Neck Lift

Different procedures are used to address each of these problems: - Sagging skin may be tightened or removed using a procedure called Cervicoplasty. - To correct vertical bands or wattles, a technique called Platysmaplasty can be used to tighten the muscles of the neck. - Fat deposits can be removed directly or by liposuction.

The quality of the result will depend upon the elasticity of the neck skin and degree of sun damage to the area. When the elasticity of the skin of the neck is good, it is possible to do an extensive contouring, through an approach called anterior neck lift, which uses only a 3 cm incision under the chin. Through this access it is possible to reduce the fatty tissue situated below the skin as well as the one deep to the platysma muscles, trim the lower pole of the submandibular glands if required, and adjusts the position and tension of the platysma muscles, in order to optimise the neck contour.

It is by necessity a more powerful approach and then simple liposuction, which can only address the fatty tissue situated under the skin. Neck lift surgery usually takes between two and three hours, longer if it is being performed in conjunction with a face lift or other procedure. If you have vertical bands or wattles that need to be addressed by platysmaplasty surgery, your surgeon will make small incisions under your chin or behind your ears to reach the your neck muscles and move them as needed. If you are having cervicoplasty surgery to correct loose and sagging skin, your surgeon will make similar incisions, trim the skin, move it into place and secure it using stitches or tissue glue.

Your surgeon may also fit you with a compression bandage and instruct you to wear it continuously for at least a week. If excess fat must be removed, you surgeon may use liposuction, a process whereby fat is vacuumed away through thin cannulas. If this is the only procedure you are having it should take an hour or less. For a more extensive contouring, even in the presence of excess fatty tissue which can be related to genetic predisposition, lipodystrophy or excess weight, direct reduction of the fatty tissue through an incision under the chin is the procedure of choice.

 

Pre Operative

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions to prepare for the procedure, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking and avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery and your recovery proceed more smoothly.

 

Post Operative

In the days after your surgery there are several things you should expect: - Depending on how extensive your procedure was, you may have some swelling and bruising. Both should settle in four to ten days. - You may also experience feelings of tightness, burning, pulling and numbness. These are normal in the first few weeks and will resolve on their own. - If you have sutures that need removing they will be taken out a week to ten days after your surgery. - Any discomfort you experience can be controlled by taking paracetamol or medication provided by the hospital. Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication as these can promote bleeding. - If you smoke, you will need to stop entirely for two weeks before and two to three weeks after your surgery to allow your body to heal in the best conditions. - You should be able to return to work in one to two weeks, however you will need to avoid physical activities like sports for at least three weeks, possibly longer.

 

Risk

With any cosmetic procedure, there is always the possibility of risks. A neck lift may involve multiple procedures, so, there is an increased risk. The most common risk for any cosmetic procedure is allergic reaction to the anesthesia and infection. Another potential complication is accumulation of blood under the skin (hematoma). One of the greatest risks associated with a neck lift is that of injury occurring to the nerves that control the muscles in this sensitive area of the body. Another concern is that of scar tissue being very obvious to the human eye as this is an area that can heal very well or it can heal very slowly. No two people heal exactly the same way and some people may have scars that lighten, fade and go away much sooner than other people. Be aware that scarring is a reality of any surgery and a neck lift is no different.

 

Surgery

Duration of Operation: 2 to 3 hours

Anesthesia: General anesthesia

Duration in Thailand: 10 Days

Hospital Admission: 2 Days