Not everyone who comes into our Newport Beach plastic surgery office interested in a neck lift knows what they’re looking for. Here are some common goals and reasons people consider getting a neck lift.

The most common concerns that a neck lift can address include the infamous turkey wattle neck, excess fat, or just too much loose skin.

If you’re interested in getting rid of your turkey wattle neck, we may discuss the neck lift procedure which involves making cuts under your chin or behind your ears to access a neck muscle called the platysma. Occasionally removing some muscle may be required for optimal results.  There are now newer procedures that allow us to make smaller cuts and use an endoscope (a small camera attached to a thin tube) to complete your surgery. We will be sure to discuss all your options during your consultation.

Sometimes 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 under the chin. Botox^® injections can be done in 15 minutes on an outpatient basis, meaning no hospital stay.

If you’re interested in getting rid of some deep seated fatty tissue in the neck that just won’t go away with exercise and diet alone, liposuction neck lift may be an option for you.  During this type of neck lift, a small cut is made below your chin and excess fat is removed manually. Liposuction can also be combined with other procedures to improve the overall appearance of your neck.

If there is too much skin on your neck from genetics or a recent weight loss, we can trim parts of the skin and lift it into place, securing it with tissue glue or stitches. This takes about only about two to four hours, depending on the complexity of your procedure. Again, your anesthesia will depend on your own personal comfort level.

Unless you’re getting other cosmetic procedures done at the same time as your neck lift, you can expect the neck lift operation to last about an hour.  Afterwards you can expect there to be a handful of stitches and quite a few bandages. It’s important to follow all pre and post instructions for optimal results and healing.  After the surgery you will also be fitted with a compression bandage that you will likely have to wear for at least one week for added healing and comfort.