Project Description
NECK LIFT
WHAT IS A NECK LIFT?
The loss of youthful contour in the face and neck can be due to a variety of factors, including heredity, gravity, environment, conditions, and stress. Some people feel they are not ready for a full facelift because the upper face is still pleasing. However, many patients will note excess wrinkling of the neck skin, a “turkey wattle” or double chin, and jowl lines. When the neck area doesn’t match the upper facial appearance, a neck lift may be a good solution.
A neck lift or lower rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the jawline and neck, such as:
- Excess fat and skin relaxation in the lower face that creates jowls
- Excess fatty deposits under the chin
- Loose neck skin
- Muscle banding in the neck, which created abnormal contours
In general, good candidates for a neck lift include:
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
Rejuvenation procedures that can be performed conjunction with a neck lift are: a brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, fat transfer; to add fullness to the lips and cheeks and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, or eyelid surgery, to rejuvenate aging eyes.
What it won’t do: As a restorative surgery, a neck lift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process. A neck lift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a neck lift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery.
CONSULTATION & PREPARING FOR SURGERY
During your consultation be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals
- Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
- Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
- Previous surgeries
Your surgeon will also:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Discuss your rejuvenation options
- Examine and measure your face
- Take photographs
- Recommend a course of treatment
- Discuss likely outcomes of a neck lift and any risks or potential complications
- Discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used
Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Special instructions you receive will cover:
- What to do on the night before and morning of surgery
- The use of anesthesia during your neck lift
- Post-operative care and follow-up
A neck lift may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital. Since your neck lift will be performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon questions. It’s very important to understand all aspects of your neck lift. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.
THE PROCEDURE
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia.Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your neck lift choices include a traditional neck lift incision or a limited incision neck lift. A traditional neck lift incision often begins in the hairline at the level of the sideburn, continues down and around the ear and ends in the posterior hair. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the jowls and neck.The tissue underlying the neck skin is repositioned, and commonly the platysma muscle is tightened. Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A separate incision under the chin is often necessary for liposuction of this area and for repair of the muscle. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.
A limited incision neck lift may involve incisions only around the ear. While the incisions are shorter, the results may be more limited
Once healed, the incision lines from a neck lift are usually well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the ear
The visible improvements of a neck lift appear as swelling and bruising subside.Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself,
QUESTIONS TO ASK MY PLASTIC SURGEON
Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
- Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
- Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
- What will be expected of me to get the best results?
- Where and how will you perform my procedure?
- What surgical technique is recommended for me?
- How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
- What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
- How are complications handled?
- How can I expect my neck lift to look over time?
- What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my neck lift?
- Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?
RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY
When your procedure is completed, a bandage could gently be placed around your face and neck to minimize swelling and bruising. A thin tube may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect under the skin.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon. It is important to keep your head elevated above your heart to minimize swelling and to keep your head straight (no excessive twisting or bending of the neck). DO NOT APPLY ICE to the neck as this can compromise blood flow and result in skin death.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.
- Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
- What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
- Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
- When will they be removed?
- Are stitches removed? When?
- When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
- When do I return for follow-up care?
RESULTS
It may take several weeks to months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to six months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.
As swelling and bruising subside, the visible improvements of a neck lift appear. Your final result should not only provide a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.
Following your physician’s instructions is essential to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Avoid wearing any cloths that must go over your head. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
hormonal factors and gravity. If. after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast lift or implant exchange to restore a more youthful contour
COST
Prices for a neck lift can vary. A surgeon’s cost may be based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, and the geographic location of the office. Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
Cost may include:
- Anesthesia fees
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Medical tests
- Post-surgery garments
- Breast implant fees
- Prescriptions for medication
- Surgeon’s fee
Most health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery or related complications. You must carefully review your health insurance policy.
Your satisfaction involves more than a fee: When choosing a plastic surgeon for a neck lift, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.
Plastic surgery involves many choices.The first and most important is selecting an American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) member you can trust.
ASPS member surgeons meet rigorous standards:
- Achieve board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® (ABPS) or in Canada by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®
- Complete at least six years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- Graduate from an accredited medical school
- Complete continuing medical education, including patient safety each year
- Perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities
Do not be confused by other official sounding boards and certifications.
The ABPS is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which has approved medical specialty boards since 1934. There is no ABMS recognized certifying board with “cosmetic surgery” in its name. By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can be assured that you are choosing a qualified, highly trained plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the ABPS orThe Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
This brochure is intended strictly for educational purposes. It is not intended to make any representations or warranties about the outcome of any procedure. It is not a substitute for a thorough, in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.