When you think about eliminating telltale signs of aging, the wrinkles and skin laxity around the eyes and mouth may be your first concern. However, those results of time passing are not restricted to the face; aging can affect the neck just as noticeably. An aging neck can make you self-conscious about your appearance just as much as the hollowing and wrinkles on the face. Fortunately, you can address the aging of the neck just as effectively with a surgical procedure known as a neck lift.
Time Takes Its Toll On The Neck
The delicate skin around the neck can suffer the effects of time, often more intensely than even the face. Horizontal bands can form as a result of thinning skin, collagen loss, and our tendency to look down at our devices much of the time. Known as “tech neck,” this aging symptom often appears much sooner today than it used to, thanks to our frequent use of technology.
Skin laxity is another issue that plagues the neck area. This problem is caused by collagen loss, which leaves the skin loose and hanging. As laxity becomes more severe, it can lead to the formation of a “turkey wattle” underneath the chin and loss of definition along the jawline.
What A Neck Lift Can Do
A neck lift can address all of these concerns in a single surgical procedure. Redundant skin is removed, and horizontal banding is smoothed away. The double chin is corrected as skin and tissue are removed from that area as well. Liposuction may be added to the neck lift to eliminate isolated pockets of fat and create a smoother neck contour. The jawline is also firmed up so that definition is restored to this area.
Combining The Neck Lift With Other Procedures
In some cases, a neck lift alone might be sufficient for achieving all of your cosmetic goals. However, it is more common to combine the neck lift with a facelift, which restores a youthful appearance to the mid and lower face. Eyelid surgery or chin augmentation may also help to enhance the overall results of your neck lift. This procedure might also be combined with non-surgical treatments like skin resurfacing or injectable fillers to put the finishing touches on your anti-aging efforts.
The Surgery And Recovery
A neck lift might be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The surgery may take a number of hours to complete, depending on the amount of correction needed or whether another procedure will be combined with the neck lift. An incision will be made underneath the chin, and additional incisions may be created behind the ears to provide the opportunity for additional skin excision.
Through the incision, our surgeon will remove excess skin, tissue and fat to create a smoother neck contour. Liposuction can be done at the same time to further enhance the results. In some cases, the underlying neck muscles will also be tightened to produce a smooth, natural result.
You will go home a few hours after your surgery is over. There is some bruising and swelling around the incision sites, which will subside within a week or two. Oral pain medication will keep you comfortable in the early part of your recovery process.
Find Out If A Neck Lift Is Right For You
A neck lift offers natural, long-lasting results, turning back the clock on your appearance and boosting your self-confidence. To learn more about this surgery or find out if a neck lift is right for you, contact the New York Group for Plastic Surgery at 888-834-2075 (New York City) or 914-366-6139 (Tarrytown).
