Facelifts are a powerhouse rejuvenation procedure, offering transformative and cohesive results, but can they do it all? This blog compares facelifts and neck lifts, explains how facelifts address the neck, and discusses when patients might need to combine the two procedures for more comprehensive results.
Facelift vs. Neck Lift
If you’ve noticed your fine lines and wrinkles have become more prominent, your facial skin appears slack, and you’ve lost some facial definition around your cheeks, chin, and jawline, you might be thinking about undergoing a facelift.
Facelifts are the ultimate rejuvenation procedure, as they address the above issues in a single cohesive procedure, effectively turning back the clock for a refreshed, revitalized appearance. But does a facelift treat aging concerns on the neck? Also, how is a neck lift different from a facelift, and who should get which procedure? We’ll answer those questions and more as we break down both procedures below.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure that treats the lower third of the face and the most obvious signs of aging, such as nasolabial creases, marionette lines, jowls, and loose skin. While each procedure is different, and there are many different types of facelifts, we’ll focus on the traditional methods. By “lower third” of the face, we mean these features: the cheeks, mouth, chin, and jawline.
During a facelift, your surgeon lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissues to tighten loose skin and tissue, smooth deep creases, and eliminate jowls.
So, does a facelift include the neck? Yes and no. A facelift does tighten and lift the skin and tissue around the chin and jawline, which smoothes the contour of the neck where it meets the jaw. That’s why you’ll see facelift patients with that snatched jawline and an elegant slope to the neck, even if the surgery does not directly deal with the neck tissues.
Candidates for a facelift likely want to focus on their midface aging concerns listed above, and while the neck does benefit from the procedure, it is not the primary focus. If you have concerns specific to the neck, however, you can likely benefit from combining your facelift with a neck lift.
What Is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift is a specialized procedure that treats the entire neck of aging concerns, such as:
- Neck banding
- Vertical bands
- Loose, hanging skin
- Turkey neck
We call this a specialized procedure because neck lifts are ideal for a select group of patients who have those specific concerns. Many patients can benefit from a facelift alone, or a combination neck lift and facelift, but neck lifts performed by themselves are rare, unless the patient has had prior facial rejuvenation.
Do Neck Lifts Treat a Double Chin?
No, neck lifts focus only on the skin and platysma muscles of the neck; however, it is common to combine a neck lift with liposuction to remove submental fat (a double chin).
Should I Combine My Facelift With a Neck Lift?
If you have moderate to severe facial aging concerns as well as neck banding—loose neck skin along a large portion of your neck—you might benefit from combining the two procedures. In fact, celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond often recommends combining procedures to ensure a more natural-looking result. This is because the face and neck will continue to age, and if you treat one and not the other, it can look odd.
Combining facial rejuvenation procedures, such as blepharoplasty or a brow lift, is an excellent way to achieve facial harmony and revitalize your appearance in a way that looks natural.
Want to Learn More About Facelifts in Beverly Hills, CA?
The best way to learn if you should combine your facelift with a neck lift is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Diamond. Call the Diamond Face Institute today at (310) 859-9816 or complete the contact form to request a consultation.