Neck & Chin Lift Procedures

People benefit from cosmetic chin and neck procedures for a variety of reasons. A neck lift either removes excess skin (cervicoplasty), alters neck muscle (platysmaplasty) or both. It can benefit those people with issues caused by aging or weight loss. Chin procedures, on the other hand, are actually augmentations, not lifts. Instead of shifting or removing skin, they add projection to the chin, bringing it into balance with other features. Plastic surgeons also can perform facial liposuction on either area to remove excess fat. These procedures can be performed alone or in conjunction with one another.

Choosing a Procedure

• There are a number of steps to take before actually "going under the knife" for a neck lift or chin augmentation. First, determine, specifically, what it is you don't like about your appearance and the specific changes you'd like to see. A thorough consultation with your plastic surgeon will help you with this, but it's best to enter your initial consultation with a good idea of what you want---not necessarily the procedures you want but the changes you'd like to see. The role of a good plastic surgeon is to work with you to determine the best procedures to help you meet those goals. For instance, if it's muscle banding in the neck that concerns you, a neck lift procedure called a platysmaplasty may be the best solution. Or, it may be better treated with a less invasive mini-lift, or with simple Botox injections. The differences in scarring, downtime, discomfort, risk and price between various facial procedures can be dramatic. So choosing the least invasive method to get the results you want is well worth the time spent in surgical consultation and research.

Neck Lift Procedure

• A neck lift is most often performed under local anesthesia combined with sedation, allowing you to return home the same day. At times, however, it is performed under general anesthesia with an overnight stay. Incisions involved range from a small incision beneath the chin to longer incisions that run beneath the chin to behind the ears. During the surgery, the surgeon removes excess skin and tightens the remaining skin. He also may adjust the neck muscles to correct as much neck banding as possible. The entire procedure generally lasts between two and three hours. After surgery, you will need to wear a pressure garment for about a week. Your face and neck will be bruised and swollen for the first seven to 10 days after the procedure. If you're like most patients, you will be able to return to normal activity after about two weeks.

Chin Augmentation Procedure

• For a chin augmentation, the surgeon makes a small incision either on the gum line inside the mouth or concealed beneath the chin. If a chin augmentation is combined with a neck procedure, he uses an incision beneath the chin. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a small pocket beneath the skin then carefully slides the implant into place. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.