Look Like Yourself, Only Better.

A neck lift, medically referred to as a cervicoplasty or platysmaplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat, tissue, and sagging skin around the neck to reverse the signs of aging on the neck. The end result is an attractive, more youthful neck and jawline. 

Yes. Cervicoplasty removes drooping skin and excess fat caused by ageing, rapid weight loss, or medical problems. Platysmaplasty lifts sagging skin by tightening the platysma, the band of neck muscles. 

You may want a neck lift if you have:  

• A double chin 
• Jowls, sagging skin below your chin or jawline 
• Drooping or loose skin around the neck, also known as “turkey neck” 
• A lack of definition around the jawline 

A neck lift is actually a set of procedures to enhance the appearance of your neck and jawline. Procedures may include:  

• Removing loose or excess skin
• Removing or altering neck muscles
• Liposuction to remove excess fat
• Botox injections to address problems with fullness or “bands”

A neck lift cannot reverse sun damage to the skin or remove all  wrinkles or “bands.” For best results, you may want to treat the remaining wrinkles with injectables. 

During your consultation, Dr. Rosing will start by asking about your goals for the procedure and what specifically you would like to change about your appearance and why. Then, Dr. Rosing will examine your neck and discuss the best rejuvenation procedures to achieve your desired results. He will share before and after photographs of his work and set realistic expectations. He will also complete a full medical history, evaluate your current health, and make note of any prescriptions or supplements you take and whether you smoke. He will then review all of the possible risks of the surgery and a complete breakdown of the cost. 

Neck lifts are usually done under general anesthesia. 

Depending on the complexity of the procedure an overnight stay in the surgery center may be required. 

During a general neck lift surgery, Dr. Rosing will make a small incision beneath the chin or sometimes behind the ears. From there, he will tighten the neck muscles and remove excess fat, skin, and tissue.

Based on your health and personal goals, Dr. Rosing may perform liposuction in conjunction with your neck lift surgery.  In that case, he will make incisions behind each ear and under the chin and suction fat from underneath the chin and around the jawline. Dr. Rosing has found that tightening of the underlying muscles that have lost their tight supportive structure results in the best neck rejuvenation results: a well-defined jawline, a tight appearance across the center of the throat (the “Adam’s Apple”), and a smooth, youthful and natural neckline.

It is common for patients to be concerned with the location, extent, and noticeability of the incisions. The approach is different between males and females, which will be thoroughly addressed in the consultation. With this in mind, Dr. Rosing will choose the location for the incision based on his goal to have the incision and scar blend in so perfectly that it is imperceptible. The overarching objective with this type of procedure is for the patient to look better and more like themselves. Part of that is achieved by the design and location of the incision. As with all procedures, we strive for people to notice you, not our work. 

2.5 - 2.5 Hours 

A neck lift does make your neck appear younger and healthier, but your neck will continue to age after surgery. Proper use of sunscreen every day and a consistent skin care routine will prolong results. 

Immediately after neck lift surgery, some patients feel groggy or nauseous, but that usually subsides by the next day. Patients will awaken with a bulky hairdressing wrap that we like to euphemistically call a human Q-tip. 

In some cases, patients spend the night at the surgery center and have two drains placed. Early the next morning, Dr. Rosing will make a visit to the surgery center to remove the human Q-tip dressing and check to ensure everything is healing well as well as to remove the drains. Once the drains are removed and Dr. Rosing has evaluated the incisions, he will re-apply the human Q-tip wrap around the chin and around the forehead. This wrap stays on for another 48 hours after which the entire dressing is removed the patient can shower, and apply antibiotic ointment to the incisions as a dressing only. No need for any compression after 72 hours. 

Even though most patients experience very little pain after surgery, Dr. Rosing will prescribe pain medication to have on hand. You will be told how to use cold compresses to relieve any swelling and bruising of the neck that may occur after the surgery.  You will need to keep your head elevated when lying down and report any undue discomfort. In some cases, a drainage tube will be inserted during surgery. This will be removed 1-2 days post-surgery. All sutures and staples will be removed within 5-10 days following surgery. 

Most patients can expect to return to normal activities 4 weeks after a neck lift. Post-surgical swelling and bruising may temporarily cause the look of unevenness, skin changes, hard spots, and ridges. Hydrocortisone cream may be applied to the incisions if they begin to itch during the healing process. Pink scars will eventually fade to an unnoticeable color. Numbness of the skin may last for up to one year. 

Following surgery we recommend the following: 

• Do not apply ice packs or heating pads directly onto the skin in your neck area until after the bandages are removed. Note: you may have decreased awareness of temperature due to numbness. 
• Do not bend over or lift objects heavier than 5-10lbs for one week. 
• No strenuous activity for 2 weeks. 
• It’s customary to suggest that you exert 25% effort level first week, 50% second week, 75% third week, and back to yoga, elliptical, running, swimming after 3 weeks. 
• Avoid any form of nicotine for a minimum of 2 weeks, but preferably 4 weeks.  Nicotine, in any form, can increase the risk for skin and tissue death and will delay your face’s healing process and worsen scarring. 
• Avoid scratching your incisions.

Problems that may be caused by a neck lift include:

• Numbness that may last up to one year
• Tissue loss
• Scarring
• Fluid collection
• Blood clots
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Bleeding under the skin or hematoma
• Infection

Complications are rare and are often easily solved by Dr. Rosing if you notify us. Call us if you experience any of the following: a temperature of 101 or higher, increased local redness or warmth, chest pain, shortness of breath, legs swelling, calf pain, swelling or firmness in one side of the face, or if you have any other concerns. 

No. Insurance companies do not cover the costs of  a neck lift. It is important to find out the total costs of the procedure, which includes Dr. Rosing’s fees along with fees for the operating facility, anesthesia, medicines, follow-up care, office visits, and other services. Make sure you ask your health insurance company about its policies and whether having a  neck lift will affect your coverage in any way. Some insurance companies may raise your premiums after you get cosmetic surgery, and, in some instances, getting a facelift affects future coverage. If your plan won’t cover treatment for any complications from cosmetic surgery, you may want to consider getting a supplemental insurance policy.