Concern About Neck Lift Scar

Most of the work of a neck lift is done at the deep level, not at the skin level.
It is a mistake in my opinion to resect anything more than a minimal amount of skin from below the neck; it can cause great artifact (the exception is the direct neck excision, which we do not perform but gets nice results in highly selected, usually much older patients).
We prefer a wide interlacing technique for the neck rather than a centrally based platysmaplasty or a transsection of the platysma, which can yield a skeletonized appearing neck with visible glands.

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

The #scars from a #neck lift mature within six to twelve months from the surgery date. It is during this time that the rejuvenating effects of the procedure will become apparent and the real result will be seen. We find that scar reducing product, BioCorneum , appears to be very effective. If you have certain concerns about the procedures and #healing process, it is recommended to call your board-certified surgeon or their medical staff and discuss those #concerns.

An upside down U seems a little dramatic and may not have been explained properly. I would discuss this again with the surgeon (have him draw it on you) or seek a second opinion. Typically, a straight line or slightly C-shaped incision is used depending on the natural skin folds. This incision typically heals to be unnoticeable.

 You can always have surgery on another day. Get another opinion from an experienced facelift surgeon and discuss the pros and cons of doing things different ways.

My general principle with my patients is, 'When in doubt about your surgery, don't do it."
You need to feel comfortable with your surgeon and your own decision. You should meet with her or him again and discuss your apprehensions.
In my experience it is difficult to achieve the same result with under the chin incision alone as with face/neck lift incision. Its easier to pull the extra skin behind the ear than under the chin. You should discuss this option (Face/neck lift) with your surgeon.
Regards!

The scars from a neck lift should fade to a point that they are virtually imperceptible. Look at many, many before and after images and look closely at the position of the ears and the hairline in addition to close ups of the incision sites. Carefully check the credentials of your plastic surgeon and ask about the post-surgery protocol. Many plastic surgeons, myself included will use a V-Beam laser to help fade scars. 

If you need a true necklift you will require incisions around the ears period end of story. If you do not want that, then do not have the procedure.

For the most part, incisions made for neck work will hide nicely under the chin and jaw bone regardless of the size. Unfortunately, any time that you make an incision you leave a scar and sometimes scar revisions are necessary to hide the scar even further.

There are different degress of neck lift surgery, none of which involve increasing the submental scar. The only time i increase the length of the scar isif the patient has a witches chin and needs improvement of the submental area.