The surgery went well, and my recovery is going great

I had considered a neck lift on and off for 10 years before deciding to move forward with it at age 68. By this point, I had a definite dewlap, complete with a pale area of skin on my neck where I never tanned because of the loose folds of skin draping over my lower neck. Despite concerns that I would heal too slowly due to my age, I finally decided to go ahead with a neck lift. I did a lot of research into the process and I selected Dr. Lin at Beth Israel in Boston for several reasons. It was clear from his website that he is a very careful surgeon who prioritizes safety and aims for a natural looking outcome – one where my face and neck would look rejuvenated but still like it belonged to the rest of my body. He has many years of experience at Beth Israel Hospital, which is a respected teaching hospital in an area known for great hospitals. This surgery was a financial stretch for me, and I can’t afford a “revision” surgery, so it was important to me that I make that right choice going in. When I met with Dr. Lin, he made sure to fully disclose all the possible risks and to describe realistic outcomes, which made me feel that I could trust him – he talked to me like a partner rather than a salesman. We decided to go ahead with a combination neck lift and lower facelift, as I had also started to develop some jowls and wrinkling around my chin.
The surgery went well, and my recovery is going great. The first couple of weeks were sometimes uncomfortable, but never painful. It was obvious from the first week that there was a huge difference in my jawline. By 4 weeks out, when I took off the chin wrap, I had the profile I’d been hoping for! There are still small lumps and bumps on the underside of my jaw – noticeable mostly only to me – but it’s clear that these are slowly resolving and I have every expectation that they’ll be completely gone in a matter of months. I love my new neck and jaw, it’s exactly what I’d been hoping for! I am very, very satisfied with my decision to do this surgery and with my choice of surgeon.
Dr. Lin has been kind, gentle, and approachable throughout the process. He and his staff have always taken plenty of time to answer my questions and concerns. I especially liked that he called me the night before my surgery just to check in on how I was doing.
Photos are 6 weeks post surgery, still some minor swelling which will go away with time.