One of the most noticeable areas of the body to show signs of aging is the neck. Aging, genetics, sun and exposure, can cause imperfections like loose skin, muscle bands, and excess fat and can make us appear older or less defined. While these imperfections are more commonly signs of aging, younger people can also be impacted. If you are concerned about these changes to your appearance and are looking for a solution to create a smoother, more contoured neckline, a neck lift or platysmaplasty might be the answer.
At Berardi Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale, Dr. Joseph Berardi offers expert neck lift procedures to help you regain confidence in your appearance. Whether you’re interested in rejuvenating your neck's contours or eliminating excess skin and fat, Dr. Berardi can design a customized approach that best addresses your unique needs.
What is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift (also known as cervicoplasty) is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin, tighten underlying muscles, and reduce fatty deposits in the neck and jawline area. This procedure is designed to give you a more youthful, sculpted neck and jawline by addressing the sagging skin and muscle bands that result from aging or genetics.
Neck lifts are great for individuals experiencing moderate to advanced signs of aging, such as:
- Loose or sagging skin along the neck and jawline
- Muscle bands that result in a “turkey wattle” appearance on the neck
- Excess fat under the chin or in the neck area
Dr. Berardi uses advanced surgical techniques to ensure each procedure produces natural looking results to meet your aesthetic goals and restore the youthful look of your neck and face.
What is Platysmaplasty?
Platysmaplasty is a specialized type of neck lift designed to tighten the platysma muscle, which is a broad muscle connecting the pectoral muscles in the chest and reaching all the way up to the mid face. Over time, the platysma muscle can loosen, leading to vertical bands noticeable on the skin around the neck that create an undesirable "turkey neck" appearance. Platysmaplasty tightens this muscle, smooths the skin, and restores a firmer and more youthful contour to the neck area.
The platysmaplasty procedure is particularly effective for patients with visible platysmal bands who want to refine the muscle structure of their neck and improve its overall aesthetic appearance.
Benefits of a Neck Lift or Platysmaplasty
- Rejuvenates the Neck and Jawline: By removing excess skin and fat, the procedure can tighten the neck area and provide a smoother, more youthful appearance. The procedure can also improve the definition of your jawline, restoring balance and harmony to your face.
- Improves Overall Facial Aesthetics: A rejuvenated neck can make you look younger and more refreshed. The neck plays an important role in framing the face and many patients notice improvement in the overall appearance of their face once it is contoured.
- Long-Lasting Results: Results are typically long-lasting. While aging will continue, a neck lift can restore a youthful look to your neck that can last for many years.
- Minimal Scarring: Dr. Berardi uses advanced techniques that minimize scarring. Dr. Berardi is cautious to keep the incisions discreet by making them under the chin or behind the ears. The scarring fades over time.
- Minimal Downtime: While recovery varies by patient, many people are able to return to work and normal activities after a few weeks. Dr. Berardi provides personalized post-surgical care instructions to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery.
About the Neck Lift Procedure
Dr. Berardi utilizes two methods for his neck lift procedures, depending on the degree of change you want to see in your neck and jaw area. You’ll discuss what method would fit your situation during your consultation.
- Traditional neck lift — An incision originates in the sideburn area and continues down below the ear, terminating in the hair at the back of the scalp. The skin is pulled away and the fat is usually re-sculpted or redistributed, particularly from the jowls. Usually, the platysma muscle (which runs from the upper parts of the pectoral and deltoid muscles all the way up onto the jaw) is tightened. The skin is then pulled up and re-draped, and the excess skin is trimmed away. If there is a good deal of fat under the chin, Dr. Berardi will likely opt for a second incision there. He can tighten the muscles and use liposuction to remove fat pockets.
- Limited incision neck lift — Here small incisions are made only around the ears. As you would expect, more extensive tightening and skin removal cannot be accomplished with the limited neck lift.
How long does a neck lift take?
These surgeries with Dr. Berardi take from one to three hours.
Recovering from Neck Lift Surgery
You should expect to experience bruising, swelling and minor discomfort in the days after your neck lift surgery. Dr. Berardi will provide you with pain medications to ensure a safe and comfortable healing process. You may be placed in a surgical garment to maintain your neck contour while healing. You should keep your head and neck in a neutral position and elevated as much as possible. You will need rest during the days following surgery.
Most patients are able to return to work within 10 days, though more strenuous activities and exercises should be avoided for at least three weeks after surgery. Dr. Berardi will closely monitor your recovery and will provide complete post-operative instructions. While some results from surgery are immediately evident, you can expect the final results to take form in a few months.
Is a Neck Lift or Platysmaplasty Right for You?
If you’re noticing sagging skin, muscle bands, or stubborn fat around your neck, a neck lift or platysmaplasty might be a great option for you. Ideal candidates are those in good overall health who want to improve the appearance of their neck and jawline for a more youthful, sculpted look. Dr. Berardi will work closely with you to determine the best treatment plan based on your unique concerns and goals. A neck lift is typically performed on patients 40 years old or older, although it can be performed on any patient over the age of 18.
During a pre-surgery consultation, Dr. Berardi will evaluate your skin and your overall health and cosmetic goals to determine if you may be a good candidate for the procedure. He may also make recommendations for treatments to be performed simultaneously, such as a mid-facelift, dermal fillers, or brow lift. It is important that you have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of surgery — understanding that although the procedure can reverse the signs of aging, it cannot stop the aging process altogether.
What is the typical age to have a neck lift?
There isn’t a set age for neck lifts with Dr. Berardi. Although they are often overlooked when considering the signs of aging, our necks are one of the first areas to show aging. Due to the function of the throat, the skin can’t be overly taut and constricting. It is much easier to pinch the skin on your neck than everywhere else on your body. Gravity loves this inherent looseness. That’s why sometimes a person’s face doesn’t show much aging, but his or her neck does.
We find that our neck lift patients are usually between the ages of 40 and 60. This is a wide range; that’s because the aging of the neck area can vary dramatically between different people.
What results can I expect from neck lift surgery? How long will they last?
The changes made by Dr. Berardi are permanent. He’ll tighten the skin, remove unwanted fatty deposits, and remove the neck banding involved with the platysma muscle. These are long-lasting results; your neck skin will never sag and become loose to the same degree again. Of course, nothing can stop the aging process, but future loosening will start from a much younger position. Generally, our patients can expect great results from our neck lifts for 10-15 years and longer.
What will my scarring be like from a neck lift?
In these surgeries, Dr. Berardi typically makes three incisions: a small incision under the chin, combined with incisions that wrap around each earlobe and terminate in the hairline. Dr. Berardi’s works very hard to make these incisions short and as discreet as possible. These areas heal very well, and the incisions become virtually invisible in a few months to a year.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Some degree of a neck lift is usually a part of every facelift, as the lower incisions enable tightening of the area just below the chin. These are not full neck lifts, as these extensions of a facelift typically don’t tighten the platysma muscle.
So, combining a traditional neck lift with a facelift is an obvious way to extend your rejuvenation up through the lower and mid-face areas.
Any facial procedure could really be combined. For instance, blepharoplasty could be combined with a neck lift, particularly if the patient already had a facelift performed in earlier years.
If you’re interested in combining procedures into a single surgical session, this is something to discuss with Dr. Berardi during your consultation.
What are the risks involved with a neck lift?
Neck lifts are major surgery, so they involve all of the risks inherent with any surgery: reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, poor wound healing, infection, and the like. Thanks to Dr. Berardi’s extensive experience these are all exceedingly rare.
For neck lifts, there can be nerve injury, although this is typically temporary. As long as you follow our recovery instructions, these are low-risk procedures.
Why Choose Dr. Joseph Berardi for Your Neck Lift in Scottsdale?
With years of experience, a refined aesthetic eye, and a dedication to patient care, Dr. Joseph Berardi is a trusted expert in neck lift surgery and platysmaplasty.
Whether you are interested in improving your neck's profile or eliminating sagging skin, Dr. Berardi’s personalized approach ensures that you will be satisfied with the results.
At Berardi Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery, we prioritize your safety, comfort, and satisfaction. From your initial consultation to your post-operative care, our team will guide you along every step of the process.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Don’t let aging take a toll on your confidence, take action to address the signs of aging around your neck and jawline. Contact Berardi Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale to schedule your consultation with Dr. Joseph Berardi. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and provide a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to meet your goals.
To learn more about the treatment he offers, contact Berardi Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery online with our easy form or give us a call at 480-397-0711 to schedule a consultation today. Dr. Berardi can go over all of the procedures he performs, including facial plastic surgery, body contouring, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and breast implant surgery in Scottsdale.
