WHAT IS NECK LIFT SURGERY?
With age, or after individuals have lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, the skin can lose elasticity, and this loss of elasticity can be responsible for causing many of the visible signs of aging. In the neck region, elasticity loss can presents in the following ways:
- Increasingly prominent appearance of vertical or horizontal neck bands
- Loosening of the neck muscles
- Appearance of a double chin or jowls
- Excess, loose-hanging neck skin
Fortunately, these problematic aesthetic issues can be addressed and corrected with a neck lift.
Neck lift: a surgical procedure designed to lift and tighten the neck musculature, and to remove excess skin in order to create the appearance of a more youthfully firm neck region.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF A NECK LIFT?
Neck lift procedures can help patients with problems due to genetics, aging or weight loss get the desired neck and jaw line appearance that they have always wanted.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT NECK LIFT OPTIONS?
Neck lift surgery is typically performed to correct three primary aesthetic issues pertaining to the neck region:
- Loose skin
- Excess fat
- Sagging musculature
The specific surgical techniques Dr. Sinno will utilize during your neck lift surgery will depend upon your treatment needs and surgical goals. For example, for patients with excess fatty tissue, liposuction may be performed to correct this problem.
If a patient presents with horizontal or vertical neckband lines, Dr. Sinno will perform platysmaplasty to tighten up the neck muscles and minimize the appearance of band lines.
If excess skin is the primary issue, cervicoplasty may be employed to remove excess skin. During your initial consultation, Dr. Sinno will consider your facial anatomy and your unique aesthetic goals in order to create a customized treatment plan incorporating the ideal combination of surgical techniques in the aim of providing a safe and effective neck lift surgery.
WHAT IS THE NECK LIFT PROCEDURE AND RECOVERY?
Neck lift surgery is performed in an outpatient setting, under IV sedation or general anaesthesia. The duration of neck lift surgery is dependent upon on the specific details of each patient’s procedure, and whether or not other surgeries are performed together with the neck lift. After your neck lift surgery, you may experience some bruising or swelling around the ears, neck, and jawline, which should subside within a few days. Neck lift surgery typically results in minimal scarring, and you will be able to observe the visible results of your surgery immediately after your procedure, and these results should continue to gradually improve over the next few months.
WHAT IS THE POST-OPERATIVE ADVICE AND CARE AFTER A NECK LIFT?
Day Surgery
Neck lift surgery can range anywhere from 2-4 hours, after which, you may be released (depending on your medical condition and health state) to a friend or family member and may return home to continue your recovery.
Bandages
Dr. Sinno and his team will apply a special dressing and initial bandages that should be kept dry and clean for the first week. At that point the bandages will be removed and your post-operative state will be evaluated. Compressive garments will need to be worn for a minimal amount of 6 weeks after your neck lift procedure.
Because neck lift can be coupled with liposuction, which involves the injection of a special fluid that liquefies the fat to be able to suction it out, a lot of residual post-operative leakage from the incisions is to be expected. Sometimes the bandages can become too moist so they must be changed as needed.
Showers & Washing
The bandages are usually removed within a week after surgery. Dr. Sinno recommends that all bandages should remain dry and clean. Showers should be avoided, until authorized by Dr. Sinno. This is usually after all bandages are removed at the first postoperative visit. Until then, sponge baths are recommended.
We recommend using white unscented shampoo and soap, along with running water on the incisions after the bandages are removed and only when given medical authorization to do so.
Activity and Exercise
Dr. Sinno recommends that patients refrain from all activities that may increase their heart rate or blood pressure, including exercise, sexual activity, stressful situations, etc., for at least the first two weeks after your surgery.
However, it is recommended that patients walk and perform their usual activities within the limitation of the medical advice given and in tolerance to their comfort. No lifting of more than 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) is recommended for at least two weeks after surgery.
Sleeping in a sitting position with the head above the heart is recommended for at least 1 week after your procedure to help minimize post-operative swelling.
Driving
It is recommended that patients do not drive when taking narcotic pain medications and when wearing bulky dressings that may hinder their normal reflexes and reactivity.
General Healing
You may experience some swelling and bruising that will peak two to three days after your neck lift, and usually subsides within 2-6 weeks. Post-operative swelling, pain, bruising and duration may differ, depending on the patient and the extent of the neck lift performed.
You can expect to be able to see visible aesthetic improvements in your neck immediately following your lift. These results should continue to progress over the following weeks, as the incision site heals and the swelling decreases. Swelling can take six weeks to subside. Dr. Sinno advises his patients that the final results should be expected approximately one year following the procedure, at which point all scars and incisions should be mature.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS OF A NECK LIFT PROCEDURE?
All medical and surgical procedures have inherent risks and potential complications that are associated with them. It is imperative that you understand the potential risks, complications and consequences that can arise after the medical or surgical procedure you undertake. This understanding will better allow you to be able to provide informed consent, based on the comparison to the potential benefit of the desired procedure.
Although the materialization of inherent risks is rare and developing complications is unlikely, these are real events that can occur. Dr. Sinno will help you to understand the risk/benefit profile of your desired procedure.
HOW MUCH DOES A NECK LIFT PROCEDURE COST?
Since no two patients have exactly the same anatomy or aesthetic goals, it is important to customize each procedure to address the unique cosmetic concerns of the patient. The extent of the surgery, the patient’s goal, the experience of the surgeon and of the support staff will heavily influence the price.
The average cost of a neck lift procedure ranges from $9,300 to $12,000 plus applicable taxes.
