As you age, you will experience a myriad of age-related changes. Some of the most notable changes are the ones you see in your skin, like wrinkles and sagging. These signs of aging are often the result of a decline in collagen and elastin production.
Collagen and elastin are essential components of the skin that help it look tight and firm. With aging, the production of collagen and elastin naturally decreases, causing the skin to wrinkle and drop downwards. This is often apparent in the neck, where skin will appear to hang and sag as the years go on.
Products like serums and moisturizers may be beneficial for your skin, but they do little to reverse age-related changes. When it comes to giving the neck a more youthful appearance, a neck lift procedure can tighten and firm aging skin.
Dr. Karol Gutowski performs neck lift surgery in Glenview, IL, to help patients achieve a younger-looking appearance. To learn more about neck lifts and how they are performed, check out the complete guide below.
What Is a Neck Lift?
Also known as a platysmaplasty, a neck lift is a plastic surgical procedure that aims to remove sagging skin and excess fat around the neck. This surgery can give the neck a slimmer, tighter appearance like it may have had in your younger years.
When performed by a skilled surgeon like Dr. Gutowski, a neck lift can create a smoother, more contoured neck free of fine lines and wrinkles.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for a Neck Lift?
Neck lifts are intended mainly for two different types of patients. The most common neck lift patients are those struggling with age-related changes in their appearance. These patients may have sagging, hanging skin and wrinkles in their neck (sometimes known as “turkey neck”) due to a loss of collagen and elastin.
The second type of neck lift patient has seen a change in the appearance of their neck after significant weight loss. These patients may have once had a considerable amount of weight around the neck. After a significant weight loss, excess loose skin can remain, giving the neck a sagging appearance.
The best way to know if you are a good candidate for a neck lift is to consult a plastic surgeon. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Karol Grukowski will assess your anatomy and the skin on your neck to determine whether a neck lift is the optimal cosmetic procedure for you.
How Is a Neck Lift Performed?
Before having any new cosmetic procedure performed, it is important to understand what the process entails.
Below is a breakdown of the entire neck lift procedure, from consultation to results.
Consultation
Before your neck lift surgery, you will have a consultation with Dr. Grukowski and his team. This allows your surgeon to examine the skin on your neck and determine whether a neck lift will benefit you.
If we find that a neck lift is not the best procedure to meet your needs, we will advise you on which other cosmetic options will benefit you and bring the results you are looking for.
Preparation
In order to have any plastic surgery procedure, you must first get complete medical clearance. Your regular physician will perform a physical and a series of tests to make sure that you are healthy enough to go under anesthesia. Once you pass your medical clearance, you will be able to move forward with surgery.
Procedure
During the neck lift procedure, a discreet incision will be made under the chin, behind the ears, or slightly in front of the ears. The placement of your incision will depend on your unique needs and anatomy.
Once an incision is made, excess skin will be cut away, and the underlying neck muscles will be tightened. The remaining skin will then be tightened, and the incision will be closed.
For some patients, there is unwanted fat on the neck in addition to loose skin. In these cases, liposuction will be performed to remove the unwanted fat before altering any skin or neck muscles.
Recovery
The entire neck lift procedure takes about two hours to complete. Once finished, you will remain in our plastic surgery aftercare facility until you fully wake from the anesthesia. Neck lift surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means you will be discharged to return home the same day as your surgery.
Recovery from a neck lift is relatively simple. Some patients experience numbness in the surgical area, but this subsides in the first few days. Our team will discuss your recovery in greater detail during your consultation appointment.
Results
The outcome of your neck lift will not be apparent immediately because the surgical site will need time to heal fully. The muscle tissue and skin may require several weeks to settle into their new placement.
The final results of a neck lift procedure can take about six months to develop. At this point, you should see a slimmer, tighter, more youthful appearance on your neck.
Neck Lift Surgery in Glenview
If your neck shows age-related changes like wrinkles, sagging skin, or loss of elasticity, you may benefit from a neck lift procedure. A neck lift can remove loose skin and create a tighter, more youthful appearance.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Karol Gutowski performs neck lift surgery for patients in Glenview, IL, and surrounding cities like Chicago, Deerfield, Northbrook, and Highland Park. Call our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gutowski and his dedicated team to learn more about neck lifts and the other procedures we offer.
