Neck Lift – Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatments

2022-07-12 05:30 AM | By Tamira Scientific Committee

Neck

Sagging and loose skin around the neck can make one look older and extremely tired or dull. Baggy skin around the neck is usually referred to as turkey neck. This can be a result of aging due to the muscles and skin loosing elasticity. A small portion of the younger population do suffer from sagging skin caused as a result of huge weight loss. Exercises, lotions or creams can help rectify this only to a small extent. Neck lift surgery or lower rhytidectomy is a cosmetic procedure that can significantly decrease loose skin and help regain one’s youthful appearance. Non-surgical cosmetic procedures can also help correct this condition.

Neck Lift Surgery

A neck lift surgery aims to tighten the skin in the neck and facial regions to give a firm look. This is a surgical procedure that must be done by a board-certified doctor. A small incision in made in the region behind the ears and excess skin and fat is removed from the neck. A patient would be administered general or local anesthesia depending on the need and the procedure would take close to 2 hours. A neck lift procedure could also include any of the below procedures.

Cervicoplasty or the removal of excess skin from the neck
Excess fat removal by means of liposuction (a technique where fat is sucked out from the region)
Platysmaplasty or the procedure to rejuvenate the neck by removing skin and muscles
Other skin tightening procedures such as Botox (botulinum toxic injections that can reduce wrinkles and make the skin firm), laser skin tightening (laser or heat waves are used to firm the skin), dermal fillers and others.

Patients will have to follow required before and after care for successful completion of the procedure. It is important to avoid medications such as anti-biotics and anti-coagulants to prevent excessive bleeding from the procedure. All medical history and allergic reactions must be clearly mentioned to the doctor. Smoking and consumption of alcohol must be avoided for at least a week before and after the procedure. One must take rest for 24 hours after the procedure. Nutritious food, plenty of water and mild exercises can be done. The doctor might also suggest the use of compression belts around the neck.

Neck Lift without Surgery

Apart from surgical techniques, non-surgical procedures can also be performed for correcting loose skin of the neck. Non-surgical neck lift procedures are preferred due to benefits like less downtime, faster and long-lasting results and lesser chances of complications when compared to surgical procedures.

Ultherapy – This is FDA approved non-surgical procedure that can lift loose skin from the neck and chin regions and works by the use of ultrasound technology. With this technique, new collagen is produced and fine lines / wrinkles are reduced to a significant extent. It is often chosen as the alternative to surgical procedures. The results often last for close to 2 years and the procedure is painless and has zero recovery time.

Thermage – This technique uses radiofrequency to heat the layers of the skin and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. This is considered as a great option for treating turkey neck. It gives good results for mild to moderate sagging of the skin. With thermage, the results are visible in a few days’ time and requires no downtime.

Botox – This procedure is widely common and is used to treat loose skin and wrinkles. It relaxes the targeted muscles to give a smooth and young looking feature. The procedure is painless and requires no downtime. The results of a botox treatment for the neck last for a period of 4 to 6 months. Repeat sessions after this period would be required to maintain the results.

Dermal Fillers – Fillers such as Hyaluronic acid can be used for necklift. Fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin can be corrected with this procedure. The results often last upto 6 months or even longer.

Laser Skin Tightening – Lasers heat the layers of the skin and promote collagen production to improve the skin. The overall appearance of the neck improves making it look youthful. This procedure would require a downtime of 7 to 10 days and the results often last for over 5 years.

Face and neck lift procedures can be done together and most patients prefer to have this. This is referred to as combination procedures and saves a lot of downtime and improves overall results. A doctor would be able to assess whether the procedures can be done together. Patients often get very good results by choosing combination procedures.

Neck Lift Exercises

Exercises can help in correcting lose skin and help improve the overall appearance of the neck. Yoga and facial exercises can go a long way in treating mild to moderate sagging.

Head raises – This exercise is done in a face upwards position. Individuals will have to drop their chin downwards and slowly rise it up and hold for 5 or more seconds. This should be continuously repeated for at least 10 times regularly.
Cow face - This yoga pose is referred to as Gomukhasana. This exercise helps in deep stretching of the arms, legs, shoulders, chest and neck.
The Giraffe pose – This exercise stretches the neck region, lifting and toning it. It reduces sagging of skin and helps with achieving a younger looking neck.

Neck Lift Before and After

Individuals achieve great results with a neck lift procedure, successfully reducing aging signs. Fine lines, wrinkles and loose skin is expelled and results in a firm appearance.

Neck Lift Procedure Cost in India

Surgical neck lift procedures in India can cost between INR 70,000 to 1,00,000. Non-surgical procedures cost ranges between INR 5k to 2 lakhs depending on the type of procedure chosen and the city, clinic, technique used. In general, the prices of non-surgical procedures would be as mentioned below.

Ultherapy costs nearly INR 1.3 lakhs
Thermage ranges between INR 1 to 1.5 lakhs
Botox procedure costs between INR 5k to 20k
Laser procedure for neck lift costs INR 45k and above

It is extremely important to choose a board certified doctor who is specialized in neck lift procedures for success of the treatments.

Neck Lift Procedures Treatment Care

It is extremely important to follow pre and post procedural care for the best results from a necklift procedure. For both surgical and non-surgical procedures, there is a need to take appropriate care for fast recovery. Individuals must avoid unnecessary medications for a week before and after the treatment. Any medicine that is required to be taken must be discussed with the doctor. Patients might have to use compression belts for a period of one to three weeks for best results. Ample rest, nutritious food and plenty of water is needed for fast recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How effective is a neck lift?

Necklift is effective in removing excess or loose skin, reducing wrinkles and lines on the neck and improving the overall appearance. A neck lift procedure also makes one look younger by a few years.

How long does a neck lift last?

Neck lift surgery can give results that last for more than 10 years. Non-surgical necklift procedures last for an average of 2 years, depending on the type of treatment chosen.

What is mini neck lift?

A mini neck lift is different from a traditional necklift since it is the shortened version of the treatment. Excess skin is removed and a youthful and smooth appearance is obtained. Mini necklift can give the below results

Reduction in double chin
Shorter treatment time
Tightened neck muscles
Removes excess fat

How do you fix a saggy neck?

A saggy neck can be fixed by surgical neck lift treatment and non-surgical procedures such as Ultherapy, Thermage, Botox, Lasers and others. Exercises and massage can also help reduce saggy neck. A balanced diet and active lifestyle will help to maintain youthful skin.

Can you just get a neck lift?

Neck lift procedures are done as stand-alone treatments. It is not necessary to have a facelift procedure for contouring of the neck. If an individual suffers from sagging of only the neck, a neck-lift procedure would be ideal to treat it.

At what age should you get a neck lift?

There is no specific age to get a necklift done. Individuals often suffer from saggy neck between the age of 40 and 60.

What is the best neck tightening procedure?

The best neck tightening procedure would depend upon the individuals need. It is difficult to pick one procedure as the best and must be decided based on discussions with the doctor. The surgical neck-lift procedure has been the best option for long lasting results.

Where are scars for neck lift?

The scars from a necklift procedure would fade with time and are usually extremely minimal. The incisions of a neck lift procedures are often hidden behind the ear and under the chin. Individuals do not have to worry about scarring from the procedure.