Neck Lift Rehoboth Beach
A neck lift, lower facelift or lower rhytidectomy is a surgical procedure that rejuvenates the aging jawline and neck.
What does a neck lift or lower facelift procedure treat?
- Loose hanging skin and unwanted fat deposits in the lower face that creates jowls
- Loose sagging skin of the neck
- Unwanted fat deposits under the chin
- Neck bands from excess muscle contraction created abnormal contours
The four factors associated with the aging face and neck are commonly referred to the four Ds of aging: Deterioration, Deflation, Descent and Dynamic discord (see Nonsurgical facial rejuvenation)
The loss of youthful appearance of the face and neck can be due to gravity, heredity, weight fluctuations, environmental and stress. Some people are not ready for a full facelift because the upper face has not started to show visible signs of aging. The lower face and neck will start to develop loose sagging skin (Descent) from loss of collagen and elastin fibers. Many patients will see aging of their lower face and neck in the form of jowls, loose neck skin, double chin or appearance of a “turkey neck”.
When the lower face and neck shows more signs of aging than the upper face, a lower facelift or neck lift may be a good option. If people are not ready for a surgical procedure, there are noninvasive devices (e.g. Exilis Ultra) and minimally invasive devices (e.g. FaceTite, Accutite, Morpheus) that are designed to deliver a nonsurgical rejuvenation of the lower face and neck by tightening loose skin through rebuilding collagen and elastin fibers. Board certified plastic surgeons who are familiar with noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques have incorporated thread lifts (e.g. Eurothreads)with energy devices to deliver a nonsurgical facelift without scars.
Although nonsurgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results of a neck lift or lower facelift, they may help delay the time when a surgical neck lift is indicated or complement the results of a neck lift. Noninvasive devices produce minimal improvements while minimally invasive with or without thread lifts will deliver results up to 50% that is seen with a lower facelift.
Neck Lift FAQs
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Am I a good candidate for a neck lift?
- You are concerned with visible signs of aging in lower face and neck in the form of prominent jowls, loose skin under chin and neck and unwanted fat deposits under the chin
- Healthy individuals with no medical conditions that will impair healing
- Stable body weight and nonsmoker
- Fully informed of all options for facial rejuvenation
- Realistic expectations
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What should I expect at my neck lift consultation?
- Listening to your concerns of aging in lower face and neck
- Evaluation of general medical conditions, medications, allergies, previous surgeries, exposure to smoking, height and weight
- Examination of face and neck assessing amount of skin laxity, unwanted fat deposits, areas of volume loss, skin quality and thickness and presence of neck bands from underlying muscle activity
- Photographs are taken
- Discussion of all options for rejuvenation of lower face and neck: noninvasive, minimally invasive and surgical neck lift
- Outline a surgical treatment plan
- Discussion of details, risks, recovery and expected outcomes of the procedure
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What are the risks of a neck lift?
- Scars
- Bleeding
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Numbness or altered sensation
- Nerve injury causing weakness of lower lip
- Asymmetry
- Hair loss along incisions
- Earlobe deformity
- Prolonged swelling
- Skin irregularities and discoloration
- Skin loss
- Suture irritation
- Poor healing of incision
- Revision surgery
- Anesthesia risks
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What should I expect at my neck lift procedure?
- Outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia or twilight sedation
- Approximately 2 hour procedure
- After fully informed of details and risks of the procedure, patient arrives to office or facility in loose comfortable clothing, no makeup or jewelry
- Surgical markings are placed outlining the treatment plan
- If under local anesthesia, may have liquids or a light snack prior to procedure
- Avoid aspirin or blood thinners 7-10 days prior to procedure
- Premedicated with oral antibiotic and relaxation pill
- Nitrous oxide is offered
- Dilute local anesthetic is injected through tiny needles that will make the area to be treated feel numb so that there will be no sharp or burning discomfort. Will only feel gentle tugging.
- After completion of neck lift, a dressing and face wrap is applied
- You are discharged home with a responsible adult with instructions
- You will have a follow up in office in 24-48 hours to change dressing and allow to shower and lightly shampoo hair after 48 hours
- Light activity including car driving and lifting under 10 lbs at one week
- Full activity including exercise and full lifting 3-6 weeks
- Scar management starting at 3 weeks after satisfactory healing of the incision
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