The Basics of a Neck Lift
The appearance of the neck is one of the biggest indicators of age. So it’s no wonder that so many folks over a certain age favor the turtle neck or deem the scarf a necessary fashion accessory.
It doesn’t have to be that way though.
Depending on what issue you have with the appearance of your neck, you can remedy it with a neck lift.
What Is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift isn’t a single procedure, but rather a set of them. Medically speaking, they’re referred to as a lower rhytidectomy or submental lipectomy.
The neck lift is often a part of a face lift. But it can also be a stand alone procedure if you’re content with the current status of your face.
Again, the exact procedure you need depends on whether you’re looking to remove extra skin, excess fat, or seeking to alter the neck muscles.
In some instances, there may be injections utilized to address problems with fullness or excess fat under the chin. Additional techniques include ultrasound, lasers, fillers, radio-frequency devices, intense pulsed light, and SkinTyte using Sciton Laser.
What Are the Benefits of a Surgical Neck Lift?
While Botox, filler, and lasers may work for a while to smooth out the neck, they don’t deliver the long-lasting results that surgery does.
A plastic surgeon can go in and reposition soft tissue, remove excess fat, and tighten loose skin. This delivers a far more natural-looking fix that nonsurgical procedures.
To truly address the changes to the neck that come with aging, a surgical neck lift is the best long-term solution.
The Neck Lift Procedures)
As stated above, there’s no one-size-fits-all procedure for a neck lift. Which one is right for you will be established during a free consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
But here’s a look at the three most common complaints that come with an aging neck and how they are addressed:
- Turkey Wattle
While Botox injections can relax parts of that unsightly turkey wattle, surgery is usually the recommendation.
This procedure involves incisions under the chin or behind the ears (or both) in order to access a neck muscle called the platysma. In some instances, part of the platysma may need to be removed. Newer procedures allow for smaller incisions and the use of an endoscope to execute the surgery.
This sort of neck lift can be done under general anesthesia, or local anesthesia with sedation.
- Extra Skin
When there is extra skin but it’s not quite a turkey wattle, the skin is trimmed then lifted into place. It’s secured with stitches or tissue glue. This procedure takes two to four hours and it can be done under either local or general anesthesia.
After the procedure, the patient is fitted with a compression bandage to be worn for five to seven days.
- Excess Fat
Liposuction is often the preferred method for removing excess fat. Simpler than the above two procedures, the surgeon need only make a small incision below the chin.
If no other procedure is performed, the liposuction surgery lasts no more than an hour. A local anesthetic is used, the incisions are stitched and bandaged, and the patient is sent home with instructions for wound care.
Turn Back the Hands of Time
Yeah, okay. A neck lift won’t actually turn back the hands of time. But it can address the ravages of aging on your neck to help you look younger.
So if you’d like to ditch the scarf and/or turtle neck, contact us today for your free consultation. And soon, you could be showing off a smoother and more youthful looking neck.
