Neck Lift in Chicago — Michael E. Nissan, M.D.

Overview

Neck lift is one of the most transformative operations in facial aesthetic surgery. The neck is often what patients and observers notice first when the face begins to age. A blunted neckline, banding of the platysma muscle, and heaviness along the jawline are common concerns for patients.

A neck lift addresses these changes at their source. The procedure repositions and tightens the structures of the neck — the platysma muscle, fat, and skin — to restore a clean angle between the neck and jawline. Some patients require surgical changes to the deeper structures of the neck, including the submandibular glands, the muscles, and the deep fat.

For many patients, a neck lift is performed as part of a facelift, addressing the face and neck through the same set of incisions. For patients whose primary concern is the neck alone, the neck lift can also be performed as a stand-alone procedure.

Who is a Candidate

The best candidates for neck lift surgery are patients in good health who have at least one of the following aging changes in the neck: loose skin along the neck, muscle banding (vertical cords visible when the neck is activated), a blunted or heavy neckline, excess fat under the chin, or descent of the tissues along the jawline creating jowls.

Candidacy is anatomy-dependent, not age-dependent. Patients most commonly seek neck lift in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, although those with significant weight loss or genetic laxity may be candidates earlier.

What to Expect

Every case begins with an unhurried consultation. Dr. Nissan will examine the neck and face, discuss what you notice and what you hope to change, and offer a candid opinion on whether a neck lift alone, or a combined face and neck lift, would best serve your goals.

Surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. Bruising and swelling are most pronounced in the first week, resolve substantially by two to three weeks, and continue to refine over months. Most patients are comfortable returning to social settings by two to three weeks. The final result continues to settle over the first year.

Frequently Asked

How is a neck lift different from a facelift?

Neck lift provides improvement below the jawline. Facelift provides improvement above the jawline. In practice, these procedures are often combined, because aging in the face and neck typically occurs together. Whether the two are performed together or separately depends on the individual patient’s anatomy and priorities.

Can a neck lift be done without a facelift?

Yes. Some patients, particularly younger patients with neck fullness, are excellent candidates for an isolated neck lift. On occasion, this can be done with a single incision under the chin. Others, whose changes extend meaningfully into the cheeks and jawline, benefit more from a combined face and neck lift.

Will there be a visible scar?

Neck lift incisions are typically placed behind or around the ears and beneath the chin. Younger patients may be candidates for a single incision under the chin, avoiding the lateral incisions around the ears, but this is determined at the time of consultation with Dr. Nissan. As with facelift, scar quality is patient-dependent as well as surgeon-dependent, and our practice uses scar treatment strategies to maximize the result. Neck lift scars typically fade and become inconspicuous with time.

Is a neck lift painful?

Most patients describe the recovery as tight and uncomfortable rather than painful. Discomfort is managed with a short course of medication in the first several days, although most patients end up not needing much.

How long does a neck lift last?

The neck lift produces a durable restoration of the underlying muscle and tissue architecture. Like the facelift, it does not stop the aging process, but it resets the neck to a more youthful position that will continue to age from a younger baseline.

What happens at the consultation?

The consultation is a conversation as much as an examination. We will take your photos, and Dr. Nissan will ask what you notice in the mirror. He will discuss the underlying anatomy driving those observations and recommend the treatment strategy that best serves your goals.