Posted June 01, 2020 in Facelift
3 Minute Read:
A facelift helps many people feel more confident and restores their face to a more youthful appearance. However, some patients require a neck lift in addition to the facelift for more natural-looking results. So, how important is it to combine your surgical procedures? Can you have a facelift without a neck lift? What about a neck lift without a facelift?
Why Might I Need a Combined Facelift and Neck Lift?
Men and women consider facial plastic surgery to address common signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin, displaced tissues, and deep creases. Of all of the facial plastic surgeries around, facelift surgery addresses the largest area: the middle and lower regions of the face. This means that facelift surgery tends to target everything from the top of the cheekbones to the jawline.
However, as many aging faces can attest, the unwelcome signs of time and sun damage are not limited to those areas. It is very uncommon, if not impossible, for someone to experience significant aging on the lower face but have a smooth and taut neckline.
Facial features age simultaneously, and so, for most people, combination procedures are more than a recommendation—they are a necessity.
How Is a Neck Lift Different Than a Facelift?
A neck lift continues where a facelift leaves off. Facelift surgery can address the jawline (targeting jowls); however, it cannot restore angular contours as a neck lift can.
Neck lift surgery addresses significantly sagging jowls, vertical banding on the neck, and a double chin, all while maintaining harmonious balance with the facial features above it.
Is Neck Lift Surgery Performed Differently Than Facelift Surgery?
Facelift surgery uses incisions made in the hairline at the temples that continue down and around the ear. Through these incisions, the muscles and the skin are simultaneously lifted and tightened. The excess skin is removed, and the sutures are closed.
For the neck lift, incisions are also made near the sideburns that continue around the ear and back towards the hairline. So, essentially, these different procedures use the same incision. The muscles of the neck are tightened, and the excess skin is removed.
When the two procedures are performed together, the face and neck muscles are tightened together to create a more cohesive, natural effect.
A separate incision is typically made underneath the chin for a neck lift, addressing the chin area.
When Is a Facelift and Neck Lift Combination Not Needed?
Facelift surgery is nearly always performed with a neck lift. However, a neck lift can be performed without a facelift. This is common in individuals who have shown great diligence in facial skin care, but somewhat forgot the area sitting directly beneath it. Neck lift surgery is also appropriate for individuals who have chosen non-surgical options, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers to address facial aging.
What Results Can I Expect From My Combined Facelift and Neck Lift?
Most facelift and neck lift patients experience dramatic results, often looking a decade or two younger. The drooping skin around the jowls and neck is much less noticeable, and the face and neck should show noticeable results after about four to six weeks. The final results usually occur within six months.
Interested in Learning More?
If you feel you are a candidate for a facelift and neck lift, schedule a personalized consultation with the Plastic Surgery Centre of Atlanta today. Contact Dr. Brothers by calling (404) 257-9888 or by filling out our online contact form.
