Neck Lift Surgeon in Seattle, WA
Neck Lift Candidates
We commonly see patients in their late 40s through the early 70s who are bothered by their neck contour. Some of our patients refer to their excess neck skin as "my waddle" or "turkey neck." Sagging skin of the neck and banding of the muscles underneath the skin are tell-tale signs of aging. For healthy patients who desire a more youthful neck contour that can truly make them appear younger, a neck lift should be considered.
How is a neck lift performed?
Dr. Cooper and Dr. Sattler perform neck lifts with patients asleep in our onsite private certified ambulatory surgery center with the assistance of board certified anesthesiologists. An incision is made under the chin, and a corset platysmaplasty is performed in which the edges of the thin pair of platysma muscles under the skin our brought together in the midline. Sutures are placed to keep these muscles together, and then an incision, much like a facelift incision, is made in front of the ear, and extended behind the ear. This incision allows the surgeons access to the neck in order to lift the neck skin off of the underlying muscles. The neck skin is then redraped, and excess skin is removed. The result is a tighter, more youthful appearing neck contour. The skin is closed on both sides of the face over drains to minimize swelling and fluid collection.
It is very common to combine the neck lift procedure with a facelift, fat grafting to the face, browlift, and/or eyelid lifts.
What is the neck lift recovery like?
Before leaving the operating room, the face/neck are fitted with some light compression bandages. Patients are seen the morning after their neck lift to have their drains removed by Dr. Cooper or Dr. Sattler. For the next week, we ask our patients to wear a light compression bandage that goes under the chin. Most patients will find that post-operative pain is actually fairly minimal and easily controlled with prescribed pain medications. Swelling and some bruising is normal and to be expected. Skin sutures are removed 5 days after the procedure. Individual results will vary, however, by three weeks, most patients can attend major social functions and look great without too much noticeable swelling or bruising.
The Face and Neck Lift Consultation
At Sound Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sattler and Dr. Cooper see all patients interested in facelift, necklift, eyelid surgery and fat grafting procedures in their Seattle area clinic. A complete cosmetic facial evaluation is completed for each patient. A written estimate of treatment cost is given to each patient which may include adjunct procedures such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels, hair transplant surgery, fat grafting, eyelid surgery and brow lift surgery.