The neck is one of the first areas in the body that starts to show signs of aging. Moreover, extreme weight loss or sun damage might make the skin on the neck sag and look aged. While we go to great lengths to improve or preserve the appearance of our skin, it is just as important to take care of the neck. If the skin on your neck loses its elasticity, or if there is excess fat or skin that you want removed, a neck lift surgery is an excellent option. Only a qualified plastic surgeon can perform a neck lift to help you achieve a slim and smooth neck.
What Can the Procedure Treat?
A neck lift can get rid of jowls, loose neck skin, excess fat, and drooping neck muscle tissue to make a patient look younger. The procedure is often combined with a precision liposuction, which is designed to remove stubborn fat on the neck that has been difficult to eliminate through exercise and diet. The skin can be tightened after the liposuction to achieve a more appealing and youthful look.
Who Are the Ideal Candidates for This Procedure?
If you are interested in this surgery and want to know if you are a potential candidate, you should meet a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. Generally, ideal candidates are men or women who want to correct the following:
- Wind- or sun-damaged neck skin
- Double chin
- Sagging neck muscles
- Slack and loose neck skin
- Excess neck skin or fat
Since the surgeon will trim away the excess skin and pull together the rest of it, the skin cannot be too thin or too taut.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
A neck lift is a straightforward procedure that typically lasts over two hours. The preferred anesthetic option depends on the surgeon and the patient. Most of the patients just need a local anesthetic with a sedative, but some of them prefer being unconscious during the procedure and opt for a general anesthetic instead.
The scope of the surgery varies according to the goals and needs of individual patients. Some of them achieve the result they want through basic neck liposuction, which consists of removing excess fat deposits from the neck. In some cases, the underlying muscles also need to be tightened and restructured.
Modern technology has made it possible for surgeons to perform a neck lift with very small incisions placed inconspicuously behind the patient’s ears. Another incision beneath the chin may also be needed. Excess fat is removed through these incisions, either through a surgical excision or liposuction. Loose skin is trimmed away with a scalpel. If the situation dictates, the slack muscles can be tightened as well. In some cases, surgeons even remove a small section of the patient’s platysma muscle. Once the work is complete, the surgeon will redrape the skin and pull it tight before closing up the incisions with sutures.
Make an Appointment
Dr. Alexander Golger, a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon, is your best choice for a neck lift procedure. To schedule your consultation for a neck lift, contact our office and set up an appointment.