Neck Lift

Loose skin and a sagging neck are often the earliest signs of facial ageing. A neck lift may correct these problems. Usually a neck lift is performed as part of a facelift. A facelift improves the appearance of the midface, cheeks, jowls and neck. A neck lift will improve the appearance of the neck only, and therefore is most suitable for young people (30’s and early 40’s) who don’t have any sagginess/looseness of the lower facial skin. Some young people have full necks due to an accumulation of fat and this may respond to liposuction of the neck.

A neck lift is performed under general anaesthetic in a fully accredited hospital, either as a day stay or an overnight stay. Liposuction of the neck alone may be performed in the office under local anaesthetic. While this may improve the neck contour in young people with full necks, older patients (mid 30’s up) usually have a loose skin component, and need a true neck lift or lower facelift.
Neck lift incisions are made in the creases behind the ear and there may be an incision in the crease under the chin depending on the degree of muscle tightening required. These incisions are very well hidden.
Liposuction of the neck and tightening/plication of the platysma muscle in the neck are often performed, together with a degree of skin re-draping. Usually a drain is inserted and this is removed a few days post-surgery during a routine office visit. A neck support dressing may be applied at the time of surgery, and this is usually removed the morning following surgery. We may get you to wear a Velcro chin strap (which you can take off for showering) to support your neck for a week post-surgery.
Any stitches are removed day 5 to 9 post surgery. You may get up and about the day of surgery, but common sense precautions about straining and exercise need to be taken. Most people take between 10 days to 2 weeks off of work for neck lift surgery.

Neck lift is a very safe procedure with very few problems. The main potential problem is postoperative bleeding in the first few days after surgery. This is very uncommon. You can decrease this risk by sleeping on your back, managing your blood pressure if you take blood pressure tablets, by avoiding certain foods, medications or vitamins that can cause you to bleed (we will provide you with a list) and not straining when going to the bathroom post-surgery.