What are the steps of a neck lift procedure?

A qualified plastic surgeon and their team will perform the neck lift surgery inside the operating room using a few key steps.

The plastic surgery procedure will mainly involve the reduction of excess skin from the neck area. However, in some cases, the surgeon will tighten the underlying loose neck muscles as well.

The surgeon will inform the patient of the various steps involved in the surgery during the pre-operative consultation process. A committed surgeon will ensure that the patient understands all facets of neck lift surgery to be able to make a poignant decision.

The Virginia Institute of Plastic Surgery, led by board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton M. Sundin and Dr. Reps B. Sundin, provides neck lift to patients in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Tysons Corner, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and surrounding locations.

Preparation

The patient will need to undertake some preparatory steps before the neck lift surgery for a safe and predictable procedure. The surgeon will require the patient to avoid tobacco consumption, and refrain from consuming, excessive alcohol and fatty and sugary foods.

They will also ask the patient to discontinue the use of blood thinners, NSAIDs, and specific vitamin and herbal supplements.

The surgeon may place these restrictions on the patient a few weeks prior to the procedure. Furthermore, the surgeon or their team will offer the patient guidelines for the day of the neck lift surgery. The patient should arrange for transportation and aftercare (if necessary) to enjoy a relaxed post-op recovery period.

Anesthesia

The surgeon may perform the neck lift under general or local anesthesia with sedation. This decision will be made during the surgical planning process. If the surgery is performed using general anesthesia, the patient will be asleep during the procedure. An anesthesiologist or a certified nurse anesthetist will administer the general anesthesia.

After the surgery is complete, the patient will be brought out of anesthesia. However, they may experience mild side effects for a few hours, such as nausea and grogginess.

Incision Placement

The surgeon will perform the neck lift by placing tiny incisions. However, their size and location will depend on the customized surgical plan developed at the time of the consultation.

They will generally place the incisions beneath the chin and behind the ears to ensure that they remain discreet. Tiny incisions will heal rapidly and cause minimal permanent scarring.

If the patient chooses to undergo the neck lift plastic surgery along with facelift or neck liposuction, the surgeon may place the incisions in different locations. However, they will try to use common incisions as far as possible for the entire procedure.

Surgical Procedure

In some cases, all that the patient may need is a simple fat reduction surgery in the neck area to develop a shapely neck appearance. However, other patients may need a significant elimination of neck skin and fat along with the restructuring of the underlying neck muscles for desirable results.

The surgeon may choose to remove fat tissue from the neck through surgical excision instead of liposuction in such cases. They may also have to remove a small portion of the platysma muscle to tighten the loose neck muscles.

Sealing the Incisions

After the surgery is complete, the surgeon will re-drape the remaining skin tautly over the neck. They will seal the incisions cautiously with dissolvable or traditional sutures.

Plastic surgeons at the Virginia Institute of Plastic Surgery receive patients from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Tysons Corner, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and nearby areas for neck lift. 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

Serving Richmond, VA, Fredricksburg, Williamsburg, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington and surrounding communities.