Neck lift

A neck lift is actually a set of procedures used to enhance the appearance of your neck. Cervicoplasty is the procedure used to remove excess skin, and platysmaplasty removes or alters neck muscles.

Reasons for procedureback to top

You may consider a neck lift if you have recently lost a lot of weight. Also, genetics may play a part in causing sagging in the neck area.

What to expectback to top

Prior to procedure. During your consultation, your surgeon will instruct you on what medications to avoid prior to your neck lift. Certain medications and vitamins thin your blood and can cause increased bleeding. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit at least two weeks before the surgery and for two weeks after. You must not smoke for this time period to ensure proper healing. You should plan to take at least one week off from work to recover. However, your doctor can determine this based on your personal situation.

Anesthesia. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include local, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Description of the procedure. Your exact procedure will depend on your desired results and your own personal circumstances.

If you are having platysmaplasty, your doctor makes incisions under your chin and/or behind your ears to access the neck muscle and manipulate it accordingly. Sometimes, that may even mean removing some muscle. Your doctor may also use permanent sutures to hold the tissue in place.

For a cervicoplasty, your doctor will make similar incisions, trimming parts of the skin and lifting it into place. It will be secured with tissue glue or stitches.

Instead of surgery or in addition to it, Botox injections can relax parts of the neck muscle that are responsible for the “band” appearance or look of fullness. The injections are given on an outpatient basis and typically can be completed within 15 minutes. Your doctor will discuss the best choice for you.

After the procedure. You will have swelling and bruising that can last for several days after a neck lift. You may feel tightness, tingling, burning or pulling. You also will experience numbness. These are all very normal in the first few weeks following surgery and should not be cause for concern.

How long will it take? Typically, a neck procedure will last two to three hours. If you are having a neck lift in conjunction with liposuction, facelift, brow lift or other surgeries, the time will vary accordingly.

Postprocedure care. Your doctor will fit you with a compression bandage that you will have to wear for at least one week, unless instructed otherwise. It is important to follow his/her instructions to ensure proper recovery.

After a neck lift, recovery takes time, and it is important that you are patient with the process.

If you participate in sports or are otherwise physically active, you will have to wait at least three weeks, if not longer, to resume those activities.

Possible complications. Some of the risks associated with a neck lift include:

• Infection and fever
• Unusual discharge from the incision site, such as pus
• Allergic reaction to the anesthesia

Call your doctorback to top

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occur:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain or discharge at the incision site

In case of an emergency, call 911.

Resourcesback to top

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
http://www.surgery.org/

American Board of Plastic Surgery
http://www.abplsurg.org/

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/

VISIT the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) site for more information on neck lift. more >>