Is a Neck Lift Right for Me?

November 30, 2016, 10:49 pm

Skin loses elasticity as we age, and the neck is one of the first areas of our bodies on which sagging skin is most visible. Signs of aging in the neck region include vertical banding, a turkey wattle, wrinkles and creases, sagging skin, and jowls.

If you see any one or a few of these signs, then a neck lift could make a remarkable difference in making you look younger and feel more confident. A neck lift can rejuvenate the neck and bring back a jawline that has disappeared with age. It tightens sagging, recontours the neck, and eliminates wrinkles and neck bands.

Deciding Whether You Need a Neck Lift

If you are in good health and want to revitalize the way your neck looks, then you may be a perfect candidate for the neck lift procedure.

During your consultation, you will be able to discuss your ideal results with your plastic surgeon. The surgeon will review your medical history; study your skin type, bone structure, and the elasticity of your skin; and show you Before and After photos of the procedure.

It’s important to remember that a neck lift will not halt the aging process. It can give you a more youthful look, but after the procedure, you will need to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent your skin from aging too quickly.

What to Expect During the Procedure

There are three techniques involved in neck lifts:

•Cervicoplasty, the removal of excess skin and tightening of the remaining skin
•Platysmaplasty, the tightening and alteration of the platysma neck muscles
•Liposuction, the removal of excess fatty tissue

After the application of general anesthesia or IV sedation, the procedure begins with an incisions made under the chin and incisions below or behind the ears. Once these incisions are made, excess skin tissue is removed, muscle tissue is tightened using internal sutures, and excess fat is suctioned out to sculpt the region. Finally, the incisions are closed using sutures.

Recovery

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on aftercare. Ointment can be used to prevent infections and soothe the surgical sites. The surgeon may also recommend a special diet during the recovery period. For any other concern that you may have, make sure to ask the surgeon.

There may be a thin tube called a drain inserted under the skin after the procedure. A drain is used to avoid post-surgical complications by removing any fluid and/or blood that may collect after the surgery.

Bandages will be used to cover the areas where incisions were made. This will help minimize post-surgical swelling and bruising. After a time, the bruising and swelling will ameliorate, leaving you with a beautifully recontoured neck that you can be proud of.

Learn More During a Consultation

When you speak with experienced surgeon Dr. Matt Hlavacek during a neck lift consultation, you’ll be able to ask questions and find out more about the procedure. Arrange your helpful and informative consultation with Dr. Hlavacek – contact us today.