As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. The jawline can grow slack and jowly while folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A neck lift can help you redefine and rejuvenate your face. With a quick recovery time, a neck lift provides a simple way to look younger and more beautiful. Neck lift surgery is performed to provide dramatic results and a more pleasing profile by removing excess fat and tightening underlying muscles and the skin around the neck. These results are especially dramatic when combined with our other rejuvenating procedures, such as a brow lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
A comprehensive neck lift procedure by Dr. Joseph Fodero will typically last anywhere from two to three hours – or somewhat longer if you’re having multiple surgeries done. For extensive procedures, some surgeons may schedule two separate sessions.
Incisions usually begin in front of the earlobe and wrap around behind the ear, ending in the lower scalp. A small incision may also be made under the chin. Dr. Joseph Fodero separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. He then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess skin and fat. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.
After the surgery, you will have swelling and bruising that can last for several days. You may feel tightness or tingling, along with different sensations including burning or pulling. Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.
Most people can return to work in 10 to 14 days. You will have to wait at least three weeks, if not longer, to resume sports activities. Don’t rush! Taking care of yourself during the healing process should be your priority. Dr. Joseph Fodero will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities during the consultation pre-op process.
When a neck lift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable. Patients who plan on having a neck lift procedure are strongly advised to not smoke several weeks before and after the procedure.
The best candidate for a neck lift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but neck lifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.
