Neck Lift | Direct Neck Lift

A traditional neck lift involves resuspending the sagging tissues back into their more youthful position. The keyword there is resuspension. Unfortunately, everyone has seen the “windblown” or “operated” look, which is created by “pulling” the face. Gravity did not pull the face and neck forward; it pulled them downwards. As one of the best neck lift surgeons in The Woodlands, Dr. Guy’s understanding of human anatomy allows him to create a natural, rejuvenated look.

You’ll meet with Dr. Guy and have a friendly conversation about your concerns. He will offer a professional opinion about what can realistically be done to address your concerns and explain the techniques available for your neck lift. He will provide details on neck lift incision placement and anesthesia options most appropriate for you, as well as the risks and costs associated with your neck lift.

As for many cosmetic surgeries, a neck lift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia and light sleep sedation or general anesthesia. In the case of a “skin-only” neck lift, Dr. Guy will make two incisions under or behind the ear, loosen and re-drape the skin, and remove any excess. In a platysmaplasty that includes a skin lift, an additional incision is made under the chin.

You will most likely experience bruising and swelling in your lower face and neck that will peak on day three before it begins to dissipate. Dr. Guy will advise you to take it easy for a couple of weeks or more as you recuperate from your double chin removal in The Woodlands, TX.

Depending on your healing process and Dr. Guy’s preference, your stitches will most likely remain in place for seven to 10 days.

There will be some swelling for several weeks after your surgery, and the results of your neck lift will emerge within a week or so.

Surgery cannot stop aging—nothing can—which means your neck lift results will not last forever. However, it should be several years before you start to see loose skin forming in the same area again. It should be noted that a significant weight gain could cause neck fullness and sagging. Your best chance at enjoying long-lasting results is to partner with Dr. Guy, one of the leading experts for neck lifts in The Woodlands, TX.

All surgery carries risk and the possibility of complications, and a neck lift is no exception. Potential risks include allergic reaction to the anesthesia, infection, seroma or hematoma, lumpiness, numbness, blotching of the skin, cording, asymmetry, and dissatisfaction with the results.

To further understand the treatment, it is essential to understand anatomy. The platysma muscle encircles the front of the neck, and in our youth, the leading edges of the muscle are held together by a tight membrane. As time passes and gravity kicks in, this muscle begins to weaken, as does the membrane holding together the front edges, resulting in neckbands that extend from the chin to the breast bone/clavicle. When these bands first appear, Dr. Guy can correct them with a neuromodulator like Botox or Dysport. As time goes on and as the sagging worsens, another option is the Embrace RF system that uses FaceTite and Morpheus8. The most effective treatment is through surgery with more advanced signs of aging. 

Neck lift surgery can be performed at almost any age, although people between the ages of 30 and 70 usually seek it out.

Any neck lift operation will address these bands in some manner. For widely spaced bands, these are sometimes trimmed called a platysmal myectomy. As the bands get closer together, these can either be trimmed, or the leading edges can be sewn together called a platysmaplasty. The other part of the neck lift operation is suturing the back end of the platysma muscle to another muscle farther back in the neck. This is what really lifts the neck and involves incisions behind the ear into the hairline.