At our facial plastic surgery practice in Palm Beach County, neck lift is one of our most popular procedures. A smooth, tight neck often goes unnoticed, but one that is sagging with loose skin, fat deposits, and wrinkles is a clear giveaway of your age. It takes detailed knowledge of the intricate neck anatomy to understand the subtleties of aging when it comes to the neckline. As a board-certified specialist in the face and neck, Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Anita Mandal performs neck lift surgery with exceptional skill and an artistic eye to help restore the beautiful neckline of your youth. Located in Palm Beach Gardens, we see neck lift patients in West Palm Beach and all over south Florida.
What is a Neck Lift?
As the years pass, the neck skin loosens, vertical muscle bands form in the anterior neck and fat pockets accumulate under the chin resulting in sagging and loss of a defined neck angle. As one continues to age, jowls form in the lower face and flow into the neck, resulting in poor definition between the jaw and neckline. Some patients also experience sagging of the salivary glands into the upper neck which further adds to neck heaviness. Eventually, patients may develop a turkey neck. Both men and women visit Dr. Mandal in Palm Beach for neck lift surgery to remove excess skin and fat and to excise and tighten sagging muscles.
Since everyone ages differently, Dr. Mandal customizes the neck lift procedure to your individual needs. A mini-neck lift is an excellent choice if you have mild to moderate sagging. Patients usually require a full or standard neck lift when more significant tissue laxity requires the removal of skin and SMAS. Neck lifts can also be combined with the face in the form of facelifts or mini-facelifts or with chin implants or liposuction to enhance the neck contour for more complete facial rejuvenation.
Because each patient is different, how your neck ages determine the extent of neck lift surgery. Aging in the neck can be due to one or more of the following:
- Loose, sagging neck skin
- Submental fat
- Vertical platysmal neckbands
- Sagging of salivary glands in the neck
- Weak jawline or receding chin
Neck Lift Surgery
A standard neck lift in Palm Beach is an outpatient procedure that Dr. Mandal performs in 1 to 2 hours while the patient is typically under “twilight” anesthesia. Generally, she removes excess fat and tightens muscle through a small incision made just under the chin. She conceals the incisions behind the ears and hairline after removing excess skin where necessary. Neck lift surgery consists of one or more of the following:
- Platysmaplasty or excision and tightening of the anterior vertical neck bands
- Lateral tightening/excision of SMAS muscle
- Skin redraping
- Excess skin removal
Neck Lift Recovery & Results
Patients return home after surgery with a small drain and pressure dressing that will be removed the next day. Sutures are taken out at 7 to 10 days, depending on the type of neck lift performed. At this point, you may cover any minimal bruising or swelling with makeup and resume most routine activities. The incisions are not readily noticeable once fully healed, enabling you to wear your hair short or back.
After neck lift surgery, Dr. Mandal’s patients can appreciate the more youthful contours with a defined jaw and neckline, but without an “overpulled” look. The changes may be subtle, yet impressive and above all, natural looking. Dr. Mandal’s technical skills and eye for detail can offer a rewarding experience for her patients.
Non-surgical Neck Rejuvenation
Many of our neck lift patients in Palm Beach Gardens & West Palm Beach aren’t quite ready for surgery. Patients who are not yet ready for surgery or have mild to moderate aging of the neck may be candidates for a non-surgical neck lift to target excess fat, platysmal neck bands, and sagging skin using non-surgical multiple-modality therapy consisting of:
- Kybella® to permanently reduce submental fat
- Botox® Cosmetic for mild to moderate vertical platysmal bands
- Genius™ RF / Infini™ RF to tighten loose neck skin
- Bellafill® – the 5-year filler – to restore definition to a receding chin and weak jawline
Chin Implant
A receding chin can predispose you to premature aging in the neck. Some patients benefit from chin implant surgery in conjunction with a neck lift to restore the definition of the jaw and neckline. Injectable fillers can also improve the chin/neck angle non-surgically.
As a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Mandal focuses on satisfying results that are very natural looking. When it comes to the face, patients prefer quality and excellence over price. They seek her skills from throughout Palm Beach County, across Florida and a range of national and international locations. To discover your options, request a consultation online or call 561-238-0040 at our Palm Beach Gardens office.