What Is A Neck Lift?
Neck lift surgery, known as submentoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery that can be performed to create a more youthful-looking neck and jawline. In many patients, the neck shows aging before the rest of the face, particularly among women, because their skin is thinner and they have a lower blood supply in this region. An aging neck may warrant treatment in order to keep its youthful appearance.
Candidates For Neck Lift Surgery
A neck lift surgery may be recommended for patients of both genders facing one or more of the following aesthetic concerns:
- Loose skin or excess fat in the neck
- Soft tissues and lax muscles in the neck
- A jawline that lacks contour
For patients that undergo other facial plastic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, a neck lift can help to achieve the most natural, all-around rejuvenation by matching the look of the neck with your younger-looking face.
Is there an optimum age for having a neck lift?
There isn’t a right or wrong age for a neck lift with Dr. Romo. 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.
Results Cosmetic Neck Surgery Can Achieve
Neck lift surgery may be used to:
- Correct horizontal lines or creases, also known as “turkey neck”
- Remove or tighten loose-hanging neck skin
- Fix prominent muscle banding in the neck
- Remove excess fat deposits
- Correct wrinkles or a double chin due to aging
- Remove extra folds of skin due to extreme weight loss
- Refine the separation between the neck and the chin/jawline
- Fix crepe-like skin in the neck
How long will my results from my neck lift last?
The changes made by Dr. Romo with his neck lifts are permanent. He’ll tighten the skin, remove unwanted fatty deposits, and remove the neck banding involved with the platysma muscle. These are long-lasting results; your neck skin will never sag and loosen to the same degree again. Our patients from across the New York area find these procedures very satisfying.
Unfortunately, you can’t turn off gravity and the downward pressure it places on our necks. But future loosening will start from a much younger position. Generally, our patients can expect great results from our neck lifts for 10-15 years and longer. But you’ll see a difference for the rest of your life.
What Our Patients Have To Say
“My experience with Dr. Romo was 5 star from start to finish. The office staff is knowledgeable and very efficient. Dr. Romo takes the time to explain everything. He will not push for unnecessary procedures. The post-care follow up was amazing. I am extremely pleased with the results. I look ten years younger. I strongly recommend consulting with Dr. Romo if you are considering any facial procedures!”
How long after a neck lift can I resume exercise?
Dr. Romo advises his neck lift patients to have patience, excuse the homophone. For the first week, you cannot do anything that raises your blood pressure, as spikes in blood pressure can lead to bleeding and hematomas. Also, you cannot put a strain on the midline platysma sutures that are holding the sides of the muscle together as they heal. Straining and tearing these will really damage your results.
Timelines? You can get back to light exercise in 3-4 weeks. From there you can slowly build back up to your pre-operative workouts at 6 weeks. This can seem like a long time but following Dr. Romo’s instructions here will ensure your results are what you hope them to be.
What Procedures Are Involved With A Neck Lift?
Dr. Romo’s neck lift utilizes liposuction to eliminate excess fat, platysmaplasty to tighten the neckbands, followed by the removal of loose skin. Depending on the patient’s desired results, Dr. Romo may recommend other procedures along with a neck lift, such as a chin implant or lower facelift.
How Long Does A Neck Lift Procedure Take?
A neck lift can take 1‒2 hours (when performed as a single procedure), depending on the complexity. When performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as a facelift, the surgery time will vary.
Does A Neck Lift Require Anesthesia?
Dr. Romo performs neck lifts typically with a combination of sedation and local anesthesia, although general anesthesia may be best for a traditional neck lift. He’ll discuss your options with you during your consultation.
What Will My Scarring Look Like After A Neck Lift Procedure?
Scars are minimal and hidden behind the ear to conceal visibility. When a facelift is performed in combination with a neck lift, any potential scars will be minimal as well, located along the ear creases and into the hairline to conceal visibility and keep the hairline natural-looking.
Neck Lift Recovery
Our necks are involved with any head movements, so recovery from neck lift surgery isn’t a simple process. Some things seem obvious, such as the need to keep your head straight and minimize twisting or bending of your altered neck tissue. But one thing that applies in most recoveries — applying ice to minimize swelling — is forbidden with neck lift surgery. Why? In this area of the body, ice can compromise blood flow to the neck, leading to tissue death. Also, keeping your head elevated is very important.
It’s usually 10 to 14 days before you can return to work. Swelling won’t dissipate quickly, in some cases lingering for months. So, don’t expect instant feedback with your neck lift. Your results will show in time. Any strenuous exercise, particularly anything involving twisting of the neck, is a no go for 6 weeks. You need to keep blood pressure from elevating in your face and neck.
How long will there be tightness in my neck after this surgery?
It’s not as much a question of tightness following these procedures, the real difficulty comes in not being able to move your head very much. You shouldn’t turn your head or bend forward for up to a week after your surgery. Still, because your neck skin and support muscles and tissues are now tighter than they have been in many years, there will be a feeling of tightness. That’s a good thing. This can last for a period of weeks, even months.
Neck Lift Surgery Risks
Every surgery has its risks, a neck lift’s risks and complications are rare but include:
- Scarring
- Skin Discoloration
- Persistent Swelling
- Excessive Bleeding
- Hematoma
- Tissue Death
- Blood Clots
- Numbness
- Intense Itching
A more serious complication, which is very rare, is facial nerve damage that can lead to muscle paralysis.
Why Choose Dr. Romo For My Neck Lift Procedure
Thomas Romo III, MD, FACS is one of the most experienced and respected plastic surgeons for a neck lift in the world, known for his meticulous minimally invasive surgical techniques and for achieving natural-looking results with a shorter recovery period. As a world-renowned innovator in surgical methods as well as an inventor of new endoscopic instruments for facial surgery, Dr. Romo’s practice draws patients from New York City, across the United States, and internationally for all of their surgical and non-surgical facial cosmetic needs.
Schedule A Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about neck lift and other procedures Dr. Romo offers, contact our office today at 212-288-1500. You can also schedule a consultation with Dr. Romo by filling out our appointment request form. You deserve to look and feel your best, so don’t hesitate to contact us today!
