Neck Lift

A Neck lift is a surgical contouring procedure designed to remove a surplus of loose neck skin and eliminate fat deposits in the neck region, and restore a more youthful, defined neck and jawline.

The choice of procedure depends on the exact condition (excess loose skin or excess skin and excess fat deposits) but will involve skin excision, or a combination of skin excision and liposuction.

The procedure is carried out as a day case procedure under General Anaesthesia and takes 2 hours.

There is typically bruising for a few weeks with end results at about 3 months. Scars are insignificant and managed by our Scar Management programme.

A mini neck lift is a less invasive variation of a regular neck lift. to tighten the skin and muscles in the lower face and neck, creating a younger and more defined jawline and neck area.  Similar to a regular neck lift, the operation is typically carried out under local anaesthetic, but it requires fewer incisions and it is a less intensive surgery.

The recovery time for a mini neck lift is often shorter than that of a traditional neck lift, and patients should anticipate returning to work and normal activities within 2-3 weeks.

A neck lift can result in a more defined, slender neck and jawline, but the procedure may not be for everyone. It's important when undergoing any type of surgical procedure that you're in good health.

If you're age 40 and above, then you may want to consider a neck lift if you're unhappy with any of the following conditions;

• Loose or drooping skin - When the skin becomes more lax as we age, it can lead to an unflattering ‘turkey neck’.
• Excess skin - Another side effect of the aging process, but also caused by weight loss.
• Skin damaged by sun and the elements - This can cause wrinkles and skin damage such as actinic keratosis.
• Excess fat on the neck obscuring the usual sharp angle between the chin and the neck
• Double chin - Caused by aging, genetics or weight gain.
• Jowls or hanging skin at the neckline and jawline - A common side-effect of aging.

A neck lift can also solve the problem of neck banding. This occurs when the two ridges of muscle which run vertically down the neck (known as the platysmal band) become more pronounced as we grow older. Neck banding is a common reason for undergoing a neck lift.

If you are under 40 years of age, it might be better to consider a non surgical alternative such as botox, fillers or Ultherapy.

You would also be a good candidate for a neck lift if you have recently lost a significant amount of weight. When you lose large amounts of weight, large amounts of saggy, excess skin are left behind. A neck lift will see this excess skin removed and the remaining skin pulled back to restore a defined and contoured neck profile.

The best candidates for a neck lift will have:

• Good skin elasticity. This is important as ideally we would like the stretched skin to have enough elasticity to conform to its new position.
• Good physical health. Generally speaking, being healthy is important before any surgery. Serious medical conditions, a high BMI and smoking can all increase the risk of complications. You should have stopped smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery.

Your results will be long lasting and you should see the difference for between 10 – 15 years.

That said, the aging process will continue from your new post-procedure point, and skin laxity will gradually increase over time. The aging process will start from a far better point however, so it should be many years before this becomes noticeable again.

You can protect encroachment on your results by avoiding excessive amounts of sun exposure and maintaining a stable weight.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause huge damage to the skin. Too much exposure to the sun can accelerate the aging process, meaning more wrinkles and sagging skin. To maintain the results of your neck lift for longer, we strongly recommend you protect your neck area from the sun. 

Dramatic weight fluctuations should also be avoided as substantial weight loss will leave excess neck skin behind. You should maintain a stable, healthy, weight as much as possible.

A non-surgical treatment such as Ultherapy will help to maintain the results. Your surgeon will advise whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure.

You will not feel any pain during the procedure as you will be under the influence of anaesthetic.

Immediately following surgery, you may experience discomfort but any pain should be tolerable. Your surgeon can provide painkillers for this and the majority of patients no longer need them a few days after neck lift surgery.

Pain after a neck lift varies from person to person, but most patients will experience some soreness and swelling for a few days to a week following the procedure. Your surgeon will also be able to give you specific advice and instructions to help you deal with pain and discomfort, and speed up your recovery.

All surgeries do carry some risks, which may include bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, nerve injury, and allergic reactions to anaesthesia. Neck lift surgery is a straightforward, safe surgery although you should be aware of all the risks and complications before going ahead with surgery. Your surgeon will go through these at length and in full at your consultation.

A skilled surgeon can minimise neck lift surgery scars and place them expertly in locations where they are not visible to the eye. Neck lift surgery scars take some months to settle in, but your surgeon will try and confine the scarring to the neck folds.

Neck lift surgery scar visibility can also be impacted by the level of scar aftercare you receive. By way of example, neck lift surgery scars can be reduced by regular moisturisation and massage techniques, all of which our dedicated team will advise our patients in the days following your procedure.

Recovery time for this procedure will depend on the individual patient.

We usually advise that you take around two weeks off work following surgery as there will be bruising and swelling which may take around 10 days to subside. We also recommend you do not resume exercise for 4 – 6 weeks.

In the following few weeks, as you heal, smoother skin will appear on the neck and your scars will start to heal.

Our expertise in scarring techniques along with our highly-experienced surgeons ensure a great result, especially as these are usually not visible and hidden behind the ears.

You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal. Severe pain, bleeding or swelling should be reported to your surgeon.

You will receive more detailed advice from your surgeon ahead of surgery.

You will need to wear a tight fitting compression head bandage for a few nights, but this can be taken off soon after. If there has been liposuction under the chin to create a sharper jawline definition, a chin strap is recommended by some surgeons at night only for a further week.

Swelling and bruising is minor in most cases and can be easily covered. It is also temporary and should last just a matter of days.

That said, your lower face and ears may appear swollen in the first few days following surgery and during this period recovering patients will typically avoid going out in public.

We also recommend scarves and high sweaters to conceal swelling, as well as styling long hair to cover up stitches.

This really is only necessary for a few days following procedure and within a week or ten days you should be back to your daily routine.

A Neck lift isn't for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a Neck lift if you:

• Have a severe chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes
• Plan to lose a significant amount of weight
• Have a body mass index that's greater than 32
• Are a smoker
• Have an unstable mental health condition

For the first four weeks after your surgery, you will need to avoid all sport and strenuous exercise. During this time, we recommend going on gentle walks to keep active, which in turn will help with your recovery.

After week four, you will be able to start doing some exercise again. However, you should still avoid strenuous activity and contact sports. After six to eight weeks you should be able to resume all sports and exercise. This includes contact sports and weightlifting.

You should ask your surgeon for specific timeframes of when you will be able to return to sport and exercise.

You should be able to take a shower 48 hours after your neck lift operation.

You will need to wash the wound carefully and ensure it heals well. This may involve application of an antibiotic ointment after your shower.

It is also important that you dry your incisions having washed and bathed them. If you need to use a hairdryer to dry your hair, it must be kept on a cool setting.

You should also take care when brushing your hair around your ears and suture sites.

There are many alternative non surgical solutions for neck lift surgery, ranging from fillers and Botox to simple laser surgery under local anaesthesia and Ultherapy.

These are typically not as effective as surgical solutions, and have results that are not as long lasting.

For a full discussion on the various pros and cons, you should speak to one of our specialist plastic surgeons.

A neck lift cannot change your fundamental anatomy (e.g. the position of the Adam's apple) and cannot stop the ageing process in its tracks.

A neck lift should therefore be considered an effective restorative surgical treatment for the neck area.

As a neck lift only adjusts the skin and muscles of the neck, it will also only address the excess or sagging skin around the neck. It will not resolve the visible signs of ageing that may appear in other areas of the face, such as sagging skin and wrinkles of the forehead or cheeks.

You may need to consider the following surgical procedures if you want to target these other areas of your face:

• Facelift– this will smooth and tighten the skin of the lower half of your face 
• Brow lift – this can reduce forehead wrinkles by lifting the brows 
• Blepharoplasty– this can correct sagging of the eyelids and eye bags 

It is possible to perform a neck lift under local anaesthesia.

That said, it requires large amounts of local anaesthetic to ensure you do not feel anything during the procedure, and you will be awake during the procedure. This means you will feel pulling and tagging, and this can be disconcerting for some patients. You will also need to stay completely still for anything up to 3 hours on the theatre table.

It is also possible to have the treatment under Sedation, whereby painkillers and sedatives are administered via an IV drip. Anaesthetic options will be discussed at your consultation.

Even though the visibility of bruising, stitches and dressings is carefully minimised, some people will be more sensitive about these side effects than others.

You may choose to take some extra downtime in order to heal and allow the swelling to reduce before returning to work or regular social activities if you don't want other people to see the stiches and bruises. The main bandage is removed within 48 hours. Bandages are reasonably well hidden around the ears or under the chin. You can leave them open or cover with tape.

Bruising from liposuction is surprisingly slight in this area, and normal activities can be resumed within a day or two. Men do occasionally have a little more, bruising because of the increased blood supply to the beard. Following your surgeon's instructions on how to care for the bruising and swelling will be the best way to ensure a speedy recovery with less downtime.

If you have had a general anaesthetic, then you will need to have a sensible person with you overnight to help take care of you, as you may continue to feel groggy and sleepy, or disoriented.

A little help with some physical activities around the home would be useful for a few days in order for you to rest, relax and recover. Try not to have your head down and maybe sleep with an extra pillow.

Any liposuction incisions may or may not be sutured, but other stitches are generally removed a week or so after surgery.

Ultherapy rejuvenates sun damaged skin and tightens it. It can, therefore, be very useful for the early treatment of these problems, when they first arise, pushing back the time that a proper surgery will be needed. With luck, you may avoid surgery altogether.

Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to lift up and tighten loose skin over a period of several sessions, with minimal downtime for yourself. This non-invasive procedure uses ultrasound to stimulate the growth and formation of new collagen deep inside the skins layers. New collagen takes time to produce, so the results are not seen immediately, but will become more apparent over 2-3 months' time. The procedure itself is short, taking between 30-90 minutes per session depending on which area you're having treated.

Another use for Ultherapy is as a secondary treatment after a face or neck lift to improve the skin quality of the final lift. If you are considering Ultherapy, consider whether a face or neck lift is more appropriate and vice versa.

We favour treatments that cause minimal disturbance to the patient, and consequently recommend Ultherapy as a viable alternative in cases where we think it can have a comparable impact to surgery.

If you are interested in hearing more about your options, speak to one of our plastic surgeons who can help talk you through the various pros and cons of each treatment.

Each patient's recovery time for a neck lift is different, but normally patients can anticipate returning to work and normal activities in two to three weeks. However, complete recovery can take several months.

Swelling and bruising are common during the healing process and can last for several weeks. For a few weeks after the procedure, refrain from engaging in any vigorous activities to give the incision site time to heal completely.

It's essential to carefully follow your surgeon's post-operative advice if you want to speed up your recovery. To speed up the process, you can use cold compresses to reduce swelling and elevate your head and shoulders when lying down. Smoking should also be avoided because it can hinder the healing process. We suggest you eat a nutritious diet and drink plenty of water because doing so can aid in promoting healing and reducing swelling.

A neck lift operation may not address extra skin or fat that contributes to a double chin, but it is intended to address sagging skin and muscle in the lower face and neck. This is because a neck lift addresses the underlying muscle and skin, whereas excess fat may need to be removed by a different operation like liposuction. Your surgeon will be able to give you advice on how to proceed in order to get the results you desire.

By removing extra skin and tightening the underlying muscles, a neck lift can help make the jawline look a lot better. This can result in a more defined and youthful-looking jawline. However, further procedures, such as liposuction or face fillers, may be required to get the desired results if the problem is predominantly brought on by too much fat or a lack of definition in the jawline.

Following a thorough examination and assessment, your surgeon will be able to provide you with advice on the best course of action to accomplish your desired outcome. It's important to have reasonable and realistic expectations and recognise that different procedures might be required to produce the desired results. A neck lift is not a one-size-fits-all surgery.