Neck Lift Cosmetic Surgery

Neck Lift

If you are considering a Neck Lift, you may be benefiting from the procedure the appearance of weight loss. Other people won't even notice that your neck muscles, fat or skin has been surgically altered if you have a Neck Lift.

Even though your neck can age before your face, nature is not always responsible for that appearance you'd like to undo. If you've lost a lot of weight, your neck may be taking its time to catch up. For some, it's a matter of genetics. With any the reason, young and old people undergo Neck Lift procedures all the time.

A Neck Lift is actually a set of procedures used to enhance the appearance of your neck:

Cervicoplasty is the procedure used to remove excess skin
Platysmaplasty removes or alters neck muscles

Your surgeon also can perform neck Liposuction which removes excess fat. In many cases, Botox injections may be the answer to your problems if you have fullness or "bands."

How a Neck Lift Is Done

Typically, the procedure will last two to three hours. However, if you are having a Neck Lift in conjunction with liposuction, Face Lift, Brow Lift, or other surgeries, the time will increase accordingly. Your exact procedure will depend on your desired results and your own personal circumstances. In order to undergo a Neck Lift, you must be in good general health, both physically and mentally.

What do you expect to correct about your neck? You should prepare your thoughts on what you'd like to correct and have that with you at the time of your pre-operative consultation.

Here are some of the most common concerns:

Turkey wattle neck
Excess fat
Too much skin

Turkey Wattle-- Weakened or Loose Neck Muscles

If you have weakened or loose neck muscles, this may cause the "turkey wattle" or appearance of neck "bands."

To correct this, your surgeon may recommend platysmaplasty surgery. The surgeon makes incisions under your chin and/or behind your ears to access the platysma (neck muscle) and manipulate it accordingly. Sometimes, that may even mean removing some muscle. Your surgeon may also use permanent sutures to hold the tissue in place.

There are new less invasive procedures, where your surgeon may be able to make smaller incisions and use an endoscope (small camera attached to a thin tube) to complete your surgery.

You and your surgeon will discuss what type of anesthesia to use, depending on your level of comfort. If you want to remain asleep during the procedure, you should request general anesthesia. Otherwise, your surgeon can use local anesthesia with sedation. It's up to you, however, to make that determination.

Instead of surgery or in addition to it, Botox injections can relax parts of the platysma that are responsible for the "band" appearance or look of fullness. The injections are completed on an outpatient basis and typically can be completed within 15 minutes.

Excess Fat

During liposuction, your surgeon will make a small incision below the chin and remove the excess fat. If you are undergoing multiple procedures during your Neck Lift, it is very common for plastic surgeons to begin with liposuction. If this is the only procedure you'll need, you should plan to spend up to an hour undergoing the operation.

You will be able to determine this with your doctor during your pre-operative consultation. Your incisions will be stitched and bandaged.

Excess kin

Just like the platysmaplasty, your surgeon will make similar incisions for a cervicoplasty, trimming parts of the skin and lifting it into place.

It will be secured with tissue glue or stitches. The cervicoplasty can be completed in about two to four hours, depending on the complexity of your procedure. Likewise, anesthesia will depend on your own personal comfort level.

The surgeon will fit you with a compression bandage that you will have to wear for at least one week, unless instructed otherwise. It's important to follow his instructions to ensure proper recovery.

How Should I Prepare for a Neck Lift

During your consultation, the surgeon will instruct you on what medications to avoid prior to your surgery. Certain medications and vitamins thin your blood and can cause increased bleeding.

If you are a smoker, you will need to quit at least two weeks before the surgery and two weeks after. You cannot just plan to cut down. You must not smoke for this time period to ensure proper healing.

Dieting is not recommended: make sure that you eat properly because this will help your body heal.

Make sure you wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of surgery. You should especially plan to wear a button-down blouse or shirt that does not have to be pulled over your neck or head.

You should plan to take at least one week time off to recover. However, your doctor can determine this based on your personal situation.

If you are having platysmaplasty, cervicoplasty, or a combination of any of the procedures we've discussed here, you should plan on having a home recovery area set up before you undergo surgery.

Your Home Recovery Area Should Include:

Ice packs
Gauze and towels
Thermometer
Supply of comfortable, loose clothing (preferably button down shirts or blouses that do not have to be pulled over your neck and head)
Petroleum jelly and antibacterial ointment for incision sites
Telephone within reaching distance of where you'll be lying or sitting most of the time
Supply of pillows which will allow you to keep your head in a comfortable position
Someone who can stay with you at least the first 24 hours after surgery

Recovery

Recovery takes time and it's important that you're patient with the process. Most people can return to work in 10-14 days.

If you participate in other sports or are physically active, you will have to wait at least three weeks, if not longer, to resume those activities. Don't rush! It's not worth it. You've put a lot of time and energy into making this happen, so make it worthwhile.