Neck Lift
One of the most obvious signs of ageing occurs in the neck. Loose skin and excess fat can form a double chin around the neck area. A neck lift is a surgical procedure that reduces excess skin around the jowls, providing a facelift and a more defined jawline.
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How is a Neck Lift Procedure Performed?
There are several methods to perform a neck lift. Dr Lanzer performs a neck lift as part of the mini face and neck lift. The area below and around the ear is elevated using the tumescent fluid method, which we use in liposculpture. Once the skin is elevated, the small blood vessels are closed through cauterisation and more long-term sutures are placed on the sagging weak skin of the neck. This gives an immediate neck lift of the deeper structures. As a result, there is excessive skin around the ears; this is usually trimmed away.
What Is a Mini Neck Lift?
A mini neck lift is a specific type of neck lift. The procedure has the same purpose as a regular neck lift, more specifically rejuvenation of the aesthetic of the neck. During a mini neck lift, cosmetic surgery will remove the vertical neck bands and tighten excess skin. The treatment is often executed in younger patients, who often have less sagging and banding of the neck compared to older patients.
The ageing process of the neck area
There are many changes that typically occur to the lower face and neck area as we age. The first is
that the skin may become wrinkled. There may be horizontal ridges on the neck all the way down to
the thyroid cartilage. The skin may also become finely wrinkled. These are all skin textural changes
that can be improved with cosmetic procedures. Laser therapy will smooth the skin, make it tighter,
and there will be an element of a neck lift and facial rejuvenation.
The second change that one sees in the neck is the skin itself starts to sag. There is also a loss of the acute sharp angle between the jaw line, which represents the face and the neck. There are two components that one sees with this type of aging of the neck. The first is that some patients develop excessive fat; this is referred to as “the turkey neck”. It may be present in only the centre of the neck, but it could also extend out to the sides. The extra fat has excessive weight, subsequently causing the neck skin to droop.
Some patients do not have a lot of fat but rather loose skin. The skin itself sags down. Sometimes in conjunction with the loose skin there are prominent neck muscle fibres. There are muscles such as
the platysma muscle, which fans across the neck. Muscle fibres can become prominent in this area,
particularly if there is thinning of the skin and loss of neck fat.
What to expect from a neck lift surgery?
Before the procedure
Before a neck lift procedure, it is important to determine whether you are a good candidate. A neck lift is ideal if a person has a double chin and notices that the sharp angle of the neckline has been lost. In many cases, the neck lift can be performed with a special liposuction method without any cutting away of the skin or with a neck surgical lift where the skin is also removed behind the ear with tightening of the muscles below.
During the procedure
During a neck lift procedure, the anaesthetist can use either local or general anaesthesia. The neck can be lifted in many ways and can produce an extremely dramatic effect as far as the aging appearance of the face and neck. Sometimes, a neck lift can be accomplished with a form of liposculpture alone; this is where all the fat is removed from the neck, particularly treating the underlying dermal surface of the neck. The lift causes a dermal and collagen contraction, which leads to the neck tightening and lifting effect.
After the procedure (recovery time)
Most patients require some downtime from their normal activities. A small neck sling is worn for the first week and icing may also be helpful to enhance the healing process. The normal risks involved with the procedure include bruising, swelling, and infection. Scarring does vary, but generally, it is quite minimal around the edges of the ears. Very occasionally, there can be some wrinkling behind the ears. The surgeons will always be careful about the position of the nerves on the face and neck. Therefore, the position of the nerves could have an influence on how the procedure is executed.
Discover Neck Lift Advantages!
An increasingly large number of patients now opt for a neck lift. If you’re looking to lose isolated areas of fat around the neck to achieve a youthful appearance, get a free no-obligation consultation with Dr Lanzer.
Request consultationWhat Else Do I Need to Know About the Neck Lift Procedure?
How Far Does the Scar of the Neck Lift Progress?
We can keep the scar of the neck lift principally around the ears. However, there might be a small extension behind the ear towards the hair. Some deep plain forms of neck lift require a full elevation of the neck with extension of the scars right into the hair of the scalp; this is not a method that is performed in Dr Lanzer’s surgery. Most patients we see prefer to keep the scars smaller and go more for a natural face and neck lift rather than a dramatic one.
Are Other Surgery Procedures Combined with a Neck Lift?
Yes, neck lifting will lift the loose skin and give it a very sharp definition on the neck. However, it may not necessarily improve the skin texture. Some patients have skin textural treatments such as Aura laser, YAG laser or Dermapen to try and improve the skin texture at the same time or later.
How Long Does a Neck Lift Last?
There really is no promise as to how long a surgical neck lifting lasts. Avoiding strenuous excessive movements will be helpful. However, a lot comes down to genetics and the natural aging process.
However, neck lift results are predictable. Dr Lanzer and his staff will be able to show some results you could expect; this is done when you come in for your free no-obligation consultation. Dr Lanzer also shows photographs of patients who have had the procedure and allows patients to speak to other patients if that is requested. Naturally, these conversations are all done in a confidential manner.
How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?
The exact cost of a neck lift can only be determined by booking a consultation at your cosmetic surgery clinic. Even though you can find estimates online, the cost of a neck lift is subject to variables; this includes the amount of fat to be removed, the experience of the surgeon, and more. Therefore, to get the most accurate quote for a neck lift, it is always best to consult the clinic you intend to have your liposuction at.
Neck Liposuction Before & After Photos
Click on the picture above to see a range of ‘before & after’ pictures of Dr. Lanzer’s amazing neck liposuction results.
Dr Lanzer on Neck Liposuction
View a recent Channel 7 ‘Today Tonight’ episode where Dr. Lanzer’s neck and chin liposuction procedure are discussed.
