Your neck is usually one of the first parts of your body to develop visible signs of aging. As the skin around your neck becomes looser, you may notice wrinkles and sagging. If the appearance of your neck makes you look and feel older than you would like to, you may rejuvenate your neck with neck lift surgery, performed by the board-certified team at the Plastic Surgery Center in Sacramento and Granite Bay.
Benefits of Neck Lift
Neck lift is a popular surgery because it addresses multiple cosmetic imperfections simultaneously. Some of the changes possible with neck lift include:
- Tightening the skin around the neck to achieve sleeker contours
- Removing deposits of fat that have amassed under the chin
- Creating a sharper, defined jawline
- Relaxing protruding platysmal muscles, which are the vertical bands on both sides of the neck
- Eliminating a “wattle” (turkey neck) that hangs below the chin
Who Is a Candidate for Neck Lift?
Women and men who would like to reverse common signs of aging on their neck are usually good candidates for this surgery. The ideal candidate is in good health, a non-smoker, and sets reasonable expectations about what plastic surgery can achieve.
If you also have signs of aging on the lower portion of your face (wrinkles and jowls), you may be a suitable candidate for facelift. Most facelift surgeries that our plastic surgeons perform incorporate elements of neck lift, so it often makes sense to address both areas simultaneously for more thorough rejuvenation.
Neck Lift Surgery Details
To begin, your surgeon strategically places incisions under your chin and/or behind the ears (areas where scarring is easy to conceal). These offer access points so that the underling tissue and muscles can be manipulated to create more youthful contours. The incisions are also used to remove excess skin and fat to restore a sleek neck slope. Liposuction may be added to target lingering deposits of fat that create a double chin. The remaining neck skin is pulled taut and then sutured to hold it in place.
General anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable for the duration of this approximately three-hour surgery.
Neck Lift Recovery and Results
Your neck will appear bruised and swollen following surgery. Any lingering discomfort you experience after your anesthesia wears off can be managed with your prescribed pain medication. As you focus on rest and relaxation, elevate your head and limit your neck movements to help expedite your recovery.
You will probably feel well enough to return to work after one to two weeks, so long as your job is not strenuous. During your follow-up appointments, your surgeon will confirm you are healing well and can recommend when you can resume exercise.
While neck lift is effective at reversing signs of aging, it does not prevent further aging. After about a decade, your neck skin will become lax again and you can expect to see signs of aging reappear. To maintain your results for as long as possible, avoid sun exposure and use moisturizer on your skin.
Meet with an Expert Surgeon
The Plastic Surgery Center boasts the top plastic surgeons in Sacramento. Our experienced doctors have advanced techniques that enable them to create attractive, youthful results for their neck lift patients. To find out more about neck lift and other facial procedures, please request a consultation today.
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