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I Hate my Neck

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Ankit Desai, MD
Question viewed 10,193 times
Tags: neck, rejuvenation, Virtual consultation

Lots of things on my face bother me but I absolutely can't stand my neck for a moment longer ....its a bad mixture of genetics and sun and I'm really wanting to fix it. I just had Total FX on my face a couple of weeks ago and healed very quickly. Is a face and neck lift the only thing that will help me? I'm terrified of going under general anesthesia because I have young children and although its safe, there's always a risk. I also don't know any surgeons who specialize in neck rejuvenation. Help!

15 answers to I Hate my Neck

Neck laxity often needs surgery

As you have already discovered, the minimally invasive procedures to tighten the neck are often disappointing. There are two excellent ways of reducing neck looseness. First, a lower facelift can be done. This involves incisions behind the ear and underneath the earlobe. It tightens the neck and the neck skin nicely. In some patients, the shape of your jawline contributes to the neck skin appearing loose. If the chin is receding, a small chin implant along with the lower facelift may be just... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

A neck lift is most effective, but nonsurgical skin tightening and Botox will improve your neck

Dear Johnjana, Your face looks excellent after your fractional ablative laser skin resurfacing. You have an excellent jawline and no fat on your neck, so you are very fortunate. There is no question that a neck lift, with well hidden scars behind the ear would give you an excellent result, and the best result. However, I understand your reluctance to have surgery and there are non-surgical neck and facial rejuvenation options available to you-the results will just not be as good. There are... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Surgical treatment for sagging neck skin

I would not recommend a facelift but if anything a necklift only. You have such a minor issue as viewed by your photos but unfortunately it is enough loose skin that non invasive things such as thermage or other skin tightening devices will not help. Hope that helps.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Surgical treatment will work better for the neck area

You will need surgical treatment to get the best result. Lasers, fiiler,threads and botox will not work for you because of the skin condition and loss of elasticity. Find a board certified plastic surgeon and in the consultation listen to the recomendation before bringing up your concerns about general anesthesia. This way you will get the best recomendations , then ask your doctor if he or she can do this with local anesthesia.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Neck Lift without Face Lift

From the picture you have shown, it appears that a straightforward neck lift concentrating on bringing your neck muscles back together can achieve the appearance you desire. This can be done under local anesthesia and you would eliminate the risks of undergoing general anesthesia. A midline plastysmaplasty or re-approximation of the neck muscles is performed with a small incision under the skin.

Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Neck lift or liposuction may give the results you want

A neck lift is an excellent operation for somebody less than 50 years of age who just has excess fat above and below the platysmal muscle. Traditional liposuction is an older but simpler procedure that can help as well. Women usually over 55 will require a face/neck lift because of the excess skin that needs to be removed, in addition to addressing facial and neck muscles.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

There are many ways to improve neck banding

You didn't mention what was most bothersome but I'm assuming its the banding in your neck. Botox can help improve this banding and will last 3-6 months. Another way of doing this is by doing a minimally invasive facelift concentrating in the neck area along with doing some work under the chin to release the bands. This approach is more invasive and another way of improving the way your neck looks is by grafting fat throughout your neck. You have to have enough fat to graft into the area.... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipyoung.com

If you really want the best result, you need surgery

The loose skin in your neck won't go away with anything less that a facelift or a cheek and necklift. In your area, I would suggest you see Dr. Ben Maser in Palo Alto. He is an excellent Plastic Surgeon who will give you your best options.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Minimally-invasive, minimal effect

Jonnjana, As you can tell from the other posts, as surgeons we sympathize with your desire for simple, safe and effective treatment of the skin laxity and platysma muscle bands that are showing in your upper neck. I agree that a series of infrared light-energy based treatments (we would use Sciton laser and broad-band light) is the most likely technique to improve your skin tone in that area, if you don't yet want surgery. I agree that it should be done in addition to periodic Botox... more

Sutton Graham II, MD
Greenville Plastic Surgeon

Neck lift would help.

JonnJana, A neck lift combined with a moderate amount of neck liposuction would probably be the best thing for you. It will give more definition to your jaw line and smooth out the skin. It is hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like you have some banding in your neck as well. You might want to try some Botox injections into the bands. In the right people, it can make a significant difference. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

It looks like you just need an isolated neck lift.

To jonnjana, Hi! From the one photograph, it does not look like you need a facelift. You need a neck lift with correction of the muscle bands (platysma bands). You might also need a small chin implant. All of this can be done through a short incision under the chin under local anesthesia with sedation. Go to a board certified plastic surgeon, and ask to see before and after pictures of neck lifts.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

A facelift will improve the neck.

From your picture you have extra skin in your neck, but not a great deal. If your goals are to improve this, a neck lift can be done under local anesthesia. We do this on patients like you who don't require a full extended facelift. By the way, I agree with your being concerned with general anesthesia. Even though I have been doing this surgery for more than 30 years and never had any anesthesia problem, I think this should be a concern for a single parent.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Loose skin in the neck

Loose skin in the neck will do best with a skin tightening procedure, a neck lift. All the lasers inthe world will not correct this problem.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You may want to consider Botox

What I see in your photo is mild to moderate platysma bands. These are muslces whose edges you see along the front of the neck. I don't see sagging skin or fat, so your neck is actually in pretty good shape. Given your social situation and fear of general anesthesia, I would recommend that you at least consider Botox injections into the muscle. It is temporary, but it may give you an acceptable result without formal surgery. Let me know if you decide to do that and how it works for you... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Smartlifting, Botox, and Sculptra for platysmal bands

As a board certified facial plastic surgeon, we perform over 100 face and neck lifts annually. I am currently writing a book on neck rejuvenation for publication in 2008, and we have introduced many new techniques for platysmal banding. The most recent technique is Smartlifting, which heats up both the skin and bands and can be combined with Botox to reduce the muscle tightening forming the bands. Volume loss plays a part, and adding Sculptra to the Smartlift can enhance volume and reduce... more