Over time, the contours of the neck and jaw become less and less defined due to multiple factors such as the natural ageing process, gravity and even the genetic inheritance. And there is no cream, exercise or sculpting tools that can bring back firmness to the neck and lower half of the face. The only effective way erase some of the signs of ageing is to opt for facial cosmetic surgery. Neck lift and lower facelift are two popular procedures that can help you get rid of jowls and create more definition in the lower half of your face. In this blog post, we will discuss the two procedures to help you determine which one is right for you.
Plastic Surgeon Dr Jeremy Hunt offers patients in Sydney and Wollongong the full spectrum of facial rejuvenation surgery. He will thoroughly explain the difference between neck lift and lower facelift, and help you choose the best procedure to meet your cosmetic aspirations.
A lower facelift is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting the jowls and the neck by repositioning skin and muscles. During the surgery, the upper part of your platysma muscles that extend from the upper chest over the collarbone and sides of the neck are adjusted. They are connected to a layer of firm tissue known as the fascia. Repositioning the skin, tissues, and fat pads into their original position instantly lifts the lower part of the face and neck along with reducing the appearance of nasolabial folds.
The procedure specifically targets laugh lines, sagging cheeks and lose jowls. Your surgeon will make an incision in the front of the ears, extending to the hairline. The surgeon will then pull the skin, fat tissue and platysma muscles into a lifted position to make your jawline a tight and lifted look.
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that is focused on improving the sagging appearance of your neck. The incisions are typically made behind the ear, extending into the hairline. The surgeon will remove excess skin, and reposition the SMAS layer to give a different look to your neck. A neck lift or platysmoplasty, is needed if there needs to be significant improvement in the front of the neck.
If the patient had prominent bands on the neck, they will be addressed with a small incision under the chin during a neck lift procedure. With age, the platysma muscles become separated and are responsible for creating two vertical bands that run from chin to chest. The neck lift allows the surgeon to sew these bands together and give you a smooth looking neck.
If you wish to address your double chin along with sagging neck, a combination of neck lift and liposuction is done to remove excess fat and give you a structured jaw. If the patient struggles with skin laxity, the surgeon will also perform skin trimming during the procedure. For patients who struggle with excess skin laxity and wide separation of platysmal bands, your surgeon might suggest you to undergo a lower facelift and a neck lift at the same time. This is due to the fact that it is nearly impossible to address the neckbands without addressing the jowls due to the continuity of face and neck muscle layers.
While you will see these terms used interchangeably on the internet, there are clear differences between the two procedures. A neck lift will not address any problems associated with your jawline, jowls and only targets the neck. Another major difference is in terms of the incision. During the lower facelift, the surgeon will make an incision both in front of the ear and behind the ear. The incision will be extended higher to lift up the cheek area.
In the case of neck lift, the incision will be made around the ear and below the chin. In some cases when patients have minimal skin laxity, the neck lift can only be performed with the incision under the chin.
It is important to note that sometimes the surgeon will recommend a combination of these two procedures to help you achieve the desired results.
Believe it or not, most neck lift surgeries are coupled with a lower facelift to achieve aesthetic and functional results on the neck and lower half of the face. This is done because neck lift focuses on the neck region only. On the other hand, a lower facelift primarily focuses on the lower half of the face.
By getting rid of loose, sagging skin, repositioning underlying muscles, tissues, and underlying structures, the combination of both these procedures will give you a lifting effect while visibly minimising the signs of ageing. As a result, you will get a sharper looking chin and jawline, get rid of nasolabial folds, lifted cheeks, get rid of neck wrinkles/bands.
Like any other cosmetic surgery, lower facelift and neck lift carries some potential risks and complications. One of the main risks associated with both these surgeries is hematoma- a collection of blood under the skin. It is important to avoid all blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements that can lead to increased bleeding.
It is also advised to refrain from exercising and heavy lifting for at least four weeks post-surgery to reduce the risk of complications. Patients need to stop smoking for at least a few weeks before & after the surgery as it can lead to skin necrosis, prevent effective wound healing and even infection. Another less common but possible risk is injury to facial nerves.
Other risks, though all uncommon include facial asymmetry, bleeding, prolonged swelling, numbness, persistent pain, skin loss, skin irregularities and discolouration, hair loss along with the incision sites and unfavourable scarring. Make sure to choose the right surgeon and then stick to all the pre and post-surgical instructions to reduce complications.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions we get regarding neck lift and lower facelift:
Dr Jeremy Hunt is specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.
Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.
Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.
Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.
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