Why a Neck Lift Is Totally Worth the Investment

The neck is often one of the first areas to show signs of aging, yet few people do anything to protect it or treat those changes. If you’ve been looking in the mirror and can’t tell what is making you look older, it could be your neck, and a neck lift could be just what you need.

If you’re hesitant to have surgery or concerned about the time and cost involved, there are a few reasons why a neck lift is well worth the investment.

You Delay the Aging Process

While procedures such as a facelift are often performed on older patients, a neck lift tends to be performed on younger people. In some cases, patients seeking neck surgery, whether it’s liposuction or a neck lift on its own, are in their early 30’s.

Having surgery on your neck earlier rather than waiting until you have sufficient signs of aging to need a neck and facelift together helps pull back the hands of time. You’ll look years younger after the surgery, and will continue to look years younger even as you get older. Results from a neck lift are long-lasting, but you will continue to age. You’ll still look more youthful than you would have without surgery.

Results Can Be Dramatic

Neck surgery is often marketed as being quick and as providing natural-looking results. While few people will be able to tell that you’ve had surgery, unless you tell them, that’s not to say that your results won’t be dramatic.

If you currently have a double chin, a turkey neck or bands up and down or across your neck, surgery can correct or remove them. Dr. Naderi rarely removes the fat just under the skin, which helps keep the neck smooth. Instead, he works beneath the neck muscle to reduce the deeper structures that cause fullness under the chin, so you look slimmer and younger.

The neck muscle (the platysma) is then tightened and, when needed, loose skin is removed, which tones the area and gets rid of the pocket of skin responsible for the “turkey’s wattle” look. In all, it’s possible for a neck lift to take anywhere from five to 10 years off of your appearance.

You’ll Need Less Surgery Later On

When you have neck surgery as a younger person, you’re saving yourself the cost and time required by more invasive procedures later on in life. For example, if you have surgery to tighten up the neck skin and get rid of excess fat in your 30’s, you might be much less likely to need a full facelift in your 50’s. If other signs of aging show up later, a deep plane facelift or mid facelift can address them at that point. You might even be able to get away with non-surgical options, such as injectable fillers, decades after you’ve had a neck lift.

Scars Aren’t Noticeable

The location and appearance of scars is a common concern among patients considering plastic surgery. The good news is that you don’t usually have to worry about having visible scars after a neck lift. For a neck lift, the deep neck work is done through an incision on the underside of the chin, and the neck is then lifted through incisions around the ears that extend into the hairline. Neck liposuction or a submentoplasty, a procedure that tightens the skin on your neck, needs only the incision under the chin. These incisions are placed where they are hard to see and usually heal with minimal scarring.

Recovery Time Is Short

Neck surgery is an invasive procedure and does require some downtime for recovery, but the good news for active, busy people is that the recovery is usually pretty short. You’ll most likely be able to go back to work after five to seven days, for example. Many people resume their exercise and other physical activities within three weeks of having surgery.

You Can Combine a Neck Lift With Other Surgeries

It’s also possible to combine a neck lift with other facial rejuvenation procedures. Doing so can help you achieve your goals or create a more balanced, youthful look. For example, if you have a fair amount of sagging skin in the lower part of your face and in the neck area, it can make sense to have a neck and facelift performed together. If you’ve begun to notice droopy eyelids or other signs of aging in the eye area, as well as double chin or droopy neck, combining blepharoplasty with a neck lift can make the most sense.

Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, sees patients at The Naderi Center’s offices in Reston, Virginia, and Chevy Chase, Maryland. If you’d like to know whether a neck lift is right for you, or want to hear about your other facial rejuvenation options, he is happy to talk them through with you. To schedule a consultation in Reston, call 703-481-0002. For a consultation in Chevy Chase, call 301-222-2020 today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a neck lift correct?

A neck lift can correct a double chin, loose “turkey neck” skin and visible bands in the neck. Dr. Naderi tightens the neck muscle and reduces the deeper structures beneath it that cause fullness under the chin.

How long does neck lift surgery take?

A neck lift takes about 3 to 4 hours. Dr. Naderi performs it in the operating room under general anesthesia.

Where are the incisions for a neck lift?

The deep neck work is done through an incision under the chin. The neck is then lifted through incisions around the ears, the same ones used for a facelift, which are placed so they are hard to see once healed.

Can a neck lift be combined with a facelift?

Yes. A neck lift is often done together with a deep plane facelift, especially when there is loose skin along the jawline as well as in the neck. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as eyelid surgery.

How long do neck lift results last?

A neck lift gives long-lasting results, but your face and neck keep aging. How well the result holds up depends partly on you: avoiding the sun, not smoking, using good medical-grade skincare and keeping up with non-invasive follow-up treatments all help.