Introduction

A necklift is designed to reverse the changes caused by aging in the neck region of the body. These aging changes include sagging skin, prolapse of fat behind the chin (commonly known as the turkey gobbler) and a lack of definition in the neck. It is more popular with people over the age of 40, although some men and women do request to perform the surgery at younger ages, particularly if they have been through dramatic weight fluctuations over time and are left with stretched or sagging skin.

Indications

Dr Robinson generally performs the surgery at the same time as completing a facelift for his patients, depending on their individual requirements. This is because a facelift may not have the overall results the patient wants without remedying the sagging neck skin as well. There are cases, however, where the neck lift is performed alone or alongside other procedures. For example, it can be performed at the same time as liposuction to help remove double chins.

Patients who are seeking a necklift are often doing so for the following goals:

• Decrease submental laxity.
• Improve jaw definition.
• Improve cervicomento-hyoid angle.

Excellent candidates for necklift

The best results for a necklift are seen in patients who have an excessive amount of redundant skin in their neck. These patients have a substantial improvement in the youthful appearance of their neck and overall are very happy with their results.

Dr Robinson uses dissolvable sutures when closing the neck and these do not need to be removed after the procedure – they come out by themselves sometime between one and two weeks.

Procedure – Necklift

Dr Robinson performs a necklift by creating a corset with the platysma in the midline and then tightening the corset laterally to the mastoid periosteum – like a sling.

Neck lift surgery requires a general anaesthetic. The procedure involves making an incision behind the ear, raising the skin of the neck and then re-draping the neck skin so that the underlying neck structure is well-defined. At the same time, the fat in the “turkey gobbler” region can be removed, and the neck muscles can be tightened.

Dr Robinson performs a necklift via an incision laterally – behind the ear – as well as an incision under the chin. The incision under the chin is required to allow for what is called a platysmaplasty. Dr Robinson excises the fat under the chin then then identifies the muscle that is immediately under the skin – this is called the platysma. This muscle normally divaricates (splits) in the midline. Dr Robinson identifies the divarication and then closes this together in a tight stitch. This then acts like a hammock under the chin.

Dr Robinson then performs a SMAS elevation (layer which is continuous with platysma) laterally, and advances this behind the ear and attaches it to the mastoid periosteum (bone behind the ear). This creates the effect of pulling on the hammock in an upward direction.

The result of using this technique allows for a youthful-looking neck with an improvement in the jawline definition and submental laxity.

Gallery

You can view before and after patient photos in the Necklift Gallery.

Related Information

Aging Brow
Aging Face
Aging Neck
Facelift

To discuss if necklift is recommended for you, please make an appointment with Dr Dan Robinson.