You may be a candidate for a neck lift if:

• You have sagging or excess skin and/or wrinkles on your neck
• You have prominent neck “banding” that gives an aged appearance
• You have localized deposits of fat in the neck area under your chin

The Neck Lift Procedure

The goal of a neck lift is a more youthful neck with better contour. There are a couple of varieties of neck lifts. In a younger patient without a lot of excess skin, an incision is made under the chin only. The excess fat is removed and the neck is contoured by tightening the muscles. In an older patient, Dr. Kearney makes the incision behind the bottom part of your ear and extends it into your hair line to pull up and remove the excess skin and tissue. Neck lifts are performed under local anesthesia with light sedation or general anesthesia if you prefer. Neck lifts are often done in conjunction with a facelift in an older patient.

Neck Lift Recovery

You may go home the same day the procedure is performed and will most likely have your chin and neck wrapped in an elastic bandage. Patients usually return to work within 1 week following the procedure and can resume normal activity within 3-4 weeks. The majority of swelling and bruising go away within 1-2 weeks.

Last updated by Robert Kearney at March 6, 2012.