Can you successfully have a neck lift without a facelift?

Question

Is it true that if one has a neck lift without a facelift the neck will "fall" (the skin will become lax after a short period)?

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

No that is not true. If the necklift is properly performed, the result can last for many years. Most patients do like to improve the jowls at the same time, which is why everything is usually done at once. Be sure to see a facial specialist for consultation.

Julia Spears, MD · Answer

Thank you so much for your question. Yes, a neck lift can absolutely be performed successfully without a facelift in the right patient. Whether it is a good option depends on your anatomy, skin quality, degree of laxity, and overall goals.

Patients with concerns primarily isolated to the neck, such as loose skin, banding, or fullness beneath the chin, and who still have good tone in the cheeks and jawline, can often do very well with a neck lift alone. A properly performed neck lift should not simply “fall” after a short period of time.

However, the face and neck age together. If there is already significant jowling or lower face descent, treating only the neck can sometimes create an imbalance in which the neck appears tighter while the lower face still looks aged. Over time, this may give the impression that the neck result did not last, when in reality, the untreated lower face continues to age naturally.

The best procedure is the one that addresses your specific anatomy while maintaining facial harmony. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial rejuvenation can help determine whether an isolated neck lift or a combined lower facelift and neck lift would yield the most balanced, long-lasting result.

Michelle Lee, MD · Answer

Hi Heidi! It is possible to have a successful neck lift without a facelift. It all depends on the patients age, concerns/goals and the extent of laxity. A neck lift on its own best serves patients with a minimal amount of laxity beneath the jawline that they are wanting to correct. For patients wanting to fully correct jowling, nasolabial folds or those with moderate to significant laxity, a facelift may be necessary to achieve their goals.

Michael A. Fallucco, MD, FACS · Answer

Necklift without a facelift is definetly an option in the correct setting.  It depends on your anatomy and goals.
A neck lift can be performed successfully without a facelift in select patients, especially if the concern is primarily loose skin or excess fat under the chin and along the jawline, and the midface (cheeks) still has good tone and volume. In these cases, a well-performed neck lift can create a tighter, more defined neck and jaw contour on its own.

However, if there's significant sagging in the lower face (jowls, marionette lines, etc.), then a neck lift alone may create an imbalance — where the neck looks tight, but the lower face still appears aged. Over time, gravity and skin laxity in the untreated areas may give the impression that the neck "fell" or aged unevenly, even though it was lifted.

The key is a customized surgical plan. During consultation, I assess the full facial structure to determine if a standalone neck lift will give you the natural, long-lasting results you're looking for — or if combining it with a lower facelift will achieve better harmony.

If you're in the Jacksonville area and considering facial rejuvenation, I’d be happy to see you for a personal evaluation.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Great question. An isolated neck lift works well in patients whose skin integrity allows for adequate "re-draping" that matches the contour changes created by the neck lift.  This is generally applicable to patients in their 30's and 40's, similar to the effects seen in weight loss in the face/neck area in this age group.  When a patient develops a certain degree of skin laxity accompanied by jowl/ mid-facial descent, an isolated neck lift doesn't allow for the same results.  This generally applies to patients from the mid-50's up and patients who have had very significant weight loss. 
A facelift is a more complete procedure and is applicable to the majority of the aging face population.  90% of the patients that I see seeking neck-lifts are better facelift candidates.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

In selected patients neck lift may be performed without face lift. Two ways of doing that are anterior neck lift without skin removal and posterior extended neck lift with removal of redundant neck skin. I hope this helps.

Nicholas S. Karter, MD · Answer

If someone has good skin elasticity with no signs of sagging skin, jowling, or vertical descent in the face or neck, I will perform a deep plane neck lift to address fullness under the chin. This is almost exclusively for younger patients in their 20s and 30s. The procedure addresses deeper structures to the platysma muscle. However, if there is significant jowling or sagging skin in the midface, treating the neck alone will create an imbalance between the jawline and the face. An in-person evaluation is essential to determine whether an isolated neck lift will look natural or whether combining it with a facelift would provide a more harmonious result.

Sean Fisher, MD · Answer

The answer to this is very anatomy dependent. There are a narrow group of patients who are good candidates for isolated neck lifts- these are commonly younger patients with genetically "heavy" necks. these patients often do not have the classic signs of aging of the lower/mid face (jowling, mid-face fat loss, tissue descent of the midface and jawline). For these patients, an isolated neck lift can be a good option. More commonly, the signs of aging in the lower face/neck occur along a similar timeline- this is why these are typically combined into a single operation. I would recommend finding a well-qualified surgeon with advanced training in facial rejuvenation who can assess your individual anatomy and propose a surgical plan that fits your anatomy and goals. 
Sean M Fisher, MD Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonSeattle, WA

Caner Kacmaz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

It is definitely possible to undergo a neck lift without facelift surgery. However, managing expectations is crucial to avoid disappointment. Most people enjoy the comprehensive rejuvenation of a combined facelift and neck lift. If your facial skin is  relatively smooth and fresh, we can achieve excellent results with just a neck lift. It is best to see your pictures and determine the best possible result for you.

Can you successfully have a neck lift without a facelift?

Answers (9)

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