Neck Lift: A Powerful Hush to That Age-Teller
Bigger than crow’s feet, laugh lines, and age spots combined, a droopy neck can shout what the other signs just suggest. Fortunately, a firm neckline can testify just as powerfully that you are as young as you feel.
There are some interesting and effective non-surgical techniques for firming the skin under the chin. They show results gradually with repeated treatments, and for most people they address only the surface of the problem.
Getting the Whole Solution
A neck lift is often the preferred solution because it addresses every layer of tissue that appears as a saggy or ropey neck. And the close connection between neckline and jaw line is part of the art of a good plastic surgeon.
On the surface, skin elasticity has the confounding quality of seeming to stiffen where we want it to be soft, and yet sagging where we want it to be firm. The layer of fat under everyone’s skin can thicken, thin out, or even bunch-up as we get older. And the muscles of the neck start to take a bit of a rest with age; for some of us, the muscle banding pattern we inherit there emerges as visible lines or chords from neck to chin.
A key advantage of the neck lift is that it can resolve these issues at every level.
Who Can Consider It?
Your plastic surgeon will screen for specific health factors that indicate good prospects for results, safety, and comfort.
The best time to consider a neck lift is before the droop gets too far along, doctors often observe. Best results for most people come from procedures that are done within 10 years of the start of an aging process. That age varies a great deal from person to person. And the very nature of the neck lift is that the approach is comprehensive, so there is no point in hesitating to select a plastic surgeon who inspires confidence and schedule that consultation.
What Can I Expect?
Long-lasting results are another reason for a neck lift. People who have this procedure rarely have to consider it again.
Patients are usually counseled to plan for a week of downtime from work. Comfort and recovery time are reduced when the neck lift is performed before aging conditions go too far.
As for results, in just a few weeks most people are enjoying an appearance that might seem new, if not for the fact that it’s the appearance they always felt inside and pictured outside.
How Do I Choose?
Selecting the plastic surgeon who’s right for you has some basics and some finer points. Among the basics, you’ll be looking for a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with hospital privileges at a medical center you’re comfortable with.
The finer points of choosing come from the impression you get during your first meeting. It’s a good idea before that consultation to think specifically about your goals, your concerns and any unknowns you’d like to clear up. Taking some notes to bring along is a good idea.
During that meeting you’ll get further impressions that are harder to define – what one great pianist called, “the music in between the notes.” Your trust, as well as your faith in the professional skill and artistry of the plastic surgeon, is of the utmost importance. To find that trust, come with goals and questions, and have confidence in your own impressions as you discuss them.
About Mike Majmundar, M.D.
Dr. Mike Majmundar is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and has been named a Top Doctor by Atlanta Magazine, a National Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report & Castle Connolly, a Top Beauty Expert by The Atlantan, Best Self, and Northside Woman, and Best Botox and Filler Injector by Jezebel. To read his patient reviews, visit RealSelf or Healthgrades.
