Downtime and Duration of Neck Lift Surgery?

Thank you for your question.

Down time is the time it takes for bruising to resolve. You will be up and around the next day. Bruising can last two weeks.

The duration of the result depends on your skin quality and the quality of your result.

Younger patients with healthy thick skin and a good result can expect a 10 year result.

Patients with thin sun damaged fair skin can need revision as early as two years.

If your neck is tight at 3-6 weeks after surgery you should expect a long lasting result.

As a board certified plastic surgeon, I usually recommend that my patients take it easy for approximately one week after a neck lift. For their safety and comfort, a private-duty nurse will stay with them the first 36 hours or so, and after this time, they can shower and relax on their own. Gentle walks, depending on the patient, can be taken at this time, and they are able to “open the door to a delivery person” at this time without looking scary! Most all of the swelling goes down in the first two weeks, after which time they can begin working out again at the gym. The longevity of the results depends on the surgeon’s skill and the patient’s skin quality, but a good neck lift can last for 20+ years and in some cases, even longer. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon and discussing your concerns and expectations to see if a neck lift would be right for you.

Hi @PugMomma from San Francisco! Thanks for the question.
A "Chicken Neck" or "Turkey Neck" is common with aging even if you've taken excellent care of your skin and health. There's no exercise, cream or laser that can correct this like a proper surgical necklift. 
A neck lift is usually a quick recovery procedure and patients tend to feel pretty good and back to themselves in about 24 to 48 hours, but it’s extremely important to avoid any strenuous activity for at least one week after surgery. This means no exercise or activity that increases the heart rate, no sexual activity, no straining to use the restroom.
The Neck Lift takes a few hours when done correctly and meticulously, but patients may have other areas of their face addressed which can impact the overall time. 
Many patients are surprised that there is not a lot of pain or discomfort after a true surgical neck lift. If you do experience significant pain then you should definitely get in touch with your surgeon immediately and let them know. Typically, you can expect the initial swelling to increase for a few days with the peak being postoperative day number three. After that, it dissipates over the next two weeks. An easy way to remember it is that there's typically one week of bruising followed by one week of swelling.
There may be a small drain tube left in place after surgery that comes out behind your ear and it's usually very small. Like the size of a small piece of spaghetti. This allows any excess fluid to come out so the skin can heal up to the tightened neck. The drain comes out on the morning after surgery by your surgeon.
By the end of the first week, most of the sutures will be removed, but a few may need to stay in place for another week depending on how you’re healing. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. 
Most patients are able to return to work after 8-14 days because the bruising has subsided and the swelling is mostly gone. Makeup can be worn after the first week to conceal any bruising or scars. 
It takes about 3 months for most of the swelling to resolve and for you to see your true results. Sometimes, certain areas of your skin may remain firm for 6-9 months and this can be improved with lymphatic massage or just waiting for it to subside. Swelling follows gravity, so the last area to stay a bit firm and swollen is typically the lower neck but this is barely noticeable and concealed easily with a scarf. 
 The scars fade by about 12 months after surgery. 

we often advise our Facelift Patients to take Arnica and Bromelin which have been shown to reduce the period of bruising and swelling.
If you’re slow to recover with swelling try adhering to a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, avoiding any salt whatsoever. This, combined with a few lymphatic massage treatments can do wonders for reducing facial swelling after a facelift.
Congrats again, 
Dr. Karan Chopra
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
Face * Breast * Body Expert
Aesthetic Fellowship Trained
Johns Hopkins Plastic Surgery Trained