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A neck lift, also known as platysmaplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that removes extra fat and skin from the neck to reduce age-related wrinkling and creasing. The result: a smoother and slimmer profile that makes you look more youthful.
Learn more about neck lift surgery below.
The neck lift procedure has the following steps:
Your surgeon will administer general or IV anesthesia to relax you during the procedure. During your consultation, your surgeon will talk about which is the best option for you.
Depending on how much change you want, you can have a traditional neck lift incision or a limited neck lift incision.
The traditional incision usually starts at your hairline around the sideburn, goes down around your ear, and ends at the hairline in the back. Your surgeon may sculpt or redistribute fat from the neck and howls.
The tissue under the neck skin will be repositioned, and the surgeon may tighten the underlying muscles. Next, your doctor redrapes the skin, and extra skin is cut away.
Another incision under your chin could be necessary for neck liposuction and to repair the muscles. Skin adhesives or sutures close your incisions.
Your surgeon will close the incisions with skin glue or sutures. Your sutures may dissolve over time or could need to be removed within a week. Once the scars heal, incisions are usually covered by the hairline and ear contours.
You'll notice substantial improvements in the smoothness and tightness of your neck after the bruising and swelling fade.
The goal of the procedure depends on you and the surgery your doctor recommends. Neck lift surgery usually seeks to remove or reduce extra skin under your chin or tighten the neck muscles to improve definition. Your surgeon may do both in your procedure, depending on your needs.
If you want to eliminate a double chin, remove extra skin and fat, reduce wrinkles and creases, you will probably see favorable results from a neck lift.
The benefits of this procedure usually last for many years and look natural. Some patients pair a neck lift and facelift for a total transformation of their appearance.
The purpose of the neck lift is to reduce the signs of aging in your jawline and neck. The youthful appearance of the neck and face can fade from age, weight gain, stress, and heredity.
When your neck or chin stands out to you or looks out of proportion to your face and chest, you may want to consider this procedure. Also, a neck lift may be appropriate if you are embarrassed by flappy skin, wrinkles, and related signs of aging.
Some men get a neck lift because they cannot button the top of a dress shirt without skin draping over the collar.
Some of the other common issues that drive patients to seek a neck lift are:
The ideal candidate for this procedure is a person who dislikes the look of aging in their neck and is in good health. Surgeons strongly recommend patients do not smoke and have no allergies to anesthesia.
Also, it's recommended to check if you are allergic to any medications or have medical conditions that could complicate recovery. Ideal candidates also have realistic expectations about the surgery and an optimistic outlook.
A neck lift may not be appropriate if you have significant cheek sagging and jowls that could be treated better with a facelift. This procedure won't work well if you have thin neck skin that cannot stretch or lacks laxity; a neck lift requires the remaining skin to stretch for ideal results.
Also, neck lift surgery isn't recommended if you have unrealistic expectations. For example, a neck lift won't alter your actual appearance or stop aging.
For a better idea of what you can expect, talk to your doctor; he probably can show you before and after photos of previous patients to level-set your expectations.
Patients with serious pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease or allergies to anesthesia, may not be good candidates. Also, people who smoke need to stop for a few weeks before the procedure to avoid complications.
You can expect some pain after the surgery, including tightness and soreness in the neck. To reduce this problem, your doctor will prescribe pain medication. You also could experience tingling, numbness, swelling, and bruising.
Please remember to not take aspirin or some medications after the neck lift, according to your surgeon's instructions. Also, begin walking as soon as you can to enhance blood flow; this reduces swelling and the risk of blood clots.
Have you been considering a neck lift? Dr. Aric Aghayan is proud to serve Portland area patients at his practice, Après Plastic Surgery. He will meet with you for your Portland neck lift consultation today. He'll go over the options, your goals, and more to determine if you're an ideal candidate for this plastic surgery procedure.
You won't regret your decision!
References
Neck Lift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty_areas/facial-plastic-reconstructive/cosmetic/neck-lift.html
Neck Lift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift
Neck Lift Procedure Steps. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift/procedure
Enjoy the pinnacle of cosmetic surgery expertise with board-certified Portland Plastic Surgeon Dr. Aric Aghayan at Après Plastic Surgery. With a legacy of over 1600 successful body contouring procedures, Dr. Aghayan stands as the foremost specialist in advanced body contouring technology and treatment options. Take the next big step on your beauty journey by scheduling a comprehensive plastic surgery consultation with Dr. Aghayan today.