If you are looking to tighten the skin around your neck, but do not want to undergo a full facelift, a neck lift may be for you! This surgical procedure smooths and tightens the neck’s skin, which can sag from aging or weight loss. A neck lift is usually done in two parts: removing excess skin and tightening muscles in the neck.
Am I a Candidate for a Neck Lift?
If you are interested in a neck lift, you must be in good physical and emotional health. It is important to have realistic expectations. Dr. D’Amico will discuss this with you during your consultation in our office.
Why Choose Us
- Best of both worlds
- Collaborative Effort
- Young Perspective
- Male & Female perspective
- Getting 2 complimentary points of view
- Work together on consult and surgery
Is there an age limit for a neck lift?
There isn’t a right or wrong age for a neck lift with Dr. D’Amico and Dr. Ferrauiola. Younger patients may seek to have this surgery to improve aspects of their chin and neck they don’t like, such as overly full cheeks, a lack of definition along the jawline, or even a short chin. Older patients usually seek to remove or tighten loose, sagging skin, and to address noticeable neck banding. Unlike neck liposuction, where the patient needs to have good elasticity in his or her skin, a neck lift doesn’t necessarily require that. Sure, it’s beneficial to have good elasticity for the skin to tighten down, but when an older person has extensive sagging skin, simply removing much of this excess is helpful.
What are the benefits of a neck lift?
It’s interesting, but many patients focus on facial aging, but they don’t think much about what’s happening below their jaw. Then one summer day, they put on that swimsuit or blouse and realize their neck is really a problem.
Unlike the rest of the body, the skin on the neck is truly hanging without bone and muscle to provide support. Due to the function of the throat, the skin can’t be overly taut and constricting. If you pinch the skin on your neck you can pinch much easier than everywhere else on your body. Gravity loves this inherent looseness. That’s why sometimes a person’s face doesn’t show much aging, but his or her neck does. Wrinkling on the neck skin, neckbands, a “turkey wattle,” jowls — all of these issues point to a neck lift.
Here are aging issues that can be improved with a neck lift:
- Loose neck skin
- Muscle banding
- Double chin
- Fat pockets and relaxed skin at the bottom of the face
- Fat pockets under the chin
- Jowls
How are Neck Lifts Performed?
A neck lift begins with a small incision directly below the chin or in front of the earlobes, looping behind the ears and ending in the scalp near the back of the neck. Sagging skin is trimmed away and lifted to provide a more youthful appearance. Then, loose muscles that cause the “bands” around the neck to be prominent are tightened.
In some cases, it is necessary to perform only one of the two procedures. If there is excess fat in the area, Liposuction may be necessary. If so, it is performed before the neck lift. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola will glue or suture the incisions closed.
The neck lift procedure usually takes 2 to 4 hours, and the patient is given either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Most neck lifts are performed on an outpatient basis. Your bandages may be removed after a few days and sutures are typically removed between 7 and 10 days.
What’s the difference between a neck lift and a facelift?
Full facelifts and lower facelifts usually involve some degree of a neck lift with the procedure. But these usually do not address the entire neck, instead usually focusing on the jowls and upper neck. A true neck lift is focused solely on neck aging.
Before and After Neck Lift Photos
Can a Neck Lift be Combined with Other Procedures?
A neck lift can be performed alone or as part of a facelift. This can also be combined with other non-surgical treatments to enhance other facial features.
What is the Recovery from Neck Lift Surgery?
You may notice some swelling and bruises for up to 10 days after surgery. To minimize the swelling, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola will ask you to apply a cold compress to the area and keep your head elevated. It is best to keep your head still for the first few days to minimize any complications from twisting or turning the neck. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola will prescribe medication to help alleviate discomfort.
Typically, people return to work and daily activities within 2 weeks after surgery. This is usually a sufficient amount of time to allow bruising and swelling to subside. Avoid strenuous activities and exercise for about 4 to 6 weeks.
The results of a neck lift can last up to 10 years.
How long will it take for me to see my results after a neck lift?
Neck lifts take some time to reveal their changes, especially when compared with some other facial procedures such as eyelid surgery. You’ll notice a difference immediately, but you’ll have swelling that can linger for several weeks, even a few months. Your results will be fully visible when your swelling has fully resolved, but don’t expect immediate gratification.
What is the scarring like after a neck lift?
In most neck lifts, Dr. D’Amico and Dr. Ferrauiola will make incisions in three different locations: a small incision under the chin combined with incisions that wrap around each earlobe and terminate in the hairline. We work very hard to make these incisions very discreet. Plus, healing is such that the incisions in these areas become virtually invisible in a few months to a year.
Are There Risks to a Neck Lift Procedure?
Like any surgical procedure, there are possible, yet rare, complications that could arise after surgery. These include:
- Scarring
- Excessive bleeding
- Hematoma
- Tissue death
- Blood clots
- Numbness
- Intense itching
- Skin discoloration
- Persistent swelling
Neck Lift Reviews
“I had a neck as well as eye surgery with amazing results. People tell me I look 10 years younger. Dr. D’Amico is truly a perfectionist and his work shows this. He is attentive to what you are looking to achieve with his expert opinion to help get there. I could not be happier!!” – RealSelf Patient
What should I expect during my consultation for a neck lift?
During your consultation, you’ll have the dual expertise of Dr. D’Amico and Dr. Ferrauiola at your disposal. The goal here is a complete give-and-take exchange of information between you and them. First, it’s your turn. You’ll discuss what you like and what you dislike about your neck. You’ll discuss why you think this would be a good surgery for your situation. You’ll tell us your expectations for the procedure.
Then it’s our turn. We’ll discuss changes we can make on your neck. We’ll explain how the surgery will progress. We’ll review previous patient photos with you. We’ll talk you through the risks involved, along with any possible complications.
There won’t be any pressure to move forward. We want you to be completely comfortable with us and with this surgery. When your consultation is finished, you should be well-versed in this procedure and your questions or concerns should have been addressed. The next step is completely up to you.
Schedule a Consultation
The first step in achieving your desired appearance is to request a consultation with Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola. You will never feel pressured to choose surgery and you will even have a second consultation visit (included with your fee) to bring along family or loved ones and ask follow-up questions. The consultation fee is applied to any surgical procedure you choose. We are also happy to schedule appointments by phone at (201) 567-9595.
