A neck lift or lower rhytidectomy is a Cosmetic Surgical Procedure designed to improve the visible signs of aging on the neck and jawline.
The appearance of a chubby neck, wobbly neck, or a double chin can sometimes be as a result of:
- Excess fat
- A lax platysma muscle
- Presence of excess skin
The above factors can lead to the loss of youthful contours of the facial and neck appearance due to a variety of factors such as gravity and age, genetics, environmental conditions, or stress.
A Neck Lift in Dubai can tighten and enhance the neck by eliminating excess fat, tissue, or banding that often forms with aging.
It is common for some individuals to feel like they do not need a full facelift or are not ready for it because the appearance of their upper face is still pleasing. They however acknowledge that their neck is showing signs of aging and hence they may seek a neck lift.
What is a Neck Lift?
A Surgical neck lift is a combination of a platysmaplasty (this tightens the underlying muscles in the neck) and a cervicoplasty (which removes excess skin). Although a facelift can help tighten the lower half of the face, a face and neck lift can go a step further defining the facial profile and contour by creating an aesthetically pleasing angle from the chin to the chest which matches the youthful facial appearance.
There is also the option for a nonsurgical neck lift for individuals who are not ready or comfortable to go under the knife. The non-surgical neck lift has some benefits such as fewer risks involved and a quick downtime.
Nonsurgical necklift uses injectables such as:
- Botox. To relax the muscle and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the vertical neckbands.
- Dermal fillers. To restore lost volume to the skin.
- Kybella. To break down fat cells.
Other non-surgical treatments that can be used to rejuvenate the neck area include:
- Fractionated laser for textural improvement in the skin
- RF Microneedling for skin rejuvenation by helping the skin to produce collagen
- Ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
A Good Candidate for a Neck Lift
The ideal candidate for a surgical neck lift is someone with excess skin on the neck and under the chin and has a neck area that does not match the youthful contours of the upper facial appearance.
He/she should be a nonsmoker, healthy with no underlying condition that can impair healing, and should also have realistic expectations.
However, a neck lift alone is not recommended for individuals with severe jowl or cheek sagging as they would better benefit from a full facelift procedure.
Preparation for a Neck Lift procedure
Before every surgical procedure, pre-op instructions are given to ensure that the procedure is safe and effective. A neck lift surgery is not different and here are some of the pre-op instructions given:
- Avoid smoking 4 weeks before and after the procedure
- Do not take the blood-thinning medication 2 weeks prior
- Do not use topical medication such as Retin-A or other tretinoin products
- Avoid taking alcohol at least 5 days prior
- Avoid eating or drinking 8 hours prior to the procedure
Neck Lift procedure
A neck lift is usually done under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
A limited incision neck lift or a traditional neck lift may be performed depending on the degree of change that you want to achieve.
The traditional neck lift involves making an incision in the hairline at the sideburn level, continuing down and around the ear ending in the posterior hair. Fat in the neck area can be redistributed or sculpted from the jowls and neck. The underlying tissue is repositioned and the platysma muscle tightened. Skin is redraped over the new contours and excess skin trimmed away. A separate but small incision is made under the chin for liposuction of this area and muscle repair. The incisions are then closed with skin sutures.
The limited incision neck lift involves short incisions around the ears only and the results are usually more limited than those of the traditional neck lift.
Recovery and Results
After the surgery, you’ll most likely experience swelling, bruising, and mild to moderate discomfort but this greatly subsides within a week. You should start walking as soon as possible to encourage circulation. The sutures are removed after 5-10 days. For the first two weeks, use shoulders to turn the head and also avoid strenuous activities at this time. Most individuals can return to work within 2-4 weeks post-op.
The neck lift results are noticeable immediately after the procedure but are obscured by the swelling and bruising, they become more apparent with time as this goes down.
To Know More
Would you like to understand what options are available for Neck Lift in Dubai? Meet one of our experts at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery for a personal consultation to develop a tailor-made plan for you. Contact us or Book an appointment and our patient care coordinators will identify the most suitable expert for you.
