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When people talk about plastic surgery, they might think of liposuction, a San Antonio facelift, or a San Antonio tummy tuck. But not as many of us consider a neck lift as a way to look younger as we age. It might be because many underestimate the appearance of the neck and how it changes in appearance over many years.
In reality, having a neck lift can have a subtle but dramatic effect on how you look. And when your neck looks many years younger than it did, it can boost your self-confidence. Below is more information about this plastic surgery procedure.
Neck Lift Overview
A neck lift aims to tighten and enhance the neck skin, tissue, and underlying muscles. As you age, your neck skin may become flabbier and looser, leading to the dreaded turkey neck or double chin that can make you look years older.
A neck lift improves the appearance of the neck and chin so that you look younger and thinner than you have in years. This surgery can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your neck and jawline. The neck lift procedure can smooth and balance the chin and neck areas, and the effect when this surgery is done surprises many patients.
Some of the most common issues that people have that make them have a neck lift are:
- Extra skin and fat in the lower face and neck gives you jowls, which can make it hard for men to button the top button of a dress shirt
- Extra fat under the chin
- Loose and floppy neck skin
- Muscle banding in your neck can create odd contours that others notice
Benefits From A Neck Lift
The goal of your neck lift depends on the nature of the issues you have in that area and what your plastic surgeon thinks is best for your circumstances. Your surgery may intend to remove the extra skin under the chin to tighten the neck muscles as well. Sometimes, the surgeon may address both issues in the procedure.
If you want to eliminate a double chin, take out extra skin and fat from the neck, or smooth out creases and wrinkles, you will probably like the results from a neck lift.
Neck Lift Procedure
A neck lift is usually done under general anesthesia, and your surgeon will probably make an incision at your hairline near the sideburns, go around the ears, and end at the back of your hairline.
Your surgeon may remove or redistribute neck fat to give the neck a smoother and younger appearance. Next, your plastic surgeon will probably tighten the platysma muscle in the neck, and skin is re-draped over the tighter contours, and the extra tissue is cut away.
The procedure also may involve an incision under the chin to liposuction this area and to repair the muscles. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures.
The swelling and bruising can take two or three weeks to subside after a neck lift. But once your recovery is complete, you will have a younger and more rested appearance in the neck area that will make you feel better about yourself.
Ideal Candidates For A Neck Lift
The ideal candidate for a neck lift is someone who is in good overall health, near their ideal body weight, but bothered by how their neck makes them look older than they are. Plastic surgeons also highly recommend that patients are nonsmokers and don’t have allergies to anesthesia.
Also, it’s important to not be on certain prescription drugs that can affect your healing or the likelihood of bleeding during and after surgery. Your plastic surgeon will review all of the medications you take before giving approval to have this procedure.
You may not be a good candidate for a neck if you have severe jowls or cheek sagging that could make you a better fit for a facelift or other type of cosmetic procedure.
A neck lift also is not ideal for a patient with thin skin that will not stretch properly after some tissue is removed. Further, if your skin lacks a certain amount of laxity, this procedure will not work well for you.
Request A Neck Lift Consultation
Interested in a San Antonio neck lift? Dr. Scott J Farber or Dr. Amita Shah of Hill Country Plastic Surgery can help. They will consult with you for your San Antonio cosmetic procedure today. They’ll go over the options, goals, and more to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for a neck lift.
References
Neck Lift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty-areas/facial-plastic-reconstructive/cosmetic-surgery/neck-lift
Neck Lift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.theaestheticsociety.org/procedures/head-face/neck-lift
About A Neck Lift. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift
