Necklift Re-do, Will It Change my Face?

Question

I had a neck/facelift in 2010. I had a vy plasty done to remove excess skin 6 mos. later. I still have some loose skin under chin % very slight jowling.Dr. says he is going to re-do the necklift. My face looks good and I do not want to change it. How is my face avoided of changes when he is going to tighten the plastyma muscle in neck and go under chin to tighten as well. Incision will be in fron of my ear to avoid dog ear. Does this affect face or neck only? He said it will not change face

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

I agree that it is not likely that the neck lift revision will adversely affect your face.  You will just have new incision which will need more time to heal and mature

George Yang, MD · Answer

Hi Thompson5530,

	I agree with your surgeon's opinion.

	If you are happy with the facelift already, this means that if you had any sagging at the jawline (jowls) the facelift already smoothed the jowl area.  If you still have some loose skin under your chin, the correct procedure is to repeat the necklift.  If there is a significant amount of skin left, especially directly under the chin, then sometimes the necklift incisions behind the ears may not be enough to remove that excess skin under the chin, and a direct necklift may be the only option other than trying to tighten the facelift even more in a vertical direction.  

	Since I don't like the look of a over tightened face, I tend to discuss the option of a direct necklift more often than my colleagues.  In general, the necklift does not affect the face unless it is performed in conjunction with a lower facelift.  Often times a patient who has had a necklift only may wonder why no one has noticed a change other possibly losing some weight, but deep down they were hoping for more of a comment of looking younger.  Especially in the front view, a necklift may not look that different, unless the patient has enough sagging to show on the front of the neck, and the after photos show a clean area under the chin and neck.  The shape of the cheeks and eyes don't look any different.

	I hope these responses help. 

	Best,

	Dr. Yang

Steven L. Ringler, MD, FACS · Answer

WIth a revision of a neck lift, it is very common to tighten the platysma muscle from a small incision under the chin. Unless something is done in the area of the cheek, the facial contour should not change significantly except for better definition along the jawline. Continue the open communication with your surgeon to make sure you get the results you are seeking. Good luck.

Richard H. Fryer, MD · Answer

You can perform a neck lift without affecting your face even when it is a "re-do".  You need to have a good discussion with your surgeon because if you are happy with your face and don't want it changed then you should not have anything done with your face.

	If you feel like you need some improvement with your neck then there are techniques that allow you to only change the neck.

	My personal favorite for tightening skin of the neck -- especially on a "re-do" when you have already had the muscles tightened -- is Smartliposuction.

Todd C. Miller, MD · Answer

A revision neck lift should not affect the work that was done on your face. There are a couple of options to tighten the platysma muscle. You can use a simple incision under the chin and tighten the muscle in the midline. The second option is to make incisions both under the chin as well as behind the ears. The incisions behind the ears allow the platysma muscle to be anchored from the sides as well as in the midline. I would discuss the differing options with you surgeon. Good luck!

Necklift Re-do, Will It Change my Face?

Answers (5)

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