The “turkey neck” is often associated with aging and while dreaded and unsightly, it can be effectively treated with a neck lift in Chicago. A neck lift removes the saggy skin and fat around the neck, and then tightens the underlying tissues and muscles. The neck will be more toned, contoured and free of lines and wrinkles. Our surgeons recommend a neck lift for patients who have developed sagging neck skin not only due to aging but those who have experienced significant weight loss. In some cases, our surgeons might suggest neck liposuction to remove additional neck fat.
A neck lift removes hanging skin and reshapes the neck. During the procedure, an incision is placed under the chin and/or behind or in front of the ears. If fat deposits are present and need to be removed, liposuction will be used during the surgery and performed first. The final steps of treatment will be to trim away excess skin, pull the remaining underlying tissue and muscle tight, and suture the incision.
This procedure is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient surgery at an accredited surgical clinic. The duration of the surgery usually takes around 2 hours, although it may vary depending on the case. Bruising and swelling will be visible after the surgery, but this will subside in the few short days following the procedure. Initially, patients may feel tightness and numbness. Once the neck settles to its new position, patients will notice a more relaxed feeling and a beautiful surgical result. It can take up to 6 months for the final results to appear.
Surgery is the only way to remove loose skin, especially if it is loose enough to hang and droop. Therefore, a neck lift is the only solution when it comes to redefining an individual’s neck to create a strong contour. While there are some very good skin tightening laser treatments on the market today, surgery is still the best option.
There is minimal scarring with this procedure. Since the incision is placed under the chin and near the ears, the scarring is usually hidden. A skilled facial surgeon will take great effort to minimize scarring as much as possible.
This depends on the situation and the amount of loose and sagging skin that is present. Some weight loss patients are young and may require a neck lift at a young age (for example, those between 20-30). For older patients who are combating loose skin due to aging, the most common age is between 50-70.
During the initial consultation, it may be brought up that in addition to a neck lift, the patient may also benefit from another procedure, such as a facelift or a chin implant. It is common for these additional procedures to be combined to achieve the patient’s desired contours and aesthetic goals.
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