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Neck Lift Procedure - Chicago Plastic Surgery
Considering a neck lift?
The Neck Lift (Platysmaplasty) is a family of treatments that can address problems with the fat, muscle and
skin of your neck and jaw line. Neck lifts have been performed by many Chicago plastic surgeons for years.
Is your neck overly full and out of proportion with your face?
Search Chicago plastic surgeons performing neck lift surgery.
Have you lost weight only to find sagging skin in your neck? A Neck Lift can help correct a fleshy neck,
"jowls", plastysma or neck "banding", or that "turkey waddle".
If, however, the skin of the neck is loose, hanging, or crepey, even if there is excess fat, liposuction
alone will not produce the desired result.
A full Neck Lift may be used to address problems with slack skin, slack neck muscles, or both. Most patients over
40 will require some surgical skin tightening.
Each person will have very different requirements for improving the appearance of their neck. If you are interested
in a Neck Lift, make an appointment with a Chicago plastic surgeon to determine the best treatment for your
situation.
As we age, different areas of the face and neck are affected differently. Some people develop wrinkling and
sun damage in their entire face and neck. Some people seem to lose facial fat, while others accumulate fat
in the neck and maintain good skin tone. Others may develop more exaggerated signs of aging in their neck.
What is a neck lift?
A neck lift is actually a set of procedures used to enhance the appearance of your neck:
- Cervicoplasty is the procedure used to remove excess skin
- Platysmaplasty removes or alters neck muscles
Your Chicago plastic surgeon also can perform neck liposuction, which removes excess fat. In some cases,
Botox injections may be the answer to your problems if you have fullness or "bands."
How is a neck lift performed?
Typically, the procedure will last two to three hours. Of course, if you are having a neck lift in conjunction
with liposuction, facelift, brow lift, or other surgeries, the time will vary accordingly. Your exact procedure
will depend on your desired results and your own personal circumstances. In order to undergo a neck lift, you
must be in good general health, both physically and mentally.
What do you dislike about your neck? Be honest with yourself! You're putting a lot of time and effort into
researching the surgery, so make sure you get the results you want. You also should write down your thoughts
on what you'd like to correct and have that with you at the time of your pre-operative consultation with your Chicago cosmetic surgeon.
Common concerns regarding neck lift surgery in Chicago, IL:
- Turkey waddle neck
- Excess fat
- Too much skin
Turkey waddle - weakened or loose neck muscles
If you have weakened or loose neck muscles, this may cause the "turkey waddle" or appearance of neck "bands."
To correct this, your Chicago plastic surgeon may recommend plastysmaplasty surgery. The surgeon makes incisions
under your chin and behind your ears to access the platysma (neck muscle) and manipulate it accordingly. Sometimes,
that may even mean removing some muscle. Your surgeon may also use permanent sutures to hold the tissue in place.
There are new less invasive procedures, where your surgeon may be able to make smaller incisions and use an
endoscope (small camera attached to a thin tube) to complete your surgery. Make sure you ask your surgeon for
all your options during your consultation.
You and your Chicago plastic surgeon will discuss what type of anesthesia to use, depending on your level of
comfort. If you want to remain asleep during the procedure, you should request general anesthesia. Otherwise,
your surgeon can use local anesthesia with sedation. It's up to you, however, to make that determination.
Instead of surgery or in addition to it, Botox injections can relax parts of the platysma that are responsible
for the "band" appearance or look of fullness. The injections are completed on an outpatient basis and typically
can be completed within 15 minutes.
Excess fat
During liposuction, your surgeon will make a small incision below the chin and remove the excess fat. If you are
undergoing multiple procedures during your neck lift, it is very common for Chicago plastic surgeons to begin with
liposuction. If this is the only procedure you'll need, you should plan to spend up to an hour undergoing the
operation.
You will be able to determine this with your doctor during your pre-operative consultation. Your incisions will
be stitched and bandaged. It's very important to follow your doctor's instructions on properly caring for the
stitches and bandage in the days following surgery.
Too much skin
Just like the platysmaplasty, your surgeon will make similar incisions for a cervicoplasty: one behind each ear
and one under the chin, trimming parts of the skin and lifting it into place.
It will be secured with tissue glue or stitches. The cervicoplasty can be completed in about two to four hours,
depending on the complexity of your procedure. Again, your anesthesia will depend on your own personal comfort
level.
Your Chicago plastic surgeon will fit you with a compression bandage that you will have to wear for at least one
week, unless instructed otherwise. It's important to follow his or her instructions to ensure proper recovery.
How should I prepare for a neck lift in Chicago, IL?
During your consultation, your Chicago plastic surgeon will instruct you on what medications to avoid prior to
your surgery. Certain medications and vitamins thin your blood and can cause increased bleeding.
If you are a smoker, you will need to quit at least two weeks before the surgery and two weeks after. You cannot
just plan to cut down. You must not smoke for this time period to ensure proper healing.
Also, this is no time for a diet: make sure that you eat properly because this will help your body heal.
Make sure you wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of surgery. You should especially plan to wear a
button-down blouse or shirt that does not have to be pulled over your neck or head.
You should plan to take at least one week off from work to recover. However, your Chicago doctor can determine this
based on your personal situation.
If you are having platysmaplasty, cervicoplasty, or a combination of any of the procedures we've discussed here,
you should plan on having a home recovery area set up before you undergo surgery.
The recovery period for neck lift surgery in Chicago, IL
Recovery takes time and it's important that you're patient with the process. Most people can return to work in
10-14 days.
If you participate in other sports or are physically active, you will have to wait at least three weeks, if not
longer, to resume those activities. Don't rush! It's not worth it. You've put a lot of time and energy into
making this happen, so make it worthwhile.
Your home recovery area should include:
- Ice packs
- Gauze and towels
- Thermometer
- Supply of comfortable, loose clothing (preferably button down shirts or blouses that do not have to be pulled
over your neck and head)
- Petroleum jelly and antibacterial ointment for incision sites
- Telephone within reaching distance of where you'll be lying or sitting most of the time
- Supply of pillows which will allow you to keep your head in a comfortable position
- Someone who can stay with you at least the first 24 hours after surgery
Potential risks of neck lift surgery in Chicago, IL
You will have swelling and bruising that can last for several days. You may feel tightness or tingling, and different
sensations including burning or pulling. You also will experience numbness. These are all very normal in the first
few weeks following surgery and should not be cause for concern.
As with any surgery, you run the risk of infection. Please keep a watchful eye on your temperature. At the first
sign of a fever, contact your doctor. If you have unusual discharge from the incision site, such as pus, contact
your doctor immediately.
Although it's very rare, you could have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. That's why it's very important to
disclose any drug allergies to your doctor in a pre-operative consultation.
Does insurance cover this procedure?
Insurance carriers are all different, but one thing is the same: They typically agree NOT to cover elective,
cosmetic surgery.
If your procedures will in any way correct a medical condition, it's important that you express this to your
insurance carrier. Your surgeon can write a letter detailing your case.
Also, it's important to realize that cosmetic or plastic surgery can affect future coverage under certain
insurance carriers. It can also affect your premiums. Make sure you ask your insurance carrier about how your
future coverage or premiums will be affected should you undergo any of these procedures.
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