A neck lift procedure is usually performed under General Anaesthetic, sometimes as a day surgery with no overnight stay and a quick recovery. Some procedures do require an overnight stay and more complex follow-up care and patients will have adequate opportunity to go over the details of their procedures prior to scheduling surgery.
The most common neck lift intervention involves both contouring under the chin and skin tightening. Because of that, removal of excess skin in the lower face and neck includes placement of scars around the ears as well as under the chin. The operation is most frequently carried out under a general anaesthetic, and will benefit from an overnight stay in hospital. This type of operation is frequently combined with facelift surgery as a continuum of rejuvenation of the face and neck, for a more elegant jawline contour, defined neck and heart-shaped appearance of the face.
When the skin excess is more limited, corresponding to better skin elasticity, neck lift surgery may be designed with removal of the excess skin primarily behind the ear, and a short scar in front of the ear lobe.
The situation where skin elasticity is good but the neck definition is poor corresponds more frequently between a younger patients. In a situation like this, it is possible to provide extensive correction of the neck and jaw line contour using just an incision under the chin, without skin tightening. Because of the characteristics of the skin and the presence of the beard, this type of surgery is suitable for some men even later in life. This type of surgery is frequently referred to as anterior neck lift or anterior cervicoplasty.
The more delicate nature of the neck skin in women means that it is preferable to combine contouring and skin tightening as soon as skin laxity sets in.
Direct skin excision or direct anterior neck lift refers to treatment carried out for removal of overhanging skin in the front of the neck under the chin, and is more commonly suitable in older patients, when one prefers to avoid an anaesthetic. It has the disadvantage of more visible scars in the front of the neck, but fortunately when the skin has lost a lot of its elasticity, these scars tend to be less visible.
A highly individualised treatment plan is set out at the time of the consultation, taking in consideration patients' individual characteristics and aspirations as well as concerns and general medical conditions. 3-D imaging and computerised design of the treatment plan are often contributing to clarity and customisation.
Learn more about neck lift planningMany neck lift procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis with no need for an overnight stay. Anterior neck lifts, direct anterior neck lifts, and the minimally invasive i-guide procedure are usually considered day cases.
More complex surgery, such as a formal neck lift, and surgery combining a neck lift with a face lift or other procedure, will usually necessitate an overnight stay in the hospital to help support a patient's initial recovery.
Learn more about recoveryWe frequently use drains after neck lift surgery to reduce complications from fluid build-up, speed up recovery and return to work and socialising.
These are usually only in place for three days or so and are removed at the clinic during follow-up consultation. With the drains in place hair washing is possible and indeed recommended.
Depending on the procedure, may be used for a few hours after surgery or overnight with specific recommendations given at the time tailored to each patients' particular needs.
Compression garments after surgery are routinely recommended only for patients who undergo anterior neck lift surgery.
For full-scale neck lift interventions compression garments are usually avoided in our practice.
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