Neck lift is a procedure to eliminate the sagging skin from our neck and tighten the skin that remains resulting in a more elegant profile and youthful appearance. It provides a solution to people searching to improve the appearance of the neck and under the jaw line. This is designed to reduce the look of loose, sagging skin. A neck lift can even give some people the appearance of lost weight.
Some of the common indications for the surgery include
- Turkey Wattle Neck: If the muscles of the neck are weak or loose, this may cause appearance of neck bands known as “Turkey Wattle”
- Double Chin: Excess hereditary fat deposits underneath the chin
- Aging: Sagging or loosening of the skin below the chin or jaw
Possible Neck-Lift Procedures Include
- Liposuction: To remove excess fat
- Cervicoplasty: To remove excess skin
- Platysmaplasty: To remove or tighten neck muscles
- Botox Injection: To address problems with fullness or bands
Treatment
- Anesthesia is administered.
- Incisions are made: The incision begins in front of the ear lobe and loops under and behind the ear ending in the scalp towards the back of the neck. If the muscles are also to be tightened, there may be an additional small incision under the chin.
- Platysma (neck) muscles are tightened: In an aging face, the platysma muscles often separate, creating a loss of support for the skin as well as a tendency toward a vertical “banded” appearance of the neck. Using sutures, these muscles are sewn back together in the center, using a technique that looks similar to lacing up a corset. It is also possible that a small piece of this muscle will be removed, and that some laser-assisted tightening may be used on the under-side of the deeper layers of the skin.
- Excess skin is removed by carefully trimming.
- Tissue and skin are repositioned and secured. In the case of a suspension lift, the surgeon will use some sort of sutures, mesh, or other materials in the deeper layers of the skin and muscles in order to create a sort of “hammock” to suspend and hold the tissues in their new, higher position.
- Incisions are closed and bandaged. Using a multi-layer suturing technique, the surgeon closes the incisions. If needed, drains will be placed at this time before bandaging the wounds.
Precautions
- Avoid Alcohol Intake
- Stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen. (NSAIDs increase your risk of bleeding.)
- Quit Smoking as it impairs circulation and wound healing
