Create An Elegant, Sculpted Profile With a Neck Lift
As you age, the effects of gravity, stress, genetics, environmental factors, and sun damage can be seen on your face and neck. Your jawline becomes slack while folds and fat deposits settle and an aging neck is usually a combination of excess fat with loose skin and muscle. These factors result in what is known as the “turkey gobbler”, “turkey wattle”, or simply, wobbly neck skin.
Neck lift surgery can correct visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-contouring the skin of your neck. A neck lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as a facelift, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or rhinoplasty.
Northern Virginia neck lift plastic surgeon, Dr. V is the founder and medical director of the Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts. Along with her team of dedicated professionals, Dr. V provides state of the art facial plastic surgery procedures such as neck lift. She receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby locations.
What conditions does a neck lift address?
A person may need a neck when the youthful contours in the neck and face area are lost, and the skin becomes loose and wrinkled. This condition can occur due to various factors such as genetics, gravitational pull, stress, and environmental conditions. They may choose a neck lift if they are unhappy with the excessive wrinkles and lines on the neck skin, and other conditions, such as a double chin and jowl lines.
Double Chin:
Double chins happen when fat stores develop in the areas where jaw and chin bones meet neck muscles. A neck lift directly removes this fat, with impressive results.
Jowls:
Prominent jowls are caused when skin loosens and fat begins to build up over time, creating a drooping jawline. Neck lifts can help reverse the appearance of jowls by reshaping the lower face, removing excess fat and re-countering your facial profile.
Loose or Weakened Neck Muscles (Turkey Neck):
If your neck muscles are loose or weakened, it may cause neck “bands” to appear. Turkey wattle as it is also called, can be corrected by platysmaplasty surgery. In this surgery, small incisions will be made either behind the ears or under the chin so that the neck muscle can be accessed by Dr. V using an endoscope.
Sagging Skin:
Loose, “crepey” skin on the neck is one of the biggest contributors to appearing older. A neck lift smooths that excess skin by tightening key skin and muscle tissue via precise incisions and tissue reconstruction, giving you a firmer overall appearance.
Types of Neck Lift Performed by Dr. V
Your neck can be corrected in several ways. Patients with marked skin excess or severe skin laxity are best treated by a total neck lift while patients with subplatysmal fat or mild to moderate skin and muscle laxity can be treated with a neck lift through a chin incision only. This is an anterior approach and patients should expect a change in profile only with no improvement on the midface.
Depending on your situation, Dr. V performs neck lift surgery in a variety of ways to improve your neck’s appearance including:
Platysmaplasty
Platysmaplasty will tighten the middle area of your neck by realigning the muscles or removing a portion of them. Once they have been aligned, they will be permanently sutured. Your stitches will secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips are sometimes used on the scalp. This neck lift surgery usually takes several hours. Following your procedure, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any fluid that may collect there. Dr. V may also recommend using a medical compression bandage to help reduce post-operative swelling. This should be worn night and day for at least 5-7 days and then only at night for a longer period as necessary.Cervicoplasty
The goal behind Cervicoplasty is to remove excess skin in the neck region. In this procedure, Dr. V will make an incision beneath your chin allowing her to cut the skin back, lift the skin, and finally secure the treated area with fixed sutures or tissue glue. The procedure will be done between two and four hours, but the complexity of the procedure will determine the right amount of time needed to complete it. Compression bandages will be fitted into the region after the procedure is complete and you will have to wear it for a minimum of a week.Liposuction
In addition to your neck lift, Dr. V may also perform liposuction to remove any excess fat from your neck area. When liposuction is performed in conjunction with either a Cervicoplasty or Platysmaplasty, it is typically the first procedure. During your liposuction, Dr. V will make a small (less than 1/2 inch) incision in your neck and a cannula will be inserted and attached to a suction machine. Your liposuction procedure may take up to an hour and the results will be permanent. Following your liposuction, you may experience numbness or tingling around the incision site but these symptoms are temporary.
Why Choose Dr. V for a Neck Lift?
Dr. V graduated summa cum laude in chemistry and went on to pursue a degree in medicine from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. She followed with advanced training in Internal Medicine at the University of California, and residency training in Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery) at the University of Minnesota. Dr. V honed her facial plastic surgery skills further with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA.
Today, Dr. V belongs to the choicest group of neck lift surgeons in Northern Virginia with board certifications from both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOHNS). These are surgery boards with top recognition in the industry. Board members such as Dr. V have to maintain the best standards of excellence in each plastic surgery procedure they perform. With these top qualifications and a commitment to providing customized care to every patient, Dr. V is the best neck lift plastic surgeon in Northern Virginia.
Your Neck Lift in North Virginia
Dr. V knows from experience that an elegant neck contour can make a significant difference to how youthful and vibrant an individual may appear. She carefully evaluates various factors before developing a customized treatment plan to achieve results that closely match the patient’s aesthetic goals and needs.
Neck Lift Consultation
Preparing for your neck lift procedure at The Virginia Institute will include a thorough discussion with Dr. V. She will evaluate your general health, consider any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors you might have, and learn about your lifestyle and expectations. She will also measure your face, take pictures for your medical records, explore any risks or potential complications, and recommend a customized course of treatment designed especially for you.
Pre-surgery preparation
Certain vitamins and medications thin the blood, thus causing increased bleeding. Smokers will have to kick the butt at least a couple of weeks prior to the surgery and must refrain from smoking for another two weeks post-surgery. Proper healing is ensured by not smoking.
Even dieting is not advised during this period as proper intake of food is instrumental for proper healing. Comfortable and loose clothing must be worn on the day you go in for surgery. Button-down shirts or blouses must be used so that they won’t have to be pulled over your head or neck.
Day of Surgery
A neck lift procedure may be performed using general anesthesia or IV sedation. The surgeon may use the traditional neck lift technique or limited incision technique, depending on the extent of surgery required. The traditional neck lift incision will begin in the hairline and continue around the ear and end in the posterior part of the hair.
Through the incision, the surgeon will sculpt or redistribute the fat from the neck and jowls. The underlying tissue will be repositioned and, if necessary, the surgeon may tighten the platysma muscle. Loose skin is trimmed away and the skin is finally re-draped smoothly over the lifted contours. The incision is then closed with sutures or skin adhesive.
Follow-up Appointment
At your follow-up appointment, Dr. V will remove any sutures and check to ensure proper scar healing. She’ll then assess that total results are progressing as expected and that you feel satisfied with your neck lift so far, plus address any questions you have on aftercare.
Social Readiness
The vast majority of Dr. V’s patients return to regular activities in their daily lives within 14 days. This recovery timeline allows visible swelling and bruising to subside, and for patients’ appearances to fully return to normal.
Ideal Candidates for A Neck Lift in Virginia
Suitable candidates for a neck lift will typically include healthy adults who do not suffer from any medical condition that could impede the surgery or healing process. If they are unhappy with the sagging appearance of the neck or concerned about the neck’s mismatch with the face, a neck lift may be a sterling and appropriate solution. The candidate should be a non-smoker or willing to stop smoking several weeks before the surgery.
What to Expect from Neck Lift Recovery
It is important that you understand recovery from a neck lift takes time and you should be patient with the process. Most people can return to work in 7-14 days however if you are physically active, you will have to wait at least three weeks to resume those activities. At the beginning, your face may look and feel strange and your features may be distorted from the swelling. Some bruising may persist for 2-3 weeks however by the third week you will look and feel better.
The results of your neck lift are visible almost immediately but it will take several months for all of the swelling to subside. Because of the minimally invasive techniques used at The Virginia Institute, you will have some scars but they are usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. They will fade over time and eventually, they should be barely noticeable.
Benefits of Neck Lifts North Virginia
A neck lift takes the most comprehensive approach to fight the main signs of aging, with results lasting up to a decade making you look years younger — all in one single procedure.
- Firm-up skin laxity and sagging, are two of the biggest contributors to an aging neck.
- Better define the jawline and total neck profile.
- Smooth wrinkles and fine lines.
- Removes excess chin and neck fat.
- Combines well with other facial reconstructive or cosmetic procedures.
- Results that last over 10 years, on average.
- Boosted self-confidence.
- Minimal visible scarring, thanks to Dr. V’s discreet and artful techniques.
Risks of a Neck Lift
Complications are rare but all surgical procedures carry some risk and possible side effects from your neck lift surgery include:
- Swelling and bruising that can last for several days
- Tightness, tingling, and burning or tugging sensations
- Numbness on your skin
- Risk of infection
- Allergic reactions to medications given during or after your surgery
Enhance Your Neck Lift Results
Neck lifts are just one option to help you look and feel your best. Consider other safe and effective cosmetic procedures offered at the Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts.Facelift
A facelift addresses signs of aging in the mid-to lower face, lifting sagging skin and tightening muscles directly for a youthful appearance that complements your neck lift.Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Eyelid surgery reduces drooping lids or under-eye bags, brightening your eyes for an enhanced, fresher look that can balance nicely with a neck lift.
Chin Augmentation
Adding definition to your chin with implants or fillers improves facial harmony, creating a balanced, structured jawline that pairs beautifully with a neck lift.
Kybella (Non-Surgical Neck Lift Injections)
Perfect for patients looking to reduce the size and appearance of double chins without downtime or additional modifications of surgery.
Is Dr. V. The Right Fit for Your Neck Lift?
Board-certified Dr. V’s decades of expertise and truly personalized approach to care make her a top choice for nonsurgical and surgical neck lifts in Northern Virginia. Her meticulous standards bring a new meaning to natural, rejuvenating results.
- Specialist in facial and reconstructive neck procedures.
- Renowned for delivering balanced outcomes with a focus on patient happiness.
- An empowered patient-centered facility.
- Current on the most advanced, contemporary surgical techniques.
- Special offerings and financing are available.
Book Your Neck Lift Consultation
Get started exploring your neck lift transformation with Dr. V and the medical specialists at Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts.
Neck Lift FAQ
Written by Dr. V.
Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (“Dr. V”) is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in advanced cosmetic and reconstructive facial procedures in Northern Virginia.
