Neck Lift San Diego, CA
- What is a neck lift
- Am I a Candidate?
- Benefits
- Types
- Procedure
- Risks
- Recovery
- Results
- Cost
- Non-surgical Alternatives
- FAQ’s
The neck and chin are often the first areas to show aging. Unfortunately, they are also among the hardest areas to sculpt and rejuvenate without surgical intervention. If noticeable neck bands, fat underneath the chin or loose skin are making you self-conscious, neck lift can help. The facial rejuvenation procedure minimizes signs of aging and restores a more attractive and elegant neck contour and jawline.
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See What Our Patients Have to Say!
“I had a fantastic experience at the True Beauty clinic. Ever since I step foot into the clinic, I was greeted by such a friendly staff that made me feel safe and at home. My procedure went more than perfect thanks to Dr. Reagan, I wasn’t in ANY pain and was extremely comfortable throughout my surgery. My healing process went perfect as well. No pain whatsoever and was able to do pretty much everything! Everything ended up stunningly! I would one hundred percent recommend their services.”
The key to a successful neck lift procedure is to work with a facial rejuvenation surgeon that possesses experience, skill and an artistic eye for natural-looking results. At True Beauty San Diego Aesthetic Surgery & Medicine, our plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Reagan is renowned for his true expertise in facial rejuvenation. In addition to neck lifts, he performs brow lifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty surgery and facelifts. With your unique aesthetic needs and goals in mind, Dr. Reagan and the entire team at True Beauty can make you feel confident about your jaw, neckline and overall facial appearance again.
What is a Neck Lift?
Lower rhytidectomy, or neck lift, surgically removes excess neck skin and addresses signs of aging along the jawline and neck. As you get older, the fat deposits in your face shrink and descend lower in the tissues and the skin thins, causing jowling. Neck lift removes loose neck skin and fatty tissue from the jaw and the submental area under the chin. Variations of lower rhytidectomy can treat visible neck bands caused by the vertical neck muscles (platysma muscles). Patients interested in neck lifts typically have several concerns with their chin and neck but are not ready for a complete facelift procedure.
Neck lift treats the “turkey wattle” that sometimes appears with age and smoothens skin, so the neck region matches the younger complexion of the face. This procedure may be combined with a brow lift, eyelid surgery or non-surgical treatments for further tissue rejuvenation.
Am I a Candidate for Neck Lift?
Neck lift may be right for you if you are bothered by any of the following:
- Loose, excess skin on the chin and along the jawline (often called a “turkey waddle”)
- Submental fat (also known as “double chin”)
- Horizontal neck bands or lines
Neck lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift. Many patients choose to combine neck lift with facelift in order to achieve the most comprehensive results, including a proportional and harmonious facial appearance. Your neck lift will be tailored to meet your specific needs.
Benefits of Neck Lift
The neck often shows signs of aging before the face, and this delicate skin is typically forgotten during skin care regimens, making it prone to visible wrinkling and loose skin before other areas. Neck lift benefits include a younger appearance with smoother neck skin and significantly reduced neck wrinkles. Loose skin is eliminated, and incision lines are concealed for minimal scarring. Neck lift patients enjoy enhanced self-confidence and a smooth, taut neck for up to 15 years with good skincare and sun protection.
Types of Neck Lifts
Liposuction, cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty are the various techniques that may be used in neck lift surgery.
Liposuction is a proven way to remove pockets of fat anywhere on the body, including the neck. In this case, a slender liposuction device known as a cannula is inserted through a small incision just below the chin.
Cervicoplasty involves the lifting of skin and removal of excess amounts that may be hanging loosely on the neck. In addition to an under-chin incision, incisions are also made behind the ears.
Platysmaplasty tightens and occasionally trims neck muscles that may be creating a banded appearance on the surface. Its incisions are similar to those used with cervicoplasty.
The results of both cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty are held in place by permanent sutures, preserving your new look by keeping neck skin taut and smooth.
Neck Lift Procedure
Neck lift surgery with True Beauty is performed as an outpatient procedure, typically under general anesthesia. To begin, incisions will be made in the neck region and under the chin. The exact length, position and pattern of the incision will depend on your anatomy and cosmetic concerns. After making the incisions, we will remove excess skin and alter the neck muscles and underlying tissues as necessary. Unwanted fat will be removed with liposuction techniques, creating a more slender-looking neck area. Once the modifications are completed, the incisions will be closed and the treatment area will be dressed with bandages.
Neck Lift Risks
Minor and temporary side effects from neck lift include bruising, swelling and soreness in the treatment area. Any post-operative discomfort can be managed with prescription oral pain medication.
All surgical procedures involve some degree of risk. Potential risks and complications with neck lift surgery include infection, poor wound healing, blood clotting and excessive scarring. Before your procedure, Dr. Reagan will review with you all potential risks and complications. He will also explain the preventative measures he takes to avoid these risks, as well as how he handles complications, in the rare case that one occurs.
Neck Lift Recovery
The initial recovery time for neck lift can take one to two weeks, during which you will need to take time off from work and other normal activities. Our trusted team will provide you with a detailed list of instructions for you to follow and will also meet with you regularly to ensure you are healing properly.
After you have fully recovered from your procedure, you will notice that the jawline has more definition, and your double chin, jowls and fatty bulges are gone. The skin on the neck and along the jawline will look firmer and smoother. If your neck lift has been combined with another facial procedure, the results will be more transformative.
Brian Reagan, MD, FACS
Dr. Brian Reagan is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of True Beauty San Diego Aesthetic Surgery & Medicine. Dr. Reagan is renowned for his surgical skills and commitment to patient satisfaction. Dr. Reagan has been featured on local media outlets, including ABC 10, and recognized as one of the “Best Plastic Surgeons in San Diego” by San Diego Magazine, and “Best Plastic Surgeons in La Jolla” by La Jolla Light Newspaper.
Neck Lift Results
While the initial results of neck lift will be visible immediately after surgery, the final results may take several months or up to a year to become apparent. This is how long it takes for residual swelling to disappear.
While neck lift can produce remarkable, long-lasting results, it cannot stop the aging process. Factors such as gravity, genetics, weight gain and the loss of collagen and elastin over time can lead to muscle tone loss and cause the skin to sag after neck lift. The best way to prolong your results is to maintain a healthy and stable weight, eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly and practice proper sun protection. Dr. Reagan can provide you with more tips on how to maintain your neck lift results.
Cost of a Neck Lift
Many factors go into the cost of a neck lift. Lower rhytidectomy is an invasive surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia and a skilled team of medical professionals, including our board-certified plastic surgeon, nurses and other providers, to ensure your safety and satisfactory results. Neck lift expenses include anesthesia fees, surgical facility or hospital costs, pre-operative medical testing, post-operative recovery garments, medications and the surgeon’s fee.
Dr. Brian Reagan specializes in facial plastic surgeries and has the experience and talent necessary to deliver excellent outcomes. Don’t let a low-cost procedure fool you. The most expensive plastic surgeries are those that require a secondary procedure to correct complications from the first one. The most critical decision you make is choosing your plastic surgeon.
Dr. Reagan and our team at La Jolla will provide a cost estimate at your consultation and explain your financing options.
Non-Surgical Alternatives
Neck lift provides a younger jawline and neck appearance with dramatic anti-aging results. However, non-surgical methods offer subtle or gradual results to diminish neck bands, loose skin and excess fat around the jawline and under the chin with minimal downtime.
Injectable Fillers
Botox can be used to treat vertical neck bands. The neurotoxin relaxes the platysma muscle that runs from the jaw to the collarbone to make banding less visible and reduce wrinkles. Dermal fillers can restore volume to the neck and jawline for more supple skin and a defined facial profile.
Laser Treatments
Fractionated laser treatments and other technologies can improve loose neck skin, neck bands and other concerns. These treatments heat the tissues to promote skin remodeling and contraction for long-lasting improvements that strengthen the skin’s structure with new collagen and elastin.
FaceTite
The FaceTite device offers skin tightening and fat reduction benefits in the neck and jawline. Using an advanced contouring system, FaceTite directs radiofrequency energy into the treated tissues to melt fat and tighten lax skin. Sagging tissues, a double chin and crepe-like neck skin can be improved with FaceTite.
Neck Lift FAQs
Should I combine neck lift with facelift?
Combining neck lift with facelift is a good option if you are bothered by aging signs on the middle and lower regions of the face, in addition to those on the neck and along the jaw line. Facelift addresses sunken or hollow facial areas in the middle region, as well as jowls, deep creases along the base of the nose and mouth, and loss of elasticity and muscle tone on the middle and lower facial areas.
Can a neck lift treat fat?
Neck lift focuses on removing loose skin and tightening the underlying tissues for a firmer and smoother appearance. The procedure does not treat fat. However, Dr. Reagan can incorporate liposuction into your neck to remove unwanted fatty deposits and create a more attractive neck and jawline.
What is the ideal age for neck lift?
The majority of neck lift patients are aged 40 and older. However, every patient ages at a different pace. Due to genetic factors, lifestyle habits and environmental factors, some individuals may benefit from having the procedure done at an earlier age.
Can my insurance cover the cost of a neck lift?
Since neck lift is considered to be an elective cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by medical insurance.
Why do patients choose neck lift?
Neck lift is often chosen after a patient has achieved a rejuvenated facial appearance with facelift.
Suddenly, a dry, wrinkled, time-worn neck seems out of place. At that point, there are two options: a life of turtlenecks, or a neck lift procedure that will smooth skin, erase bands and fortify the integrity of sagging skin.
Sometimes neck lift is performed in conjunction with facelift.
One great motivating factor for many patients is the development of the dreaded “turkey wattle.”
That kind of loose skin and fat directly under the chin is a very noticeable sign of aging, and also extremely hard to eliminate with lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy range of foods, lowering overall calorie intake and exercising regularly. After all, there isn’t much you can do to exercise the neck or submental region of the face.
Does neck skin age at the same rate for everyone?
Skin flexibility is one of those things you can thank your parents for. Although it can be impacted by certain behaviors, such as smoking and excess sun exposure, the tone and suppleness of your skin is mostly coded in your DNA.
Persons with great skin flexibility tend to look younger than their age, and respond well to plastic surgery. Persons with the opposite inherited characteristic, skin laxity, encounter problems when the volume of fat and tissue below the surface shrinks.
Skin lacking flexibility will not conform to the smaller shape, but instead hang loosely, creating unattractive folds of skin and an overall look of droopiness.
This volume reduction can be caused by losing a significant amount of weight, or by a plastic surgery procedure that has eliminated pockets of fat below the surface.
The less resilience you have in your skin, the quicker signs of aging will appear on the surface, whether it is the neck or any other area of the body.
Schedule a Neck Lift Consultation
To learn more about neck lift or the other facial rejuvenation procedures we offer, please schedule a consultation with True Beauty. Contact us by calling (858) 454-SKIN (7546) or emailing our La Jolla practice today.
