Why a Neck Lift?
If you are concerned about the loss of youthful contours your face and neck, or you notice excess wrinkling of the neck skin, double chin, and jowl lines and you are not yet ready for a full facelift, a neck lift may be right for you. A neck lift, or lower Rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the jawline and neck, such as:
- Excess fat and skin relaxation in the lower face that creates jowls
- Excess fatty deposits under the chin
- Loose neck skin
- Muscle banding in the neck, which created
Procedural Steps
Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your neck lift choices include a traditional neck lift incision or a limited incision neck lift. A traditional neck lift incision often begins in the hairline at the level of the sideburn, continues down and around the ear and ends in the posterior hair. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the jowls and neck. The tissue underlying the neck skin is repositioned, and commonly the platysma muscle is tightened. Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A separate incision under the chin is often necessary for liposuction of this area and for repair of the muscle. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions. A limited incision neck lift may involve incisions only around the ear. While the incisions are shorter, the results may be more limited. Incision lines are closed with sutures and perhaps skin glue. Sutures may be dissolving, or may need to be removed after a few days.
Recovery
It may take several weeks to months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to six months for incision lines to mature. Once healed, the incision lines from a neck lift are usually well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the ear. Your final result should not only provide a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.