Neck Lift

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As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. The jawline can grow slack and jowly while folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.

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Necklift surgery can correct visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your neck. A necklift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

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The Best Candidates for a Necklift

The best candidate for a necklift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but necklifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.

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Planning Your Surgery

Necklifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation Dr. Lattyak will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.

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Dr. Lattyak will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell Dr. Lattyak if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.

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If you decide to have a necklift, Dr. Lattyak will explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Lattyak any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

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Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed

A necklift may be performed in a Dr. Lattyak’s office-based facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It’s usually done on an outpatient basis

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Types of Anesthesia

Most necklifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You’ll be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.). In some cases, general anesthesia is preferred. In that case, you’ll sleep through the operation.

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The Surgery

A necklift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you’re having more than one procedure done. Incisions usually begin near the earlobe, extend in a natural line behind the ear and continue toward the hairline. A small incision may also be made under the chin. Dr. Lattyak separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Dr. Lattyak then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.

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Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. Dr. Lattyak may also wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.

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After Your Surgery

There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication prescribed by Dr. Lattyak. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to Dr. Lattyak immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.

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Dr. Lattyak will tell you to keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down. If you’ve had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Don’t be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you’ll be looking normal. Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.

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Getting Back to Normal

You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first.

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Dr. Lattyak will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They’re likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.

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At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you’ll probably be self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily. It’s not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.

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By the third week, you’ll look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.

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Your New Look

The chances are excellent that you’ll be happy with your necklift, especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard- growing skin have been repositioned.

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You’ll have some scars from your necklift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade within time and should be scarcely visible.

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Having a necklift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one necklift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a necklift at all.