Neck Lift
In aesthetic rejuvenation, the neck is just as important as the face. At Višnjar Clinic, we place special emphasis on neck lifting, as this area of the body often reveals true age and signs of fatigue. This cosmetic procedure balances the appearance of the face and neck, giving clients a youthful look.
Permanent
2h
1 week
O posegu
- Neck rejuvenation or lifting goes hand in hand with facial rejuvenation and care for one’s appearance. The neck should be a smooth transition from a youthful face to an attractive décolletage, but often this is not the case.
- Over the years, the skin on the neck becomes thinner, mostly due to sun exposure, as it is often left unprotected. Horizontal wrinkles and vertical bands appear, giving the neck a "turkey neck" appearance. The cause of these vertical bands is the platysma muscle, which also creates deep horizontal lines.
- We can restore the skin’s firmness and glow with hyaluronic acid fillers that hydrate the skin from within. Skin quality can also be effectively improved and corrected with chemical peels, while vertical bands and horizontal lines can be softened using Botox.
- If the above-mentioned non-surgical treatments are not effective, we can correct the shape of the neck with a surgical procedure — a neck lift, most commonly combined with a facelift. The incision runs in front of and behind the ear and is almost invisible. At the same time as tightening the neck, we can also remove excess fat under the chin with liposuction.
- A preoperative consultation and discussion about your wishes and options is essential in planning the procedure. Before the neck lift surgery, we will thoroughly discuss the extent of the procedure, the scars, and all other important details.
- The procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia and takes between one and three hours.
More about the neck lift procedure
The face is the most exposed part of the body, so we naturally wish it would change as little as possible with age. Aging is a complex process influenced by genetics, nutrition, sun exposure, repeated muscle contractions, and gravity. In facial care and rejuvenation, we often forget about the neck, which—with its telltale aged appearance—can starkly contrast with a rejuvenated face. With surgical and non-surgical rejuvenation, we can restore contour and smooth out deeply etched wrinkles, excess skin, and fat in the mid and lower parts of the face and neck.
Neck aesthetics in men and women
An attractive neck is proportionate to a person’s physique. The ideal shape and width of the neck differ between men and women. The skin around the neck should be tight, smooth, soft, without horizontal creases or vertical bands, and free of excess fat under the chin.
Loss of elasticity and skin thinning cause loose and wrinkled skin on the face and neck, along with deep lines that make us appear older. The soft tissues of the face gradually lose their resistance to gravity. In women especially, jowls along the lower jaw break the oval shape of the face and hang freely. The transition from the chin to the neck becomes less defined, often accompanied by horizontal and vertical neck wrinkles and a double chin. In lean individuals with expressive facial muscles, platysma bands can protrude while speaking and become visible. While slight platysma movement is part of youthful facial expression, in older age these sagging, prominent bands detract from appearance and form the so-called "turkey neck."
How can we slow down neck aging?
The most important step in maintaining a youthful neck appearance is understanding the harmful effects of UV radiation and avoiding excessive sun exposure. This will keep the skin on the neck and décolletage beautiful, soft, and firm for longer. It’s also important to care for the skin of the entire body with moisturizing creams—not just the neck.
Despite preventive habits, we cannot stop internal aging, but we can mitigate it. Horizontal lines and prominent vertical bands caused by the tightening of the platysma neck muscle can be successfully smoothed out with Botox.
Sun-damaged and thinned skin can be effectively refreshed with a chemical peel, using a variety of active ingredients at different strengths.
We can restore the sharp jawline lost with age using hyaluronic acid fillers. With different filler densities and other substances (such as Profhilo), we can successfully rejuvenate the skin through mesotherapy. This stimulates collagen production, hydrates the skin, and improves fine lines.
The neck can be rejuvenated during a facelift
Double chin fat can be reduced with liposuction, and the excess skin on the neck is then lifted toward the ears and contoured to match the newly rejuvenated face. With surgical neck contouring (neck lift), we effectively reduce the double chin, neck fullness, and skin and muscle laxity—whether due to inherited traits or aging. In many cases, the neck appears so aged that non-surgical methods cannot meet the desired youthful appearance.
During a surgical neck lift, incisions are hidden in front of, below, and behind the ear. The procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia and lasts from one to three hours. Postoperative pain is moderate. Possible complications include temporary numbness, swelling, bruising, or temporary weakness of a branch of the facial nerve. All of these complications are extremely rare.
What is platysmaplasty?
Platysmaplasty is a procedure used to correct vertical bands of the superficial neck muscle (platysma) and improve the contour of the neck. Through a 2 cm incision just under the chin, under local anesthesia, we tighten the soft tissues of the neck. In more extensive cases, platysmaplasty is performed in combination with a full neck lift under general anesthesia.
When is chin liposuction appropriate?
During chin liposuction, a small cannula is used to remove localized fat deposits, improving the definition of the jawline, chin, and neck, and eliminating the double chin. Liposuction can be performed as a standalone procedure or used as an additional technique during a surgical neck or facelift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Although aging typically affects both the face and neck, signs of aging may sometimes be more pronounced on the neck. A patient can choose to undergo a neck lift alone. In this case, scars are placed behind the ears or under the chin. However, the most effective surgical rejuvenation method remains a combination of facelift and neck lift.
If the skin has good tone and the platysma bands are not prominent, targeted neck liposuction is usually the best choice. If the main concern is loose skin with poor tone and a "turkey neck" appearance, a surgical neck lift is the recommended solution. If there are also visible signs of facial aging like sagging skin or jowls, then the best results come from combining a facelift, neck lift, and chin liposuction.
The results are immediate and long-lasting, but surgery cannot stop the natural aging process. Therefore, the procedure might need to be repeated after 10 to 15 years, but not before.
Recovery usually takes about 14 days, during which we recommend taking time off work. Depending on the nature of the job, longer rest may be necessary. Recovery time also depends on the individual’s healing ability. Physical exercise and sports activities are advised only after 4 weeks.