Form MD Plastic Surgery offers a neck lift to minimize signs of aging in the neck and restore a youthful appearance.
The neckline undergoes noticeable changes during the aging process. Even though the neck isn’t directly exposed to the sun, with time, skin on the neck loses elasticity and develops dark spots and changes in texture. The most significant changes, however, are caused by gravity and increasing soft tissue/skin laxity. Soft tissue refers to the muscle, fat, and other connective tissue beneath the skin. Aging causes the skin immediately below the jaw to bunch up and form a “turkey gobbler.”
Patients with large, clearly visible salivary glands just below the jaw, or a very low set hyoid bone (the wishbone) tend to develop a more prominent accumulation of skin and fat that could be treated with a lift. Individuals with a weak chin are also more likely to have accumulation of fat and soft tissue with skin stretching immediately below the jaw.
A neck lift is typically done in combination with a facelift to ensure good skin redraping and address multiple problem areas.
When it is done in isolation, a neck lift can either address the soft tissue below the skin, or it can treat both the skin and soft tissue.
A client’s age isn’t a factor in determining whether a neck lift will address their cosmetic concerns. The best candidates for an isolated neck lift are patients who:
Don’t have jowling, facial skin laxity, or signs of aging in the cheeks or eyes
Have appropriate expectations
Understand the limitations of surgery
Don’t have any concerning medical, psychological, or psychiatric issues
Typically, young men and women, and older men are better candidates for a neck lift. Having a “weak chin,” a very low-set hyoid bone, or thick, ruddy skin makes it difficult to adequately raise the neckline because bone structures are fixed and can’t move. In some cases, a chin implant may be used to improve chin projection and help strengthen the neckline during the neck lift procedure.
The surgeon begins by making a small, inconspicuous incision directly beneath and behind the chin to allow the skin to be lifted off the underlying fat and muscle. If the issue has excessive fat, then the surgeon will perform either liposuction or direct fat removal. Patients with very loose muscle “bands” in the midline or off to the side will need to have the bands tightened to create a sling of tissue that forms a higher and more firm and rejuvenated neckline. The incision will be closed with a very fine suture that will be removed one week after surgery. The surgeon will then apply a gentle compression wrap for one to two days to prevent fluid accumulation and to support the neck tissues.
A neck lift targets visible signs of aging to create a younger-looking and more defined area under the chin. Especially when combined with a face lift, a neck lift can result in years of aesthetic results.
Taylor Pollei, MD
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Taylor Pollei is a fellowship-trained Facial Plastic Surgeon. He is an expert in the complex and intricate structures of the face, and his deep understanding of facial aging allows him to offer a range of surgical and non-surgical approaches to facial rejuvenation.
Dr Mehrzad specializes in providing advanced, modern body contouring techniques for breast augmentation, breast and body lifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction.
Form MD Plastic Surgery offers expert cosmetic procedures in Mission Viejo, CA, such as face and neck lift, rhinoplasty, and upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Patients choose Form MD Plastic Surgery for the quality of care offered by the experienced medical team under Dr. Taylor Pollei.
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