Do you feel self-conscious about your neck because of wrinkles, excess fat, and a “turkey wattle”? If so, the neck lift offers an effective solution, rejuvenating and reshaping the neck.

Why Does the Neck Develop Wrinkles and Excess Tissue?

Drooping tissue and lines on the neck can make life uncomfortable. The causes of such issues include:

  • Decrease in collagen and elastin proteins, which help to maintain skin firmness and elasticity
  • Sagging of muscle tissue over time
  • The aging process
  • Free radicals damaging healthy cells, resulting in wrinkles

Who Are Good Candidates for a Neck Lift?

Healthy individuals who are young or middle aged and who have excessive sagging neck tissue are ideal candidates for a neck lift. People between the ages of 30 and 70 can undergo the procedure if they are otherwise healthy.

Overall health profile is also looked at by your surgeon before the procedure. Additional labs or tests may be done to ensure you are fit to undergo the procedure. Before the surgery, it will be important to stop smoking and taking certain medications that can impair blood clotting, as these can cause complications during and after surgery.

What Happens During the Neck Lift Procedure?

The neck lift is performed at an outpatient facility or at an accredited hospital. At the start, either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation is administered, depending on the preferences of you and your surgeon.

The surgeon makes an incision in the hairline above the ear, extends it around the ear, and ends it at the back of the ear. Another incision may be made under the chin. The skin layer is then lifted up to gain access to the tissues underneath. Excess fat is removed and drooping muscle tissues are tightened with the help of internal sutures.

Once this is complete, the skin is tightened and closed with stitches after trimming away excess skin. Dressings are placed on the area, and plastic drains may be inserted in order to remove excess fluid and blood, which helps to avoid complications.

The Recovery Process

Before your neck lift, your surgeon will give you full instructions regarding the proper ways to best heal and recover. The surgeon will advise you on any medications you will need during the healing process.

You can go home the same day as your neck lift procedure. You will be advised to elevate your head so that it lies above your heart; doing so can speed up the healing process and keep swelling down. A compression garment or bandage may also be worn on the area to help control and ameliorate bruising and swelling.

Recovery takes between seven to fourteen days. You can resume your normal day-to-day activities within a couple of days. Resuming work may take a couple of weeks. Heavy exercise can be performed about a month of healing.

Contact Our Office

A revitalized and youthful neck can be yours with the help of a neck lift. To find out more about the neck lift procedure, speak with well-respected facial plastic surgeon Dr. Chase Lay. Contact us to arrange your consultation.