Regardless of what cosmetic feature(s) of the neck may be troublesome, neck lift (neckplasty, neck lift, cervico-plasty) offers reliable improvement. Most often, neck lift resolves visibly aging features: loose skin, a “double chin,” or heavy full neck, vertical bands below the chin from aging, sagging neck skin, loss of a visible jaw line, and/or wrinkled neck skin. Sometimes, a full or poorly defined neck is a genetically inherited feature. Often, weight changes, years of neck movement, sun exposure, and genetics all contribute variably.
Because your situation is unique, Dr. Laverson evaluates your neck in personal consultation before proposing specific treatment. After understanding your issues, the result you want, and examining your neck anatomy, alternatives for necklift and/or other treatments will be considered. Dr. Laverson explains what structures should be adjusted to improve neck definition and restore a youthful profile. Goals of neck lift are a neck that matches your face and body with a well defined jaw line, visibly angular intersection between the neck and jaw, and smooth neck skin without creases, irregularities, bands, or wrinkles.
To accomplish this, we often recommend an “open” procedure, performed under general anesthesia. Well hidden fine linear scars beneath your chin and possibly also at the edge of your ears result. Through these access points, extra fat is precisely removed under direct vision from one side of the jaw to the other. Muscular bands are mobilized and secured snugly to create a “hammock” or sling beneath the neck that supports underlying structures and stabilizes trim aesthetic definition. Skin redrapes naturally so that when swelling resolves, a smooth, youthful appearing neck emerges. This procedure is delicate and advanced, but is the best way to produce a naturally beautiful neck because all cosmetic issues (skin, fat, and muscle) are addressed. Typical results are shown in our neck lift gallery. Common risks of neck lift San Diego are elaborated in our Informed Consent document. For men only with a “turkey neck” or “gobbler” of skin and muscle who wish to avoid formal necklift, an open necklift by anterior approach sometimes works well. Examples are patients twelve and twenty.
For smaller amounts of superficial fat or mild skin looseness, Dr. Laverson recommends office procedures such as liposculpture, Thermi-RF skin tightening, or both liposculpture and Thermi-RF. These procedures are less invasive and recovery is quicker. We add topical Nectifirm®, our GOLD, and other methods for neck skin recovery as needed. However, only neck lift will improve more advanced and visible problems with neck appearance. Often, neck lift is combined with lower face lift as shown in our procedure video:
