Neck Lift

A neck lift is the perfect complement to a facelift procedure. This surgical procedure involves lifting and tightening superficial neck muscles, along with removing excess fat and loose skin. The result is a lovely improvement in jawline contour and profile definition. Neck lift surgery is also the most definitive way to achieve facial rejuvenation following weight loss. This includes patients who have experienced significant weight loss after taking GLP-1 medications, which can lead to sagging skin in the neck area.

This page will guide you through the more traditional, time-tested, and safer neck lift procedure offered by Dr. Prischmann.

Who is a Candidate for Neck Lift Surgery?

A good candidate for neck lift surgery has loose and excess skin of the neck. They may also have some excessive fat or loose muscles.

The best candidates also have a history of a well-defined jawline that became loose or saggy over time. In other words, a traditional neck lift will not dramatically change an unfavorable underlying structure. One question to ask yourself is, “Did you like the appearance of your profile in your teens or twenties?” If you did, then that means that your underlying structure is good. If you never liked the appearance of your neck on profile view, this is something to bring up with Dr. Prischmann to ensure that traditional neck lift surgery will meet your expectations.

Lastly, the best candidates for a neck lift have good neck skin quality. If the skin of the neck has become excessively crepey, it may not fully improve with surgery. That being said, a good neck lift will remove some of the crepey skin and that will result in a global improvement in the appearance of the neck.

Preparing for your Neck Lift

The first step if you are considering neck lift surgery is to determine candidacy. Generally speaking, there are three main factors to consider when deciding whether someone is a good surgical candidate.

Factor 1: Healing

Ideal candidates heal well, without a history of keloid or abnormal scars. Please inform Dr. Prischmann if you have a history of abnormal healing, bleeding, or skin infections. Also, inform Dr. Prischmann if you have ever had a complication from previous surgical procedures.

Factor 2: Medical History

Ideal candidates are healthy enough to undergo a procedure that involves general anesthesia. Patients should not be on blood thinning medications or have uncontrolled high blood pressure. Patients should also have any chronic diseases (heart or autoimmune, for example) optimally managed. With regard to the neck region, please inform Dr. Prischmann if you have ever had any prior neck surgeries, laser procedures, injections, or thread lifting procedures.

Factor 3: Physical Exam Findings

Ideal neck lift candidates have loose skin of the neck that can easily be repositioned with sliding fingers backwards and upwards. Dr. Prischmann will examine your neck closely during your consultation.

The Neck Lift Surgery Procedure

Dr. Prischmann performs neck lift surgery in conjunction with lower facelift surgery. She does not perform neck lift surgery on its own. Face and neck lift surgery are performed together under general anesthesia in a fully accredited outpatient surgery center. Dr. Prischmann uses an excellent anesthesia team that is staffed with anesthesiologists (MDs).

With regard to what happens during the neck lifting portion, there are four main components:

1. Anterior skin elevation: An incision is made under the chin in a natural crease. The skin of the neck is elevated. The amount of elevation depends on the needs of each individual patient.
2. Possible liposculpting: Some patients benefit from liposuction, others don’t. The pros and cons are discussed during the consultation. If it is advised, then it is performed under direct visualization for optimal precision and evenness.
3. Possible superficial muscle tightening: The neck has a thin sheet of superficial muscle called the platysma, a muscle responsible for vertical neck bands and not involved in swallowing or speaking. Sometimes, placing a few sutures between the platysmal bands can sharpen the neck angle and enhance the results of surgery. Dr. Prischmann will advise you during the consultation if you would benefit from platysmal muscle tightening.
4. Posterior skin elevation and muscle tightening: Small incisions are made around the earlobe and along the hairline to ensure scars remain discreet. The skin of the lower face and neck is elevated. An incision is then made in the deeper, muscular layer of the face. In the context of this procedure, it is often termed “the deep plane.” The deep plane and soft tissue redraping helps achieve a natural contour.

Neck Lift Recovery

Face and neck lift surgery is an outpatient procedure. Dr. Prischmann places drains in the neck to prevent accumulation of fluid after surgery. These drains are removed within 24 hours (typically the morning after surgery).

Once the drains are removed, the focus is on immobilizing the area as much as is reasonably and safely possible. The first week is spent limiting physical activity. Often patients report the area feels tight and numb. Once the drains are removed, most patients report minimal pain. Bruising is variable, and most patients have some bruising in the operated area.

Sutures are typically removed seven days after surgery.

Between day 10 and day 14, patients are seen for a lymphatic massage and are taught how to safely camouflage any residual bruising. Most, but not all, patients would feel confident being in social situations after this appointment.

Healing of the muscle lift typically takes about six weeks. Because of this, we encourage patients to avoid anything that puts excessive strain on the neck until after this time period. We also encourage patients to stay on a softer diet, as excessive chewing or mouth opening can pull against the muscle lift.

We see our patients at one month and three months after surgery.

For nearly all patients, the skin and muscle relax slightly in the weeks or months after surgery. This is completely normal (and often a relief if the neck feels tight). If this relaxation causes some cosmetic concerns (most commonly the persistence of skin under the chin), this can often be touched up in the office six months after surgery.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Lift

Where can I find a neck lift near me?

If you’re searching for a neck lift near me in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the Twin Cities, Dr. Jess Prischmann offers expert care and personalized treatment plans tailored to your goals.

Can I combine other treatments with a neck lift?

Yes. Many patients combine their neck lift with a facelift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or BOTOX® for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Is neck lift surgery safe?

We often hear that patients select our practice because they want a safe procedure. We are very proud of our safety record and feel that neck lift surgery is very safe. All surgical procedures carry risk, and we encourage all of our patients to thoroughly read consent forms given to prospective patients at the time of consultation. 

How do you address excess fat in the neck?

Neck liposuction effectively removes superficial fat. In some cases, the fat is deep in the neck, deeper than what conventional liposuction can address. In this case, a deep neck lift is the procedure that gives the best results. Unfortunately, this procedure carries risks that Dr. Prischmann does not feel are acceptable for elective surgery. During your consultation, she will set appropriate expectations and let you know which procedures are best for you.

How do you address vertical neck bands?

Vertical neck bands (called “platysmal bands”) can be difficult to completely eliminate with traditional neck lift surgery. Dr. Prischmann will examine your bands during the consultation and advise you on what to expect from the procedure. 

How do you address crepey skin of the neck?

Neck lift surgery does not change the quality of the skin. Sometimes this is hard for patients to conceptualize, because manually lifting the skin often gives the illusion of smoothness.

For patients that have loose skin AND crepiness, we will often perform surgery and then advise laser treatments a few months after surgery.

Will I have visible scarring after my neck lift procedure?

Our experience has been that patients heal very well following surgery. If you have specific concerns regarding visible scarring, please bring them up during your consultation.

How long do the results of a neck lift last?

 Dr. Prischmann now believes that no plastic surgeon can guarantee how long surgical results will last. There are so many factors to consider when answering this question. That being said, it is an important and fair question to ask during the consultation. She will be honest with you regarding how long she feels YOUR results should last.

Are there non-surgical alternatives to neck lift surgery?

Surgery is the only procedure that can remove excessive skin. That being said, there are many non-surgical procedures that can improve the appearance of the neck.

• HALO Hybrid Fractional Laser Resurfacing: By using a laser as a “microcoring” device, we can often create improvements in the appearance of skin crepiness. Used often after surgery as a finishing touch. 
• Sylfirm X: This is an RF microneedling procedure that can improve the contour under the chin and sharpen the appearance of the jawline. Results are subtle and we mostly advise this for patients not yet ready for a neck lift.
• Skin Tyte: This is a non-invasive light-based procedure that causes collagen contraction through bulk heating. Useful in delaying progression of aging. Not considered a corrective procedure. 
• Kybella: Used for isolated fat reduction under the chin. Often yields better results in younger patients.

Post-surgery, we may recommend tailored skin care regimens to maintain your results.

How much does a neck lift cost?

The cost of neck lift surgery depends on each patient’s unique treatment plan. You will be fully educated about the cost of your neck lift during your consultation with Dr. Prischmann. Flexible financing options are available to make your procedure more affordable.

¹ ASPS. What is a neck lift? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift. Accessed March 10, 2023..