Considering a facelift? You might want to put a neck lift on your radar, too. A neck lift is generally carried out as part of a facelift and is meant to restore the youthful appearance of the lower face, jaw and neck.
While you don’t have to get a neck lift as part of a facelift, many patients opt for both procedures so that the face and neck match in appearance. It’s an invasive procedure, but requires minimal downtime and doesn’t cause pain throughout the surgery or the healing process. Here’s what a neck lift entails and what you can expect from the procedure.
What Is A Neck Lift?
Officially called a lower rhytidectomy, a neck lift is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat around your jawline, creating a more defined and contoured neck. A neck lift can also remove fatty deposits under the chin (a double chin), tighten loose neck skin and smooth out muscle banding in the neck.
How Does It Work?
A neck lift surgery can be conducted under sedation and local anesthesia (in other words, only part of your body will feel numb). However, it is more commonly done under general anesthesia.
First, your surgeon will make an incision. In some cases, the incision will be made near the sideburns and continue around the ear. Fat will be redistributed from the jowls and the neck, the tissue is repositioned, and muscles are tightened. Excess skin is also removed. The surgeon may also decide to combine this with neck liposuction in order to remove excess stubborn fat. Very fine, absorbable sutures are often used to close the incisions. These sutures dissolve on their own and don’t need to be removed, resulting in imperceptible scars.
What Does Recovery Look Like?
Once your neck lift procedure is complete, you’re likely to feel some swelling and bruising in the affected areas. You might also feel like the neck is a little tight. However, most patients report minimal pain after surgery.
It could take two to six weeks for the swelling and bruising to subside. Even after you start seeing results, however, there are certain precautions you should take to promote a healthy recovery.
Ask your surgeon when you can resume with exercise and other high-energy activities. You’ll want to ensure you keep your skin protected from the sun. Preferably, you should wear loose fitting shirts initially to avoid disrupting the sutures. Don’t wear any clothing that requires you to lift your arms to pull it over your head. Avoid lifting heavy objects – including children and pets – for the first few weeks after your surgery.
Incision lines will leave small, imperceptible scars, but they would likely be tucked behind your ears or underneath the chin.
You should be fully recovered from your neck lift surgery within four to six weeks.
A neck lift is a safe, effective procedure for anyone seeking to revitalize their youthful appearance. Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us to explore your options for receiving a neck lift in our Long Island offices!
