For a neck lift, I'm assuming that I should do weight loss first? (photo)

It is possible that you may be a candidate for what I have termed, "The Laser Assisted Weekend Necklift:" It is a minimally invasive procedure. Cervicofacial Liposculpture is first employed to contour the unfavorable fatty changes seen in the face and neck as time passes by, such as the ‘Turkey neck’ and ‘double chin’.Careful attention is then turned to tightening the neck muscles and eliminating neck bands. Finally, I employ laser technology to ‘resurface’ the underside of the neck skin, thereby ‘shrinkwrapping’ the skin of the neck restoring a youthful contour.A consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon will help determine which procedures will provide the best results for you.

The presence of banding down the front of the #neck, and, amount of excess skin and condition of your skin are among some factors which determine if you are a #candidate for #rejuvenating the neck. During an in-person examination, your chin will be evaluated along with the neck and jawline. A weak #chin implies a lack of chin support for the skin along the neck line. In younger individuals a chin implant alone is usually all that is needed to improve the appearance of the neck. Subsequently, it will also improve the overall #balance of the face and can create the illusion of a smaller nose. As a stand-alone procedure, chin augmentation can be performed in the office under local #anesthesia. For individuals with signs of #aging in the neck, a chin implant added to one of the recommended procedures above, will provide optimal results.It is usually recommended that patients who have recently experienced weight loss and massive weight loss (#MWL) remain consistent at their weight for at least six to twelve months prior any cosmetic surgery. Such will better ensure longer lasting results of the procedure without risking the fluctuation and stretching of the skin tissue.
Your board certified plastic surgeon should evaluate both your anatomical features and aesthetic goals to suggest which procedure best suits your needs. In some cases there may be more than one option to choose from. If you are not a candidate at the time of your #consultation, your board surgeon can recommend non-surgical alternatives to improve your concern.

Losing weight to be at an optimal health is always a great goal. Diet and exercise is beneficial for overall longevity and health. Being healthy will also help out from the recovery process from any surgery. I do not feel that a weight loss of 20 pounds will make a difference in terms of your results. Although it is best to be at your ideal body weight for 3 months or more prior to surgery, it really takes a weight loss of 30 to 50 or more pounds to delay a cosmetic procedure for possible outcome differences. From your picture you would have a great outcome from a combined face and neck lift. Congratulations of the upcoming weight  loss and general health upkeep. Best wishes.

Yes, a stable weight is ideal prior to cosmetic surgery. However, further weight reduction most likely will not affect loose skin, bone structure, or muscle of the neck, so a degree of the "jowls"  and "wattle" may persist regardless of weight. Neck lift surgery is a conversation between you and your plastic surgeon to help determine the appropriate cosmetic procedure and timing of the procedure. Having an appropriate recovery time after surgery with support from friends and family is very important too. As a result, cosmetic surgery is popular for those patients who are in between jobs. Speak with a neck lift surgeon to help determine appropriate options for you.Best,Dr. Chaboki

Dear jsflynn603,It is always best to be at your ideal weight.  Your result will be better and you may be able to have a procedure that has less downtime.  I would suggest loosing the weight and then seeing and experienced facelift surgeon.  Good luck.

First, congratulations on your resolve to lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months!  That's great, and you'll no doubt enjoy many overall health benefits because of it.  Based on your pictures, you do have moderate laxity in the submental region, but it looks like there isn't a significant fat component.  Having said that, for such a significant weight loss, I think it's prudent to complete that first, and then see what your lower face and neck tissues look like.  You may very well find that you've got even more skin laxity after weight loss, both in the neck and in the jowl region, and it would certainly be best to deal with this with a lower face and neck lift after your weight loss is complete and stabilized.  Best of luck!Ashlin J. Alexander, MD FRCSCFacial Plastic & Reconstructive SurgeryToronto, Canada

If you are planning on losing more than 20 lbs. or so, it's best to wait until the weight loss has been completed prior to undergoing a face and neck lift.  Also, you would be a good candidate for a face and neck lift to address the jowls.  Best of luck.

Thank you for your question and for providing the photos. While typically I would prefer your weight to be stable prior to performing a necklift, in your case it doesn't look like there is much of a fat component. The reason for waiting until the weight loss is complete is to prevent further sag. In some cases, if significant weight is lost after surgery, some recurrent laxity can develop. This can detract from the result.However, in your case, based on the photos, it doesn't seem like there is much fat in your neck or jowl region. I would therefore not expect much deflation with additional weight loss. Of course, it is best to have this evaluated by your plastic surgeon for the final result.Best of luck with your neck.Jeff Rockmore

Desired weight loss that is significant (more than 20 lbs or so) should be done prior to face or neck lift. Your photo does not show lots of excess fat in the neck, so weight loss may not change things too much for this procedure.

The photos provided show skin laxity and platysmal muscle banding.  Although a 20 lb weight loss may put you at your optimal weight, it will not correct the above mentioned problems.  Although this is ultimately your decision, there are three important points in the decision making process: 1) No Surgeon wants to operate on a patient nutritionally challenged after recent weight loss, 2) Addressing your neck will make you look like you have lost weight, 3) The time off window currently available sounds like sooner may be preferable to later.