens the excess neck skin without any large incisions behind the ears. The neck is infiltrated with numbing fluid, excess fat is liposuctioned, a Cold Atmospheric Gas (Plasma) combined with bipolar energy will tighten the neck tissue from deep to superficial layer.
If you are interested in having a neck lift, you will need to perform research on doctors in your area of the country to find the best surgeon that provides natural neck lift results. In order to help you find the best cosmetic doctor for your neck lift, please use our “Find a Doctor” search page.
