Neck Lift (Platysmaplasty)

It's best to be at or near a stable weight before your neck lift surgery. This is because fluctuations in weight after your neck lift procedure can negatively affect the appearance of your results.

Your neck lift will not be painful, since anesthesia will be administered beforehand. This ensures that you won’t feel any pain for the duration of the surgery.

Once the neck lift is complete and the anesthesia has worn off, there will be a degree of post-surgical pain and discomfort. This can be reduced with the help of prescribed pain-control medications or OTC medications, both of which should be taken as directed.

Dr. Batniji’s years of experience ensure that neck lift incisions are always nicely hidden in the face’s natural contours and curves. He places them behind the ears and under the chin with the utmost care and precision, making them as small and discreet as possible.

You’ll need to take care of your post-surgical marks as directed by Dr. Batniji. This will keep them from becoming prominent and will encourage the healing process. He may recommend applying silicone-based scar creams regularly, and in certain cases, non-surgical procedures like laser treatments will be recommended.

To prevent any scarring issues, avoid sun exposure and smoking. As the healing process continues, scars will fade to match the surrounding skin.

It’s best to wait around 48 hours after your neck lift before showering. When you begin showering again, avoid getting your stitches and incisions wet. Keep showers short, and use warm water and shampoos and soaps that are unlikely to irritate your skin.

Do not bathe until your incisions are fully healed. Bathing can increase the likelihood of infections after a neck lift, since bacteria can enter the incisions. It’s also best to avoid steam baths and saunas, since the increase in temperature can exacerbate swelling.

During the first two to three weeks of neck lift recovery, you’ll need to only sleep on your back in order to prevent injury to the incisions. Don’t sleep on your side, since this can lead to asymmetrical results, and don’t sleep face down, because this can decrease your blood circulation in the operative area.

Avoid applying traditional makeup for at least ten to fourteen days after your neck lift procedure. Makeup can lead to infections and can damage sensitive skin while it is healing.

Dr. Batniji will talk to you about applying mineral-based makeup products to hide bruising in the area. Removal of mineral-based makeup must be done very gently to avoid disrupting healing.

The typical age range for neck lift procedures is anywhere from 35 to 55 years old. Patients in this age range are most likely to come in for neck lift surgery, since this is usually when patients start to experience sagging neck skin, prominent vertical neck bands, and excess neck fat.

However, it is important to remember that many patients outside of this age range are also excellent candidates for a neck lift in Newport Beach. If you are outside this age range, there is no reason to feel like the procedure is not for you.

For example, while older patients who are in poor health have a higher risk of experiencing surgical complications, older patients who are in good overall health can safely undergo neck tightening. Additionally, many patients who are younger than age 35 but have aesthetic neck issues due to genetics or lifestyle factors are perfect neck lift candidates.

Generally, since there is no one “best” age to get turkey neck surgery, if you are unhappy with the appearance of your neck, arrange a consultation with Dr. Batniji. During a consultation, Dr. Batniji will examine your neck and gauge the degree of skin laxity, submental fat, and platysma muscle sag. If he finds that a neck lift could make a major difference for your aesthetic, this is an indicator that it is time to consider this procedure.

Generally, the naturally youthful-looking results of neck tightening are very long-lasting and can be enjoyed for many years after the procedure. Since a neck lift can involve usage of several techniques to address various aesthetic issues, the exact types of results achieved can make a difference in this regard.

When excess fat is removed to address submental fullness, the volume-reduction results are permanent. This is because the removal of excess neck fat is permanent, since fat cells cannot grow back.

When excess neck skin is trimmed to tighten the area and make the skin look more youthful, results last for a long time. Keep in mind that neck lift surgery will not stop the aging process; the skin will continue to lose elasticity over time, resulting in new signs of aging. However, the existing signs of aging like loose skin will be much less visible.

When harsh and prominent neck bands are tightened with internal sutures, these sutures will keep the muscles tighter and smoother for years and years. Note that the muscles naturally lose strength as the body ages, another process that cannot be stopped. Still, the visibility of neck bands will be greatly reduced in a lasting way following a neck lift.

In order to determine candidacy for a neck lift in Newport Beach versus another type of neck procedure, Dr. Batniji must meet with a patient for a comprehensive consultation. One of the major benefits of this consultation is that it allows Dr. Batniji to develop a deeper understanding of the patient’s anatomy.

An in-person assessment of the neck helps Dr. Batniji understand three key aspects of the anatomy: skin quality, submental fat, and platysma bands. With this information, he can consider various techniques and then recommend the optimal course of action.

When a patient has good skin quality and a high degree of elasticity, there is often no need for neck lift surgery. Instead, they may simply require liposuction or a submentoplasty (a limited procedure focusing on the submental region) to address fullness in the area. A chin implant may also be beneficial for the sake of definition and structure.

When a patient has poor skin quality and sagging neck skin, a neck lift is more appropriate. In these cases, patients are also encouraged to consider undergoing one of our many non-surgical treatments that increase collagen production.

The degree of submental fat present also plays a role in candidacy. If a patient’s submental fullness is being caused primarily by excess fat, the patient may only need neck lipo. However, when that fullness is being caused primarily by excess skin and sagging platysma muscles, a neck lift would be an excellent choice. Note that some healthy fat must remain in order to maintain the neck’s natural appearance.

Finally, the presence of harsh platysma bands affects neck lift candidacy. In cases where static banding (meaning bands that are always visible) is present, turkey neck surgery may be warranted. If a patient has no banding or dynamic neck banding (bands that are only visible during certain facial expressions), they may not require a neck lift.

But submental fullness can also hide platysma bands, and addressing this fullness can cause them to become more visible. Dr. Batniji checks for the presence of hidden banding during a consultation to avoid this issue.

Often, patients are interested in procedures that specifically focus on the neck, like a neck lift. In many cases, these patients are not yet comfortable with admitting that signs of aging are also present in their lower face. This is understandable, since the aging process is difficult and can create feelings of embarrassment, which can sometimes lead to denial. However, these patients can benefit much more from a comprehensive facial-rejuvenation procedure like a lower facelift.

Not only does the lower facelift tighten the skin of the neck, it also improves the entire lower third of the face. This includes smoothing away marionette lines, tightening a sagging chin, and reducing the appearance of jowls. Because of the comprehensive nature of this procedure, Dr. Batniji typically performs lower facelifts rather than isolated neck lifts.

Dr. Batniji is confident in his assessment of the need for lower facelifts due to his decades of experience with face and neck procedures. Dr. Batniji is a world-renowned specialist in facial rejuvenation who has provided extensive training to countless surgeons. He is double-board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.