From a very young age, we learn how important it is to take care of the precious skin on our faces. We cleanse, tone, protect, and moisturize for decades, but it isn’t until much later that we realize just how much we have taken all that beautiful skin below the chin for granted! Do you feel like you have an excessively full chin, noticeable banding, or skin that sags on the neck? All of this can make you appear older or heavier than you really are and destroy your confidence. A neck lift removes excess skin and fat and strengthens neck muscles to define the jawline and frame the face, helping you look both thinner and years younger.
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Neck lift surgery, formally known as platysmaplasty, removes excess skin and fat, helps to define the chin and jawline, and tightens the platysma muscle in the neck to create a thinner, more youthful look.
The surgery is performed in our on-site surgical suite with local anesthesia or twilight sedation by Dr. Rice, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with thousands of hours of experience and an impeccable record of happy and satisfied patients.
Recovery time is 1-2 weeks, and results are instantaneous, although it can take up to 4 months for swelling to disappear completely. While we consider surgery the most permanent kind of transformation you can get, nothing can stop the hands of time, and your skin will continue to age as it normally would. However, this procedure can take years off a patient’s appearance and last for years if you are diligent in caring for your skin.
If you have excess fat or sagging skin but relatively good elasticity, you are an ideal candidate for neck lift surgery. Most patients who come in seeking this procedure feel that they have excessive fullness under the chin (a double chin), sagging neck skin, or what they describe as a “turkey neck.” The neck lift procedure can address all of these issues.
The neck lift procedure typically takes two hours, and the surgery is performed in our on-site surgical suite. We will likely use twilight anesthesia to ensure maximum comfort, but neck lifts can be done with only local anesthesia and oral anti-anxiety medication.
Dr. Rice plans and marks all of his neck lift patients before surgery when they are sitting up and can move their chin and neck muscles. Since sedation can affect neck muscles, this common-sense approach will ensure that the most accurate surgical plan is in place before the procedure begins. Depending on the individual's needs, the approach will begin beneath the chin or from behind the ears and beneath the chin. We remove excess fat via liposuction, tighten loose neck muscles that cause banding, and remove any excess skin. Incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures, and a supportive dressing is put in place.
You can expect a recovery period of approximately 1-2 weeks after your neck lift. The first few days will primarily be spent resting with minimal movement.
We recommend avoiding all strenuous activities, such as heavy housework or vigorous sports, for the first 3-4 weeks. As with any surgery, there can be significant bruising and swelling. This is to be expected and will completely resolve as healing progresses.
We pride ourselves on prepping our patients on what to expect and how best to recover from surgery with minimal discomfort. Rest assured that we will advise you every step along the road to recovery to get you back to normal day-to-day activities as quickly as possible.
Like a facelift, a neck lift will offer a well-defined, smoother neck with long-lasting results. Typically, patients feel the results last between 7 to 10 years. As the aging process continues, a revision may be necessary with some return of skin laxity or age-related weight gain. However, studies have shown that some degree of improvement will remain permanent, meaning face and neck lift patients will permanently look better after having the lift done.
You can help minimize sagging skin and other signs of aging by using high-quality, medical-grade skincare and sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Cosmetic procedures such as microneedling with radiofrequency energy can also boost collagen production and preserve your skin’s health.
A neck lift surgery can deliver dramatic results on its own. It can also be coupled with other facial plastic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, brow lift, or chin augmentation.
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Dr. Rice received his medical degree from Loma Linda University in Southern California where he also completed an internship in general surgery and specialty surgical training in Otolaryngology—head and neck surgery. Dr. Rice went on to complete advanced training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Institute of Facial Plastic Surgery. He is double board-certified…
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