As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. The jawline can grow slack and jowly while folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
Neck lift surgery can correct visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your neck. A neck lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures, such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
The best candidate for a neck lift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their 40s-60s, but neck lifts can be performed successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.
When a neck lift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s advice both before and after surgery.
Neck lifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Your surgeon should check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood-clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a neck lift, your surgeon will explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
You will get specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least a week or two before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal.
Whether your neck lift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
A neck lift may be performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It’s usually done on an outpatient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize patients for a day when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery and may also require a short inpatient stay.
Most neck lifts are performed under general anesthesia.
A neck lift usually takes several hours – or somewhat longer if you’re having more than one procedure done.
The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your surgeon’s technique.
Incisions usually begin near the earlobe, extend in a natural line behind the ear and continue toward the hairline. A small incision may also be made under the chin. Your surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below.
Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions. Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The surgeon may also wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be reduced with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Your doctor may tell you to keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery to keep the swelling down.
If you’ve had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed 1-2 days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after 1-5 days. Don’t be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you’ll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first.
Your surgeon will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They’re likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine) Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you’ll probably be self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for 2-3 weeks, and you may tire easily. It’s not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.
By the third week, you’ll look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about 10 days to two weeks after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.
The chances are excellent that you’ll be happy with your neck lift, especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent.
You’ll have some scars from your neck lift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade within time and should be scarcely visible.
A neck lift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times – perhaps five or 10 years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one neck lift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a neck lift at all.
During your consultation, Dr. Shell will listen carefully to your concerns, ensuring that all treatments are customized to meet your goals. We use the latest technology in a comfortable and confidential setting. Dr. Shell is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. He is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery , The Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Are you interested in learning more about neck lift surgery near Memphis? Dr. Dan Shell is a board certified plastic surgeon serving north Mississippi with an office in Oxford, MS. Email us or call 662-236-6465 to set up a consultation for neck lift surgery in Mississippi.
