Neck Lift and Liposuction

Do you feel self-conscious about your neck? If you have sagging skin underneath your chin and your neck blends all together, this can make you want to wear scarves or turtleneck sweaters. Some call this turkey wattle, neck bands, double chin or fatty jowls. No matter what you call it, having fatty jowls is just plain embarrassing.

It doesn’t happen right away. As people age, their necks tend to age faster than the face. One reason could be the loss of elasticity underneath the jawline, which also worsens with any type of weight gain. Another could stem from under protection from the rays of the sun. People often apply sunscreen to their face, but sometimes overlook their neck region.

Whether your undesirable neck flap is caused by aging, genetics, UV rays or a defiance of gravity, a neck lift with lipo could be the perfect solution. Also known as platysmaplasty, neck lifts offer neck contouring enhancement possibilities. A platysmaplasty involves removing excess sagging skin underneath your chin. Some may need to be stripped away, while the rest may be removed with lipo. Even if you lose weight, this double chin can remain behind because of the loss of elasticity in that part of your body.

Our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Humberto Palladino can make the adjustments to your neck by tightening the platysma muscle. This muscle tends to sag away from the rest of the face as If you have a strong feeling that you are a candidate for platysmaplasty surgery, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Palladino. He is a board-certified, award-winning plastic surgeon and has completed hundreds of successful neck lift and lipo procedures.

You will get to see the neck lift and lipo outcome prior to the surgery. We use an advanced imaging system to show you “before” and “afters” so that you can feel confident knowing what your new neck will look like in advance.

During the surgery, Dr. Palladino and his team will administer medication to make you feel calm and relaxed. A monitor will track your vitals during the surgery, and you will have a choice of twilight or general anesthesia before the platysmaplasty people get older. If you have lost a significant amount of weight or just have a lot of extra skin or flab in your neck, it may require a more extensive neck lift procedure. The doctor will remove excess fatty tissue in conjunction with liposuction techniques. This alone may be enough to smooth out your neck and make it appear younger.

The Procedure – What to Expect

takes place. Most patients prefer general anesthesia, and we have one of the best anesthesiologists in South Florida at our disposal.

There are three commonly used techniques to do the neck lift & lipo procedure:

• Neck liposuction: This is used for neck band cosmetic enhancement and correction. A precision lipo tool is used to suck out specific areas of fat underneath the chin and on the lower face and neck.
• Combination Skin Removal/Lipo: As the name suggests, this technique combines the lipo tool with skin removal to smooth, contour and tighten the neck.
• Skin-only technique: Dr. Palladino will make two tiny incisions either just behind the ears or underneath the chin. He loosens and re-drapes the skin and then removes the extra baggage or fat. He may determine that some of the fatty tissue or platysma muscle will need to be tightened to give your throat and neck a firmer appearance.

After completing one or more of these cosmetic procedures, the surgeon may finish with sutures, mesh and bandages to eliminate the double chin. Dr. Palladino will seal up the incisions to complete the platysmaplasty.

Preparing for Neck Lift Surgery

In most cases, a neck lift is done as an outpatient operation. You don’t need to plan on spending the night in the hospital, but you should have someone available to drive you to and from the appointment, as you may feel groggy and out of sorts after the anesthesia wears off.

You can be ready for your neck lift surgery by:

• Quitting smoking at least two weeks or more ahead of your scheduled surgery.
• Avoiding eating or drinking after 11:00 p.m. on the night before the neck lift.
• Buying a few ice packs and medical supplies for your recovery at home.
• Asking a friend or relative to drive you to and from the procedure.
• Avoiding any lotions, creams, or makeup on your neck, face or chin.
• Getting time off from work for at least a week following your surgery.

It will take approximately one to two hours to perform the neck lift and lipo procedure, but because of the anesthesia or IV conscious sedation, you will remain in the recovery room for a few hours for observation. Expect some soreness, bruising, tenderness, swelling, or the feeling of a stiff jaw. Our team will get you bandaged up and will ensure your comfort and safety. Always make sure you choose to have cosmetic surgery in an accredited and board-certified facility, such as Dr. Palladino’s surgery center.

Combined Neck Lift Procedures

Platysmaplasty is often done in conjunction with other corrective surgeries to help you heal better and maximize time. Doing other facial enhancements also yields better results with related procedures, such as brow lifts, facelifts or chin augmentations. Prior to neck lift surgery, you can inquire about other types of cosmetic facial surgeries that partner well with platysmaplasty.

Some include:

• Rhinoplasty
• Chin Augmentation
• Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
• Fat Injections
• Blepharoplasty

Rejuvenating your face can truly boost your self-confidence and make you feel good about your neck, face and self-esteem. Talk to Dr. Palladino ahead of time to see if this is an option. It is common to apply these surgeries together as a group.

The Recovery

Your neck may be swollen or bleed for a few days following a neck lift. This is normal. However, if the bleeding seems excessive, call the doctor immediately. Keep in mind that healing from surgery takes time, so you may want to avoid social obligations until you feel more like yourself again. The swelling will go down in a couple of weeks.

Right after the surgery, Dr. Palladino and his caring team will apply special medical bandages to wear on your neck, chin, and near the incision points. Keep them on your neck for a couple of days, or per his instructions. Your neck and chin will feel sore and tender for a while.

For a few days, you may want to stick to a liquid diet. Soups, yogurt and milkshakes or soft foods will be easier to swallow. If you desire, Dr. Palladino can prescribe medication to ease the postoperative discomfort. Within only a few short weeks, your neck will look smooth and beautiful again. Your turkey wattle and double chin will be just a faint memory!

What are the Risks of Neck Surgery?

Any type of surgery poses risks, but the complications are far and few between when you adhere to the doctor’s recommendations, such as quitting smoking and not eating prior to the neck lift procedure. These instructions are for your own good, to help you avoid getting blood clots or to prevent sickness, etc.

If any complications were to occur, these are the things to look out for:

• Infection
• Intense itching
• Excessive bleeding or hematoma
• Numbness in face or neck
• Blood clots
• Undesirable scars
• Skin discoloration or irregularities
• Need for revisional surgery

Again, these risks are rare when the neck lift surgery is done at an accredited outpatient center. Our surgery center meets all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations for patient care, and Dr. Palladino is a member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to give his patients the most peace of mind for a favorable outcome.

Pricing

When you come for a consultation to discuss a neck lift and lipo procedure, the estimate will cover the facility fees, lab costs, surgeon’s fee, anesthesiologist, medical supplies, medications, and the staff who will be present for your surgery. Depending on whether you are doing a combination facial corrective procedure or just the neck lift, the fees may vary from $2,600 to $7,000. This also depends on the type of technique used and whether twilight or general anesthesia is applied.

Most people would consider this a small price to pay to get rid of a dreadful double chin. At least it can be a new beginning and make you look a lot younger. Whether you combine a neck lift surgery with another type of facial procedure this is just one great milestone on your path to feeling confident and self-assured.

Learn More About Neck Lift and Liposuction

Say goodbye to your turkey neck. Call 866-624-7874 or schedule a consultation with Dr. Palladino to discuss your neck lift & lipo today.