The neck lift is one of the safer and less invasive body contouring plastic surgery procedures. However, it will still involve a few potential risks that are typically associated with any surgery.
During the initial consultation, the surgeon will explain the potential risks and side effects in a transparent manner in order to help the patient make a well-considered decision.
Patients should be prepared to follow the surgeon’s pre- and post-operative care instructions diligently in order to minimize their risk. Virginia Institute of Plastic Surgery, led by ABPS board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton Sundin and Dr. Reps Sundin, provides neck lift and various other procedures to patients in Richmond, Virginia, and surrounding locations in this area of the Atlantic seaboard.
Common Risks
Neck lift surgery may be performed using general anesthesia, which will have some risk of adverse reaction. Infection is another common risk, which may occur during or after surgery. A few patients may experience conspicuous scarring, if the surgeon has not managed to hide the scars or has used larger incisions.
Professional standards of hygiene and a sterile surgical environment at the operating room will help minimize the risk of infection. The surgical instruments must be carefully sterilized and overall environmental control should be effective. The patient should minimize contamination exposure in the incision sites after the surgery and avoid submerging the incision sites in water for a few days.
Patient’s fitness for general anesthesia should be determined in advanced with a detailed medical evaluation. This will help minimize the risk of adverse anesthesia reaction. Throughout the surgery, an anesthesiologist or a registered nurse anesthetist should remain present in the operating room to monitor the patient’s response to anesthesia.
When a surgeon adopts a conservative approach to neck lift and uses advanced techniques for targeted results, they can create desirable results with minimal risk and low scarring.
The patient should avoid smoking for a specified time period before and after the surgery to reduce the risk of complications and scarring. Dedicated, focused, and sensational plastic surgeons at VIPS receive patients from Richmond, Virginia, and nearby areas in The Old Dominion State for a neck lift.
Other Complications
Some other possible complications of neck lift may include:
Hematoma: excessive bleeding during the procedure Seroma: fluid collection under the skin Tightness in the neck: over-stretching of the neck skin during the surgery Numbness: numbness or change of sensation in the incision areas, which is usually temporary Skin irregularities: Lumpiness or mottling in the neck skin Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
As long as a neck lift procedure is performed by a fully trained surgeon, the risk of severe complications is very rare. To minimize the risk of aesthetic dissatisfaction, it is also important for a patient to have realistic goals and expectations. This will help them better appreciate their new neck appearance and symmetry or proportion of the neck with other facial features.
It will take several months or up to a year for the full results of neck lift surgery to establish. But in rare situations, a revision surgery may have to be performed later to correct the final appearance.
For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit
www.drsundin.comwww.m-body.comServing Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland, Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.
