Many people consider loose skin around the neck and jowls to be unsightly, and a very high percentage of adults will struggle with that issue at some point over the years. Even if you go to great lengths to protect your skin and stay at a healthy weight, your skin will naturally lose its elasticity as you grow older. Luckily, those types of cosmetic issues can easily be taken care of with a popular procedure known as the neck lift. Following your operation, you are going to have the toned and youthful jawline that you have always wanted. 

Ideal Neck Lift Candidate

There are many different reasons why an individual would want to have the neck lift procedure carried out, and you will need to consider quite a few variables before you make a decision. In most cases, it is recommended that the patient is relatively close to their ideal weight and capable of maintaining that weight. It is also important that you don’t have any medical conditions that might negatively affect the results. 

The best way to determine if a neck lift is right for you is to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon. That consultation will give you the opportunity to discuss your cosmetic goals and learn more about what can be accomplished with the operation. The surgeon will also be able to screen you for any health complications that might affect the results. 

Steps in the Procedure

The neck lift procedure is generally carried out in an outpatient center with a general anesthetic or intravenous solution. Once the anesthetic has kicked in, the surgeon can make one small incision just behind each ear where they will be nearly invisible. In some cases, a third incision must be made just below the chin if excess skin or fat must be removed. The procedure itself requires the surgeon to carefully remove excess skin and adjust the remaining soft tissue. When the surgeon is happy with the placement of the skin, they can carefully suture the incisions shut. 

Even though a neck lift generally isn’t too invasive, you will need to have someone take you home and watch over you for at least 24 hours. For the first few days, there will be quite a bit of inflammation and discoloration. Most of the temporary side effects can easily be minimized with prescription painkillers and compression bandages. Within a few days, the average patient can begin to move around and carry out light chores on their own. 

Typical Results

Skimming through neck lift before and after photos will give you a very good idea of what kinds of results this operation can produce. Studies continue to reveal that this procedure has a very high success rate, and most patients remain happy with their results for years. As an added bonus, you can combine a neck lift with other procedures to further refresh your appearance.