Neck Lift
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that is performed to improve the appearance of the jawline and neck. A neck lift is useful to decrease the signs of aging, smooth asymmetric contours, and treat excess skin and fatty deposits under the neck and chin.
Aging, heredity, environment, and stress are all factors that can cause a loss of the contours and shapeliness of the chin, neck, and jawline. Patients that opt for a neck lift in Chicago seek to improve visible sagging and prominent jowls.
WHAT IS A NECK LIFT?
People often get a neck lift to combat the aging process by getting rid of loose neck skin, preventing jowls from forming, removing excess fatty deposits, and resolving muscle banding around the neck.
This process creates a more youthful look for the neck, reducing wrinkles, sagging, a double chin, and a turkey-wattle neck. The neck lift can often be paired with a facelift for more comprehensive rejuvenation.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A NECK LIFT?
You may be a good candidate for a neck lift if any of the following three common problem areas of the face are familiar to you:
- Deflation: As we age, we lose facial fat volume. This is usually most noticeable as hollowness just below the cheeks or the descent of fat in the jaw, neck, or other parts of the face.
- Radial Expansion: Facial ligaments weaken over time and the attached tissue separates, causing a loss of definition in the jaw line, prominent smile lines around the mouth, and more pronounced jowls.
- Neck Sagging: As muscles loosen, fat accumulates under the chin. At the same time, the skin loses elasticity, causing fullness around the jaw and neck.
There is no way to definitively stop the aging process; however, through facial rejuvenation, we can slow it down and restore you to a more youthful version of yourself. While it is not an anti-aging cure, a well-performed neck lift can give you a much younger-looking appearance.
People who are not in good physical health may not be ideal candidates for a neck lift. Those who are allergic to anesthesia or suffer from chronic health problems may not be suitable candidates for the procedure.
Non-smokers are the best candidates for the neck lift procedure, since smoking can have a negative impact on the health of the skin. This can lead to complications during surgery and during the healing process. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit smoking well in advance of your neck lift. Avoiding smoking during recovery is also key.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CONSULTATION
Always consult with your plastic surgeon before deciding to undergo a neck lift. Make sure you understand the potential risks and recovery period associated with the procedure. If looking younger is your goal, your surgeon may be able to recommend other procedures that, when coupled with a neck lift, will help restore balance and harmony to your face and body.
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we thoroughly review your medical history (including past procedures, current medications, allergies, and all pre-existing conditions), speak with you about your expectations, and provide you with an extensive overview of the procedure. We will also discuss the cost of the procedure and what you should do after the surgery to hasten your recovery.
HOW IS A NECK LIFT PERFORMED?
Like most surgical procedures, a neck lift is performed by first administering a general anesthetic to ensure comfort during the operation. Then, depending on your aesthetic goals, your surgeon may perform either a traditional neck lift, or a limited incision neck lift.
During a traditional neck lift, the incision is made at the hairline near the sideburns and extends around the ear, as close to the hairline as possible to hide any visible scarring that may occur. In a limited incision neck lift, shorter incisions are made only around the ear. The type and length of the incisions depends on the extent of the procedure.
After the incisions are made, the tissue beneath the neck skin is repositioned. Muscles and soft tissue are tightened and excess fat is removed or redistributed. Skin is repositioned and tightened over the contours of the neck and chin and any loose or excess skin is removed.
Once the corrections are made, the incisions are closed using sutures and the patient is transferred to a post-anesthesia care unit
RECOVERY AFTER A NECK LIFT
A neck lift is an outpatient procedure, so patients are typically able to go home the same day. Swelling and bruising at the site of the incisions are normal. To ensure the best possible outcome, it is very important to follow all instructions given by your surgeon, including medications, wound care, and follow-up appointments.
The sutures are usually removed within a few days of the procedure. In the interim, patients should keep their head elevated slightly and avoid bending or twisting their neck excessively. Do not apply ice directly to the neck or chin because it can reduce blood flow in the affected areas.
Swelling and bruising typically go away within a few weeks. The full results of a neck lift will be visible within a month after the procedure.
COST OF A NECK LIFT
The average cost of a neck lift in the United States is approximately $4,500, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, this figure will vary depending on geographic location, the plastic surgeon, and your aesthetic goals.
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we will provide you with a detailed price breakdown during the initial consultation. Most health insurance providers do not cover any of the costs associated with a neck lift, so if necessary, speak with your plastic surgeon about potential financing options.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
If you would like to learn more about your options for a neck lift in Chicago, or if you have questions about the procedure, give us a call to schedule a consultation. We will make sure that you understand the entire procedure all the way through recovery, and we are always upfront about the associated costs and potential risks involved with plastic surgery. If you are looking for a more youthful and natural-looking appearance, contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago today.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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Happy for this patient and her 6 week post-operative result from a breast augmentation. We placed a 400 cc gel implant, in a sub-muscular plane, and through a periareolar incision. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #mastopexy #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient and her transformation. This patient is transfemale who underwent facial feminization. Can you tell what surgeries were performed? Still have to perform the tracheal shave. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #FFS #facialfeminization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a mastopexy augmentation case. The patient’s goals were to have her breasts lifted and the volume restored after pregnancy. No patient has perfectly symmetric breasts, which is normal. This case was challenging because of the asymmetries of the nipples; trying to lift, augment, and level the nipples all at the same time is difficult. Many variables to control but the post-operative photos demonstrate improved symmetry with all of the patient’s goals achieved. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #mastopexy #breastlift #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a challenging revision rhinoplasty case. The patient had 3 prior rhinoplasty surgeries by another surgeon and was not happy with the aesthetics of the dorsum or tip. In the pre-operative profile views, you can see a dorsal hump, under-projected tip, and abnormal alar-columellar relationship. On frontal view, there are asymmetries of the dorsal aesthetic lines and C-shape deviation of the nose. The goal of the surgery was to make the nose straighter, improve the dorsum and tip proportions, increase tip projection, and improve the alar-columellar relationship. Look closely at the post-operative profile views and how the tip, nostril and columella appear. Posted with permission.
#plasticsugery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Many ways to do a breast augmentation but the periareolar incision is a great option because the scar becomes imperceptible as the scar matures. This patient is 6 months out from a breast augmentation and the access incision we made was at the bottom border of the nipple areolar complex. It’s hard to see the scar at this point and the scar gets even better at the 12-18 month mark. Also, nipple sensation is unaffected after surgery. The other incisions that plastic surgeons use include an incision underneath the breast, at the breast fold, or the armpit. Each incision has their pros and cons but the periareolar is my preferred approach.
#plasticsurgeon #plasticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gummybearimplants #breastimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #cosmeticsurgery
Challenging #gynecomastia case where the patient had grade 2/3 gynecomastia or male breasts with excess skin and significant asymmetries. The challenging part of this case relates to how to manage the excess skin and achieve a symmetric result. Do you remove the excess skin which will leave scars or try to contract the skin with minimally invasive techniques? In this case I performed liposuction, removed the breast tissue through a nipple incision, and performed #Renuvion to facilitate contraction of the skin. Posted with permission.
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Nasal reconstruction for a patient who had a full thickness defect or hole of the left nostril after Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma. The patient was missing all three layers of the nose and if you look closely, you can see into the nose and visualize the septum. We re-built the nose using tissue from his forehead or a #forehead flap. In the post-operative photos, you can see a nice reconstruction of the nostril with restored form and function. Additionally, the reconstructed side is symmetric with the unaffected side. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nasalreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
3 month follow-up on this patient who wanted improvement in the projection of her chin and definition of the jawline. The patient has retrogenia or a small chin and underwent #chinaugmentation with a #genioplasty. In the pre-operative photos, you can see the chin is short and recessed and therefore I moved the chin forward and down. In the post-operative photos you can see improvement in the projection of the chin, a more defined jawline and neck, and a more balanced lower 1/3 of the face. This case highlights the advantages of a genioplasty versus a chin implant, a chin implant cannot lengthen and advance the chin to the same extent that a genioplasty can. Posted with permission.
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Gym or surgery? This patient underwent hi-def liposuction or abdominal etching to improve the contour of the abdomen and to define the abdominal muscles. In the post-operative photos, the patient has natural washboard abs. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominaletching #hidefliposuction #liposculpture #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Long term follow-up on a revision mastopexy augmentation case. The patient had a previous augmentation with gel implants and wanted the implants removed, breasts lifted, and re-augmented with fat but downsized. The patient underwent explantation of the implants, a capsulectomy, a breast lift, and fat transfer to augment the breasts. In the post-operative photos, you can see the breast/nipples are lifted to a more aesthetic position and we were able to maintain volume, although smaller, with fat transfer alone. This patient has a very natural result using only fat from her abdomen to restore volume. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastlift #breastaugmentation #mommymakeover #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a primary rhinoplasty. This patient’s goals were a straighter profile, smaller and more refined tip, and a nose that was not drastically different. In the post-operative photos you can see the dorsal hump was removed and the nasal bones narrowed, the tip was refined, rotated, and projected more. Overall, still her nose but more refined and aesthetic. Posted with permission.
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Early follow-up on a #facialmasculinization surgery for a trans male who wanted to improve the contour of the lower 1/3 of the face and neck. The patient underwent a sliding #genioplasty, custom #mandibularimplants, and #neckliposuction to achieve his goals. We used computer software to design the cuts in the bone and #3Dprinting to make the custom mandibular implants. Can you see the improved contour of the chin, jawline, and neck in the post-operative photos? Posted with permission.
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1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted fuller and more symmetric breasts after having deflation with pregnancy. The patient is athletic and therefore it was very important to her to have a smaller augmentation that appeared natural. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with gel implants (250 cc) through a periareaolar incision and in a submuscular plane. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #breastaugmentation #gummybear #breastlift #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
This patient had a full thickness nasal defect of the left nostril after a skin cancer was removed by our Dermatology colleagues. Even though the wound is relatively small, this is a challenging reconstruction because all layers of the nose have to be rebuilt without making the reconstructed area bulky and noticeable. Also, you have to make the area strong enough so that the nostril doesn’t collapse as the area heals and scars. Posted with permission.
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A 1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted a rhinoplasty to remove the dorsal hump and improve the aesthetics of her tip. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose made straighter, the tip refined, and the tip rotated and projected more. Her new nose fits her face without overtly changing the ethnic features of her face. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #rhinoplasty #ethnicrhinoplasty #nosejob #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Proud of our research team for getting this important manuscript published in the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. In this study, we looked at the published literature to develop guidelines on how to treat visual impairments related to droopy eyelids and excess skin of the eyelids.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient who underwent full facial rejuvenation surgery, which included a brow lift, upper/lower blepharoplasty, facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. How much younger does he look now? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #browlift #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Amazing transformation for this lovely patient who wanted to have fuller, more symmetric, youthful, and natural breasts. The patient underwent a #breastaugmentation with gel implants. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #gummybearimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
One year follow-up on a #BBL or Brazilian butt lift. As you can see from the post-operative photos, the fat that is transferred stays and is permanent. Posted with permission.
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Male patient in his late 60’s who was able to turn back the clock after undergoing a #facelift, #neck lift, #blepharoplasty, and #fattransfer. Pay close attention to the “bags” underneath the eyes, the jawline, and neck. The scars have healed nicely and are inconspicuous even with short hair. In the post-operative photos, the patient has maintained his natural facial features and anatomy, but just looks like a more youthful version of himself. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
