Neck Lift Surgery
Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles,
Newport Beach, & Orange County, California
A neck lift is a procedure to lift, tighten, and smooth the appearance of the neck. Often performed in conjunction with a facelift as part of a facial rejuvenation process, the neck lift can reverse the appearance of sagging, jowls, loose skin, and fat deposits that are so often a part of the aging process.
The appearance of aging in the neck area is attributable to several factors:
- Laxity of the platysma muscles-the neck muscles on either side of the throat, which extend from the base of the neck to the jaw line. The platysma muscles are part of the muscle structure that creates facial expressions, and as they become lax, they can contribute significantly to an aged appearance.
- Aging effects on the SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system). As we age, the underlying structures of the face and neck become looser and suffers from the effects of gravity, resulting in sagging and drooping.
- Loss of skin elasticity and fatty deposits. As with the rest of the body, the neck suffers from the aging effects of loose skin and deposits of fatty tissue.
A neck lift can address all of these issues, tightening and joining the platysma muscles, to create a firm, taut muscular base, tightening and trimming the SMAS, removing excess fat deposits, and trimming and tightening the skin of the neck.
Although it is commonly performed in conjunction with other procedures, for many patients, a neck lift alone is sufficient to reverse the signs of aging, or to reduce the appearance of sagging in the neck as a result of weight loss or other issues.
The neck lift plastic surgery procedure
There are two primary techniques used for neck lifts: The skin-only lift, and the platysmaplasty, which lifts both the skin and the underlying muscle of the neck.
For the skin lift only procedure, a small incision is made below or behind each ear, from which the plastic surgeon is able to pull the skin taut and trim any excess, thus eliminating drooping, sagging, and wrinkling , and leaving the patient with a firm, taut new neck .
For the platysmaplasty neck lift plastic surgery procedure, small incisions are made beneath or behind each ear and beneath the chin. From these incisions, the plastic surgeon is able to separate the fat and muscle that make up the neck, remove any excess, then suture the muscle to provide a more taut, youthful looking neck. The skin is then trimmed as in the skin-only procedure described above.
To learn more about neck lifts, or about other ways to rejuvenate and improve your appearance, call or email our cosmetic surgeons today to arrange a neck lift consultation.
