Neck Lift

Aging is one of those things that happens whether we like it or not. For most people, the neck can be one of most visually aging aspects of their appearance. As time goes on, our skin’s collagen and elastin decline, causing the skin to droop and sag. The muscles become lax as well, and many people even develop folds on their necks. This whole process can be exacerbated by genetics or lifestyle choices like smoking and tanning, but eventually, it happens to even the fittest people. Boston plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Davidson fixes these problems with neck lift surgery for patients from Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, and throughout the western suburbs of Boston as well as Providence, RI; southern New Hampshire; and southern Vermont. While it is often combined with a facelift, the neck lift can also be performed on its own to tighten neck muscles and skin for a younger, smoother look.

Request Your Consultation

The first step of any cosmetic surgery is a consultation with Dr. Davidson. Request your appointment online, or call our office at (781) 237-7700 to easily schedule. 

Neck Lift
 Before & After Photos

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Facelift Surgery Case 266 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 1 of 8

Case #266

This patient wanted to reverse the signs of aging in her face and neck. She felt the sagging skin she saw in the mirror made her look older than she felt. Dr. Davidson performed a facelift and neck lift to tighten and lift the skin on her lower face, neck, and jawline, giving her a more youthful appearance.  Read More
Neck Lift Case 261 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 2 of 8

Case #261

This 43-year-old woman came to Dr. Davidson's office for help treating her double chin. She felt it made her look heavier and older than she was. After a thorough examination, Dr. Davidson recommended a neck lift to address her concerns. He performed the neck lift procedure, tightening and lifting her neck and jawline to give her... Read More
Neck Lift Case 268 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 3 of 8

Case #268

This male patient came to Dr. Davidson seeking help to address the sagging skin along his neck and jawline. He felt his turkey neck made him look older than his age. Dr. Davidson performed a neck lift, removing the excess skin and tightening up the skin along his neck and jawline to give him a more youthful appearance.  Read More
Neck Lift Case 263 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 4 of 8

Case #263

This 62-year-old man felt that the sagging skin on his face and neck made him look older than he was. Dr. Davidson performed a facelift with a neck lift to remove excess skin from his face and neck, giving him a refreshed and more youthful appearance with a tighter neck and jawline.  Read More
Facelift Surgery Case 284 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 5 of 8

Case #284

This 55-year-old woman wanted to improve the appearance of her face and neck. Dr. Davidson performed a facelift and neck lift to remove excess skin and smooth lines and wrinkles on her lower face, jawline, and neck, giving her a more youthful appearance. Results shown 2 months post treatment.  Read More
Neck Lift Case 256 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 6 of 8

Case #256

This 61-year-old woman came to Dr. Davidson because she was unhappy with the signs of aging in her neck. She felt the sagging skin on her neck made her look older and heavier than she is. Dr. Davidson performed a neck lift to lift and remove the sagging skin on her neck and jawline, giving her a more youthful appearance.Res... Read More
Facelift Surgery Case 270 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 7 of 8

Case #270

This female patient came to Dr. Davidson for help to improve the appearance of her aging face. She was unhappy with the sagging, excess skin on her cheeks, jawline, and neck, feeling they made her look older than her years. Dr. Davidson performed a facelift and neck lift to tighten and lift the skin on her mid-face, jaw, and neck.... Read More
Neck Lift Case 264 Before & After Front | Boston, MA | Christopher J. Davidson, MD
Before & After
Case: 8 of 8

Case #264

This woman came to Dr. Davidson's office for help with the sagging skin on her neck and jawline. Dr. Davidson performed a neck lift to remove the excess skin and tighten and firm the skin on her neck and lift and reshape her jawline. 

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Neck Lift Consultation

During your consultation, you’ll discuss your concerns and goals, and Dr. Davidson will evaluate your situation and tell you what is achievable. Then he will explain the procedures available and go over your options. Many patients at this stage will wish to discuss combining a neck lift with liposuction to remove excess fat or a facelift to reduce jowls, marionette lines, wrinkles, and other facial problems.

After deciding on the correct procedure, Dr. Davidson and you will also discuss pre-surgery precautions. Patients are encouraged to stop smoking since it can interfere with healing, and to discontinue use of drugs like aspirin that can cause excess bleeding.

How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost in Boston?

The cost for a neck lift depends on the type of neck lift performed and other factors. Dr. Davidson discusses cost with you during your consultation to ensure you have a good idea of what to expect. Please contact the practice at (781) 237-7700 or request a consultation online to get an accurate quote.

I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Davidson. I was well informed about everything that I had questions about. Dr. Davidson didn’t make me feel rushed at all and answered all my questions in detail. I’m looking forward to the next appointment.” A.M.

Types of Neck Lift Procedures

A neck lift (also known as a platysmaplasty) is usually done under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation to keep you comfortable, but general anesthesia is available as well. Depending on the individual, a neck lift may be performed in a variety of ways. The following are types of neck lift procedures:

Cervicoplasty

This is performed for the removal of excess skin on the neck. The incision may be made under the chin and behind the ears. The neck skin is then lifted and secured with sutures. An elastic bandage is then typically applied to the head and neck.

Platysmaplasty

This is performed to reduce the neck’s banded appearance. During the surgery, incisions may be made under the chin and behind the ears. The middle bands of the platysma muscle are realigned to tighten the neck’s middle area. The muscles are sutured together. The redundant skin is then removed as described in a cervicoplasty. An elastic chin strap may be applied to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Neck Lift Without Surgery

If you are not ready for surgery, Dr. Davidson offers some nonsurgical neck lift options to consider. These are most appropriate for patients with less severe concerns and are looking for mild to moderate improvement of the appearance of their neck and jawline. A few options include:

  • BOTOX® Cosmetic: BOTOX relaxes the platysmal muscles in the neck to reduce the appearance of vertical bands.
  • Laser skin resurfacing: This may be used used to help rejuvenate the skin on the neck for a more youthful appearance.
  • Microneedling: Microneedling stimulates collagen production to reduce lines and wrinkles in the skin.
  • KYBELLA® double chin treatment: KYBELLA is an injectable treatment approved by the FDA to dissolve fat below the chin. It’s an option if your neck skin remains relatively tight.

A surgical neck lift is usually the best option for improving the appearance of the neck, especially for patients with loose and sagging skin.

Neck Lift vs. Neck Liposuction: Which Is Right for You?

Dr. Davidson may recommend neck liposuction if your skin retains most of its elasticity and will “snap back” after he removes excess fat. He performs neck lipo by making a small incision below the chin and then removing fat using a slim, metal cannula. Dr. Davidson often combines liposuction with a complete neck lift or facelift. If he performs liposuction as a standalone procedure, he may complete the whole process in less than an hour. The incisions may be stitched and bandaged. Liposuction may involve sedation or only a local anesthetic. Although the recovery is relatively pain-free, patients do experience some bruising and swelling of the neck for some time postoperatively. It is important to wear a chin strap according to Dr. Davidson’s instructions.

Your Experience

As there may be a need to perform more than one procedure during a neck lift, the whole process may be completed in one hour, or it may take several hours. Even though it may be performed under local or general anesthesia, an overnight stay may not be required.

Dr. Christopher Davidson

Harvard-Trained, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Christopher Davidson

Dr. Christopher Davidson's patient first approach to aesthetic medicine means that every decision he makes is aimed at achieving the optimal outcome for the patient. This is apparent, not just in the beautiful, natural-looking results he creates, but also in the compassionate care he delivers through every step of the process.

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Neck Lift Recovery

After surgery, your neck, jaw, and ears will be bruised and swollen for up to 10 to 14 days. You’ll be sent home with oral pain medications to deal with discomfort and an antibiotic to ward off infection. Your sutures will usually dissolve on their own.

While most people feel up to returning to a desk job within a week or so after a neck lift, some prefer to avoid work and social events for two to three weeks until the swelling and bruising are gone. The last of the swelling is usually gone within a month.

Neck Lift Risks

A neck lift is a safe procedure, but the surgery does carry the same risks as any surgery: bleeding, infection, and reaction to anesthesia. If you are concerned about these, please discuss them during your consultation with Dr. Davidson.

Neck lifts also carry certain specific risks. Most patients will experience a change in sensation in the region. Feelings of tightness, tingling, pulling, and numbness are all normal for the first few weeks after surgery, but numbness can occasionally last up to or past a year. More rarely, there is a chance of skin healing problems. While most neck lift surgeries leave only faded and well-hidden scarring, a few patients will experience red or raised scars that require topical treatments.

Neck Lift FAQs

Q. My neck skin is wrinkly but not too saggy. Will a neck lift be necessary to fix this?

A. It depends on the extent of the problem. For some patients, lasers or other skin treatments will improve the skin enough that they are satisfied. For most, however, only surgery will provide the tighter, rejuvenated look that they’re after. Your best bet is to come in for a consultation so Dr. Davidson can evaluate your situation and discuss your options.

Q. Will I have to wear a chin strap after my neck lift?

A. It depends on the extent of the surgery, but many patients will need to wear a chinstrap after a neck lift to help support the skin and tissues while everything starts to heal. Some patients find it more comfortable to continue wearing the chin strap at night until healing is complete, while others prefer to forgo it entirely.

Q. Will a neck lift get rid of jowls?

A. A neck lift will only address the skin on the neck. That said, it is a fairly simple matter to address issues such as jowls along the jawline through a lower facelift at the same time. Since it adds very little extra time to the surgery and recovery, many patients opt to do both procedures together. Dr. Davidson will be happy to discuss the procedures and your options at your consultation.

Q. Will my neck lift results be affected if I gain or lose weight?

A. Small fluctuations in weight are normal and should not hurt anything, but larger weight changes can lead to either stretched or loose skin, either of which might require a new procedure to fix the damage. For that reason, patients should wait until they are at a comfortable, stable weight before having their neck lift.

Q. How long does a neck lift usually last?

A. Your neck will continue to visibly age after your neck lift, but it will still look younger than if you had not had the procedure done. Think of it like turning a clock back. If you have a neck lift done when you are 40 and it makes your neck look 10 years younger, then when you are 50, your neck will probably look about 40. You can help the results to last even longer by maintaining a healthy, low-stress lifestyle.

Request Your Consultation

Call (781) 237-7700 or request a consultation to learn more about a neck lift in Boston from Dr. Christopher J. Davidson.

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