The neck tends to age faster than the face, and eventually changes such as wrinkles, double chin, jowls and sagging neck skin occur. These and other changes can affect the overall appearance of the face and can be bothersome. Neck lift surgery can make the neck and jaw look younger.
What is a neck lift?
A neck lift, also known as a platysmaplasty, is a cosmetic procedure to remove excess skin, tighten loose platysma muscles and reshape the chin for a more youthful appearance. Submental liposuction is usually performed during the procedure to remove fat and contour the neck and jawline.
While non-invasive cosmetic options are available to treat some signs of ageing, plastic surgery is the only way to remove excess skin and fat, tighten the neck, remove platysma bands, reshape the jawline and improve the profile. Neck lift surgery provides long-term results, but natural ageing and other factors can affect the appearance of the neck in the years following the surgery.
Am I a candidate for neck lift surgery?
The best candidates for a neck lift are non-smokers, healthy people with realistic expectations.
How is a neck lift performed?
Neck lift surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic with sedation or under general anaesthetic. The type of anaesthetic will depend on the details of the operation. Incision placement will also depend on the technique.
Neck lift surgery usually takes two hours, but may take longer if it is combined with a facelift, chin implant or other plastic surgery.
The operation usually involves an incision that starts in front of the earlobe. The incision continues under and behind the ear and ends at the scalp. Your doctor will then lift the loose skin and cut away any excess tissue. The doctor will then make an incision under the chin and tighten the underlying muscles and deeper layers of tissue to lift the neck before suturing the separated platysma muscles together.
Submental fat removal and liposuction
Submental liposuction allows the removal of excess fat along the neck and chin. To perform the procedure, a cannula is inserted through a small incision in the neck area to break up and suck out fat deposits. Liposuction is often combined with a full neck lift, facelift or chin implant.