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Facelift and Neck Lift
Face and neck lifting reduces the signs of aging on the face by lifting, toning and tightening skin to reverse the effects of gravity. This procedure removes excess fat, tightens underlying muscles, and re-drapes the skin of your face and neck. A face lift and/or neck lift can be done alone or in conjunction with other cosmetic facial procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery or laser surgery for wrinkles. In many cases, Dr. Steven Yarinsky recommends patients combine several procedures to achieve a complete facial rejuvenation and to fully address their cosmetic concerns. For more information, please read “10 Steps to a Successful Face Lift” or simply contact us to schedule a consultation for face lift or neck lift surgery.
- What Is a Facelift?
- What Is a Neck Lift?
- Face and Neck Lift Benefits
- Face and Neck Lift Candidates
- Face and Neck Lift Procedure
- Face and Neck Lift Recovery
- Face and Neck Lift Results
- Face and Neck Lift Scars
- Face and Neck Lift Cost
- Non-Surgical Facelift
- Additional FAQs
What Is a Face Lift?
A face lift is a surgical procedure designed to significantly improve the appearance of deep wrinkles, creases, jowls, skin laxity, and other signs of age along the face. By removing excess skin and fat as well as tightening the underlying musculature, the lower half of the face can be rejuvenated. Patients who wish to correct signs of age around the eyes or brow may better benefit from blepharoplasty or a forehead lift.
Dr. Yarinsky & Team, I truly appreciate everything you all have done! From the first time I stepped into your office I felt comfortable. You & your awesome staff are dedicated to making each minute of my experience perfect. I am so happy with the results- you are an artist & your passion shows thru your work! I look to working with you for many years to come. Thank you!!!”
What Is a Neck Lift?
Neck lift surgery is designed to remove excess or loose skin on the neck (commonly referred to as “turkey neck”). If present, platysma muscles that create prominent bands when grimacing are also tightened in order to achieve a nicely contoured, tighter neckline. In addition, this procedure can be used to eliminate neck and submental fat deposits and smooth the skin of the neck for a more youthful, firmer appearance. Liposuction is often combined with a neck lift if there is excess fat present to achieve the best result. When performed alone, a neck lift will not alter the appearance of the face above the level of the lower cheeks.
What Are the Benefits of Face Lift & Neck Lift Surgery?
Most patients benefit from combining a face and neck lift. Your face lift and neck lift will be customized by Dr. Yarinsky to address your personal cosmetic concerns. For most patients, the benefits of this combined procedure include:
- Reducing facial wrinkling caused by loose skin
- Providing a toned appearance of the face and neck
- Contouring your face, neck, and chin for a more youthful profile
- Enhanced jawline definition
- More rested, less aged appearance
The best way to discover if you are a good candidate for a face lift or neck lift is to schedule a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Yarinsky, who is also a member of The Aesthetic Society (formally the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – ASAPS), a distinguished group of plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery. Dr. Yarinsky will examine your face, review your medical history, and discuss your goals to determine your candidacy for the procedure. Dr. Yarinsky will also recommend whether a face lift, neck lift, or combination of the two procedures is best suited for your needs. Keep in mind that a face lift does not correct skin surface changes such as fine wrinkle lines and discolorations resulting from environmental/sun damage and/or from smoking. However, a skin surface treatment like laser skin resurfacing will help to significantly rejuvenate and improve the aged skin’s surface.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Face Lift & Neck Lift Surgery?
Candidates for a face lift combined with neck lift surgery usually share many of the following concerns:
- Face and neck wrinkles due to loose skin
- Loose skin or lost muscle tone in the face and neck due to gravity effects of aging
- Jowls
- Deep creases located between the base of the nose and corners of the mouth
- Poor definition of the chin and neck due to loose skin and excess fat
- A tired, angry, or unhappy facial appearance due to gravity effects of aging
- Appearing older than their stated age
Real Patients, Real Results
60 year old shown before and 4 months after a hairline forehead lift and face and neck lift who benefited from the rejuvenating effects by improving her neck and jaw line and elevating her brows and opening her eyes, producing a more rested awake look.
How Is the Face Lift / Neck Lift Procedure Performed?
A “mini face lift” involves removing only a rim of skin in front of the ear and closing. While it may cost significantly less than a formal or “real” face lift, the results simply don’t last and leave you with face lift scars. A “thread lift” uses special anchoring sutures to temporarily lift, tone and tighten skin of the face and neckline. But qualified, talented, and experienced plastic surgeons abandoned using thread lifts many years ago since the results simply don’t last more than a few months, can cause facial distortion, and complications can arise such as infections from placing these “permanent” sutures.
A formal face lift and neck lift procedure begins with incisions made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above your ear, extending down around the earlobe and ending within or below the hairline behind the ear. The exact placement of the incisions will depend upon your customized treatment plan as designed and described to you by Dr. Yarinsky. Once the incisions are made, the skin is lifted, allowing Dr. Yarinsky to remove or reposition excess fat and tighten any loose muscles located beneath the skin in the cheeks and neck. The skin is then redraped and any loose or redundant skin is removed. Face lift and neck lift surgeries are outpatient procedures performed in Dr. Yarinsky’s Joint Commission-accredited office facility with IV sedation or more commonly using general anesthesia.
What Is Recovery from Face Lift & Neck Lift Like?
Immediately following your face lift and neck lift, you can expect mild swelling, bruising, and soreness. Most patients experience only mild pain or discomfort which can be easily controlled with oral medication. Your head and neck will be wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed the next day at your first post-op visit. At that time, we usually shampoo your hair. A wound drain, if used, is usually removed by the third day after surgery. Sutures are typically removed within 14 days. Within 2-3 weeks, bruising and swelling should significantly fade, allowing you to resume social activities. Make-up can be used to conceal any residual bruising. The results of your face lift and neck lift can be seen in four to six weeks or sooner, and you should continue to notice gradual improvements for up to a year.
How Long Do Face Lift & Neck Lift Results Last?
While face lift results can be long-lasting, the longevity of your results will ultimately depend on your surgeon’s skill, the quality of your skin prior to surgery, and the type of face lift you undergo. Traditional face lift and neck lift surgeries can offer results that last as long as 10-15 years. The results of a “mini face lift,” also known as a “weekend face lift,” and “thread lifts” will fade much more quickly, usually within a few months, since these procedures do not adequately address and correct the causes of facial aging. Additional factors that can influence how long you can expect your results to last include your genetics and lifestyle—such as if you have a significant weight loss or illness afterwards or if you have ongoing environmental damage from excessive sun exposure.
How Will My Face Lift & Neck Lift Scars Look?
Face lift and neck lift incisions are carefully placed in areas that will help camouflage scarring, such as along or behind the hairline and ears. As with any surgery, scarring cannot be avoided, but Dr. Yarinsky takes great care to minimize the size and appearance of face lift and neck lift scars through meticulous surgical technique. To help diminish the look of your scars after surgery, you should closely follow your post-operative wound care instructions which we provide. Over the course of the first year, your scars should gradually lighten in color and become flatter. Should you wish to further reduce your scar appearance, Dr. Yarinsky usually recommends scar treatments, such as the excel® V laser procedure to treat redness caused by small visible capillaries, if they develop, and topical treatment with BioCorneum® scar gel.
How Much Does a Face Lift / Neck Lift Cost?
The average cost of a full face lift with a neck lift typically starts at $9,500 for the surgeon’s fee. Please note, this does not include related fees such as anesthesia, supplies, and our office operating room and nursing care. Dr. Yarinsky customizes each face lift and neck lift procedure to suit the unique needs of the individual. Consequently, there is no fixed cost for either procedure, but our staff will provide you with a detailed list of your fees at your facial consultation appointment after Dr. Yarinsky determines what specific procedure will best meet your needs and desires.
Factors that can influence the cost of your face lift or neck lift may include which procedures are performed, if they are combined and done on the same day, the complexity of the overall surgery, and where the procedure is done. When comparing prices, the track record and experience of the plastic surgeon as well as the geographic location of the practice may impact the total cost.
At our office, your fee quote includes use of our Joint Commission-accredited office surgery center, anesthesia/nursing staff, and all follow-up visits. At your initial consultation with Dr. Yarinsky, our staff will provide you with a quote for your procedure based upon his individualized treatment recommendations. Some patients choose to take advantage of our plastic surgery financing options, which can offer qualifying candidates low monthly payment plans.
Can I Get a Face Lift Without Surgery?
Although the face lift and neck lift procedures are the most effective methods for reversing signs of aging, there are a number of non-surgical options that can provide rejuvenating benefits. Since non-surgical treatments are less invasive, they typically provide more subtle or limited improvement of your facial concerns, like loose or lax skin and wrinkles. However, many patients, especially those of a younger age, can experience beautiful results from solutions like cosmetic injectables for a “liquid facelift,” Ultherapy®, and Endermologie® Endermolift.
Other Commonly Combined Procedures
You may enhance your results by combining a face lift or neck lift with an eyelid lift, brow lift, chin enlargement, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), liposuction fat removal, or CO2 facial laser skin resurfacing. In many cases, these procedures can be done at the same time as your face lift and neck lift. Dr. Yarinsky may recommend “staging” additional procedures such as nose reshaping to be done on a second day. To discover how combining these common plastic surgery procedures can transform and rejuvenate your appearance, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Yarinsky today.
>Additional Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Age for Face Lift and Neck Lift Surgery?
While most face lift patients are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, patients outside of this age range may be perfectly good candidates. There is no ideal age for face and neck lift surgery, as candidacy ultimately depends upon your facial aging, skin quality, and expectations. To determine whether face lift surgery, with or without a neck lift, is right for you, you should schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Yarinsky.
What Risks Are Associated with the Face Lift & Neck Lift?
As with all surgery, the face and neck lift comes with some degree of risk. While complications from the procedures are rare, possible side effects include bleeding, nerve injury, infection, numbness, and skin irregularities. Dr. Yarinsky takes every precaution to ensure your safety during and after surgery, minimizing your potential risks. He will go over the possible complications before your procedure to ensure you know what to expect. To reduce your risk of post-operative issues, it is important that you follow Dr. Yarinsky’s recovery and wound care instructions carefully.
Does a Face Lift Address the Whole Face?
Face lift surgery with a combined neck lift typically addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, between the cheekbones and the neck. For those with signs of aging in the upper face, eyelid surgery or a brow lift may be recommended. To produce the most natural-looking and youthful transformation, multiple procedures may be included in your surgical plan for optimal results.
Is a Neck Lift Always Needed with a Face Lift?
Combining a neck lift with face lift surgery will often provide the best possible outcome, as the face and neck tend to age at a similar rate. If a face lift is performed without a neck lift when sagging skin and fatty deposits are present in the neck region, this can result in an unnatural appearance. By incorporating a neck lift into your face lift procedure, Dr. Yarinsky can help you achieve a comprehensive and balanced facial rejuvenation.
Note:
The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for you can be determined only at the time of your consultation with Dr. Yarinsky. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual. *Most people are very happy with the results but no specific result can be guaranteed.
This procedure is usually done with your safety first in mind at our Joint Commission accredited office facility.