Direct Neck Lift

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As we age, our neck skin tends to become loose and begins to hang. And even sometimes, fat deposits may make their presence know with resultant thickening of the neck skin. Many patients refer to this soft tissue excess as a “turkey neck”. The good news is that it is possible to remedy this issue with a minor procedure called a “direct neck lift”.  This lift can be done under local anesthesia and so direct neck lift cost is quite reasonable.

What is a Direct Neck Lift?

This lift involves tightening of the neck skin by simply removing skin excess in the center of the upper and mid neck. This approach is quite different from a face lift because with a face lift, the tightening involves removal of skin about the ears, which is far from the neck. This results in an even better tightening of the skin of the neck than with a face lift.

Since the direct neck lift involves removing skin from the center of the neck, there is a scar but in older patients who have developed a few wrinkles over the years and for men who have a beard or at least some kind of stubble, the scar is difficult to find in most patients when it has matured. The trade-off for the scar is that patients don’t have to have a face lift which is more expensive, requires some downtime and is usually performed under general anesthesia.  As with all cosmetic surgery procedures, it is good to look at direct neck lift before and after photos to see if the procedure is right for you.

Neck Lift versus Direct Neck Lift versus Face Lift

Once it has been determined that jowls are not a problem for a particular patient, the alternatives for treatment of the neck include a neck lift, a direct neck lift and a face lift. Let’s talk about a face lift first and see how it relates to treatment of the neck.

Face lift surgery involves removal of skin in front and behind the ear and this can really help with skin removal in the neck. It does not require an incision in the central neck and so is attractive for women, both younger and older. Face lifts, as mentioned above, are more complicated. And so if a patient simply wants the skin removed from the neck and doesn’t mind having a temporary scar, a direct neck lift is a better alternative. Direct neck lift patients are usually older men whose focus is not really the scar but rather getting rid of all of their excess neck skin.

A neck lift is a very specific procedure that is similar to a face lift but focuses mostly on the neck. During a neck lift, which is usually performed under anesthesia, inconspicuous incisions are fashioned behind the ears and under the chin and a space is made under the skin of the neck. The superficial muscles of the neck are tightened and the excess fat is removed. Finally, the skin is tightened by removing it from behind the ears. There is no resultant scar in the center of the neck as in a direct neck lift but skin tightening is not as good as with the direct neck lift in the average patient who notes a lot of skin laxity within the neck.

Direct Neck Excision

A direct neck lift is another term for a direct neck lift.

Z-Plasty Neck Surgery

Facial plastic surgeons perform the direct neck lift procedure in differing ways. Some use a straight line closure and others use zig-zag incisions in an attempt to lengthen the scar. These zig-zag scars are sometimes referred to as Z-plasties.

Direct Neck Lift Cost

When compared to a face lift, cost for direct neck lifts is quite reasonable because it can be performed under local anesthesia. Patients can usually drive home themselves and require minimal after-care.

Consult your plastic surgeon to see which procedure is best for your goals and anatomy.

How long does it take to recover from a direct neck lift procedure?

There is some mild swelling but patients are able to perform their usual daily tasks the day after their procedure. Healing takes about a week where swelling and bruising are mostly resolved. Patients may drive the same day as their procedure and can exercise by 7 to 10 days

What is a direct neck lift?

In a direct neck lift, excess skin of the neck is removed from the center of the neck. Because it is directly in the area of skin excess, the direct neck lift is the best method to tighten skin of the neck. The alternative is a face lift, where skin is removed in front and from behind the ears. Face lifts are very effective at removing both jowling and neck laxity but are more complicated, are more costly and are more complicated to perform and thus require a longer healing period.

Is a neck lift worth it?

Neck lift surgery has a very high satisfaction rate because it is able to remove all the excess skin and fat of the neck, has a very quick recovery and is very cost effective.

How painful is a neck lift?

Since neck lifts are really skin surgery, pain is generally very minimal. And since the area can be numbed with local anesthetic, patients are very comfortable during their direct neck lift procedure.

What is the best neck tightening procedure?

Of the three methods for neck tightening, a face lift, a neck lift and direct neck excision, no one procedure is the best because they are all effective at skin tightening. Itg really depends on a particular patient’s goals and the degree of neck laxity present. It is therefore to seek the consultation of an experienced facial plastic surgeon to get the best opinion as to which procedure is best for you.

How do I fix my saggy neck?

Saggy neck skin, fat and loose superficial neck muscles can be corrected with a face lift, a neck lift or with a direct neck lift. It is the direct neck lift that removes the skin excess from the neck and so is the easiest way to solve the problem.

What does a direct neck lift/direct neck excision cost?

Since the direct neck lift/direct neck excision technique can be performed under local anesthesia and generally takes about 45 minutes to perform, total cost is quite low and is within most patient’s budgets.