A neck lift, also known as a platysmaplasty, is performed to lift sagging skin in the neck and replace any lost volume in the neck area. Some signs of aging that can be addressed by a neck lift include loose skin on the neck, excessive amounts of fatty deposits and muscle banding in the neck that creates abnormal contours.
These conditions can be caused by a number of factors including gravity, genetics and stress. Some patients don’t want to have a full facelift because they are still happy with the appearance of their facial features. However, they might have a large amount of wrinkles around the neck, a double chin or jowl lines they want to have addressed so they choose to do a neck lift only.
The average cost of a neck lift can be anywhere from $6000-$8000. The price varies depending on a number of factors including fees charged by the surgeon, surgical facility fees, anesthesia fees and the geographic area where the surgery is performed. The price can be higher if the neck lift is combined with another procedure such as liposuction to remove excess fat in the area or a cervicoplasty to remove excess skin in the neck area.
A neck lift can be performed by a variety of techniques besides the traditional way of lifting sagging skin described at the start of this article. They include:
Patients need to be aware of potential risks and complications before undergoing a neck lift. Some of the common risks and complications include:
After the surgery, patients will need someone to stay with them as moving around will be difficult. Prescription pain medication can be used to help with any pain or discomfort. Patients should not wear clothing that needs to be pulled over the head as that could have a negative impact on the healing process. It will be a few weeks before patients can resume any strenuous activities such as sports or heavy lifting.
The final results from a neck lift should be visible around 6 months after the surgery. There should not be very much scarring post-surgery. In general, the results from a neck lift should last between 5 and 10 years.
-MA