Necklift

Necklift

A necklift is a surgical procedure that can smooth and tighten the skin on the neck and provide a more toned and youthful appearance. Neck skin may sag as a result of aging, prolonged sun exposure, or weight loss and is often the first thing a person notices regarding their aging face. Loose neck muscles (platysma) can lead to the appearance of bands on the neck or drastic drooping of the skin. The necklift in Kirkland gives patients a drastic improvement to the appearance of the neck and subtle changes to their overall appearance.

A necklift may be performed alongside the QR Mini-Lift, a traditional facelift, or may be performed alone, after which your friends and family may not even realize that a surgical procedure was performed.

A necklift procedure at Liebertz Plastic Surgery at Yarrow Bay includes both a cervicoplasty to remove excess skin and a platysmaplasty to remove or alter muscles in the neck. Liposuction can also be used to remove excess fat during a necklift. This takes one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis.

Anterior Platysma Plication (Platysmaplasty)

As we age, neck muscles tend to lose strength, sag, and separate. Because the major muscles in the front of the neck are not supported by bones, it is natural for them to experience a greater degree of sagging. These loose muscles can cause the appearance of harsh vertical neck bands and a turkey-wattle neck.

The anterior platysma plication technique allows Dr. Liebertz to focus on loose muscle tissue in the front of the neck during a necklift. Plication involves rejoining and tightening drooping platysma muscles using internal sutures. This improves the definition and overall appearance of the front of the neck.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Necklift Procedure?

A necklift procedure is best for people with sagging neck skin, drooping neck muscles, excess neck fat, a double chin, or a turkey-wattle neck.

Good candidates for a necklift procedure must also be in overall good health. People with coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, or diabetes may be advised to avoid undergoing surgery due to healing-related complications.

Another factor that affects healing is smoking. Smoking reduces the supply of oxygen in the bloodstream, which can delay healing and cause infections. It is recommended for smokers to avoid nicotine products for four to six weeks before and after the procedure.

Your Necklift Consultation

A consultation is the most important step when it comes to necklift preparation. Provide your complete medical history, including all prescription and non-prescription medications you have taken; you may need to avoid or adjust certain medications for the time being.

After an in-depth discussion of your physical health, you and your plastic surgeon will talk about your appearance goals. A necklift surgery is permanent, and it is important to set realistic expectations before undergoing the procedure. Dr. Liebertz will tell you which areas of your neck can be corrected to suit your preferred appearance.

Necklift Procedure

Necklifts take approximately two hours and are performed under general anesthesia with a licensed anesthesia provider. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, and you go home the same day.

Meticulous incisions are hid behind the hairline and in the natural ear contours. The skin is elevated off the underlying neck ligaments and muscles (called the platysma). The platysma is tightened, and the skin re-draped over the newly contoured neck. Excess skin is removed, the skin edges are expertly closed with specific sutures, and a sterile dressing is applied.

Necklift Recovery

After surgery, a light compression dressing is worn overnight on the head and neck. The dressing is removed the next morning in the office. Sutures are then removed five days and eight days after the procedure. Recovery time ranges from seven to fourteen days. Strenuous activity, including all “cardio” exercise, is limited for six weeks. Blood thinners such as aspirin, NSAIDS (ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, etc), fish oil, vitamin E, and others are to be avoided for at least two weeks after surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for your individual recovery, and following these instructions is the best way to help speed your recovery and reduce the risk of post-operative complications.

Necklift Results

This form of neck plastic surgery improves and restores a youthful appearance to the neck. They address excessive neck skin, banding, and double chins. It can enhance a patient’s appearance and confidence, and improves the sharp under-chin angle of youth. Results are seen immediately upon removal of the dressings and will improve as facial and neck swelling subsides over the next three to seven days. Scars fade over time with significant long-term results settling in after four to six weeks.

Necklift Risks

Though rare, post-operative complications from any surgical procedure are possible. They may include infection, bleeding, blood clots, and poor healing (including scarring), all which may require further surgery.

Risks specific to facial surgery also include asymmetry, numbness or paresthesia (tingling or pins-and-needles feeling), and damage to the facial nerve resulting in partial or complete facial paralysis.

Necklift Cost

The necklift procedure’s cost is impacted by a number of factors. Along with the overall time the surgery requires, its price is impacted by the amount of tissue removed and the exact techniques utilized.

Since a necklift procedure is purely for aesthetic purposes, your medical insurance will not cover the costs of the procedure. Contact our financing department for payment options that will accommodate your preferences.