A neck lift is a surgical procedure that targets signs of aging in the lower face and neck, helping to refine the jawline and reduce loose skin, excess fat, and visible muscle banding. Over time, changes in skin elasticity and underlying structures can lead to a heavier or less defined neck contour, often creating a mismatch between how a person feels and how they appear.
At Fante Eye & Face Center, patients from Denver, Greenwood Village, and surrounding Colorado communities are treated by a team of highly trained facial specialists. Dr. Robert Fante is a board-certified ophthalmologist with specialized expertise in facial cosmetic surgery, and he works alongside both Dr. Levitt and Dr. Huang are ASOPRS-trained surgeons and ASOPRS Candidate Members. Their combined experience allows for a thoughtful, individualized approach to neck lift surgery that prioritizes both aesthetic harmony and long-term results.
What is a Neck Lift?
Platysmaplasty, commonly known as Neck lift surgery, tightens sagging skin on the neck and improves muscle integrity and banding. This lifting of the neck creates a more youthful look by improving the jawline and removing a “turkey neck”.
A neck lift is often sought by people who are aware of disproportionate neck aging or who have had facelift surgery and are noticing some recurrence of sagging neck skin. A neck lift doesn’t affect the cheeks, though it will tighten your jawline.
Neck Lift Before and After Photos
What Are the Benefits of a Neck Lift?
- The incisions are smaller than those for a full facelift
- It’s a good procedure to correct the effects of gravity, sun exposure, and aging at the neck when they are more noticeable or more bothersome than the aging of the face
- Most often, it’s done for people between the ages of 40 and 60, but it can be done very successfully for people much older
Real Patient Results After a Neck Lift
Can a Neck Lift Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Neck lift surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures. Most commonly, eyelid surgery is performed with a neck lift, since many people notice aging changes in both areas at once. It can also be done in conjunction with other procedures, such as:
- Facelift
- Chemical peels
- Laser skin resurfacing
- Liposuction underneath the chin, where a pad of fat tends to grow as we age
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Chin implants, which give the lower face more bony definition and often improve the profile of the neck as well
You can ask your surgeon about combinations you’d like to have and discuss the possibilities before anything is done.
How is a Neck Lift Performed?
A neck lift is an outpatient procedure. You can go home the same day, so make arrangements in advance for someone to drive you home.
First, an incision is made inside the front of each ear. It runs below the ear and then behind it. Another incision is usually needed just below the chin.
From there, the skin is lifted up and back toward the ear and anchored with sutures. At this time, the neck muscles are tightened, and excess skin is removed, leaving the repositioned skin looking and feeling youthfully firm and snug.
Sometimes, special stitches called suspension sutures are placed under the skin; they run up behind the ear and help keep the neck tissue lifted. Because of the positioning of the incisions, scars are typically well hidden.
With today’s advanced surgical technology, neck lifts can be performed endoscopically, using instruments that visually guide our doctors through the procedure. Endoscopic procedures all use smaller incisions, reducing the need for general anesthesia. This means less bruising and a faster recovery process for you.
A neck lift can be done with either a local anesthetic combined with some IV sedation or with general anesthesia. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
Neck Lift Before and After Photos
How to: Camouflage Post-Surgery Bruising
Does Neck Lift Surgery Cause Scarring?
All incisions leave scars. The unknowns are: where the scars will be, how visible they will be, and how large they will be. For a neck lift, incisions are placed near the ears, so the small residual scars can be easily covered by your hair. If you have liposuction done under the chin, there’ll be a small incision there as well.
We’re all different when it comes to scarring, and it’s partly determined by our heredity. Some of us form small, faded scars rather easily. Others form larger, more pigmented scars. This is not easily predictable.
However, any overly large scars can be treated with minor follow-up surgery.
Your surgeon will make the incisions as small and discreet as possible for the best overall outcome for you. Each neck lift is individualized, and you can discuss scarring concerns with our team before any procedure begins.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Neck Lift?
Most patients who wish to improve the appearance of their neck can do so with neck lift surgery. Platysmaplasty candidates should be over 30 years old and in good general health. It is important to have realistic expectations after platysmaplasty surgery, as a neck lift should not be confused with a full facelift.
Patients who wish to reduce submental fullness but are not candidates for a neck lift should consider Kybella.
Alternatives To Neck Lift Surgery
A neck lift is not the only option for improving the appearance of the neck and jawline. Depending on your concerns, alternatives may include Kybella for submental fullness, liposuction beneath the chin, skin resurfacing, nonsurgical skin tightening, or injectable treatments.
For patients with more advanced skin laxity, muscle banding, or lower-face aging, a neck lift or facelift may provide a more appropriate result than nonsurgical treatment alone. During your consultation, our doctors can evaluate your concerns and explain which surgical or nonsurgical options may best fit your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Fante Eye & Face Center for Neck Lift Surgery?
Neck lift surgery requires more than tightening loose skin. The neck, jawline, chin, and lower face all work together to shape the profile, so careful planning is essential for results that look smooth, natural, and balanced. At Fante Eye & Face Center, our doctors evaluate each patient’s anatomy, skin quality, muscle laxity, and facial proportions before recommending a treatment plan.
The team’s background in facial cosmetic surgery and oculofacial plastic surgery allows them to approach neck lift surgery with precision and restraint. Rather than creating an overly tight or artificial look, the goal is to improve visible sagging, soften neck bands, and refine the jawline while preserving a natural appearance.
Because neck aging can involve loose skin, fat beneath the chin, muscle banding, or a combination of concerns, our doctors can also help determine whether a neck lift, liposuction, Kybella, facelift, skin resurfacing, or another option is most appropriate.
Neck Lift Consultation in Denver, Greenwood Village, Castle Pines and Highlands Ranch
If loose neck skin, muscle banding, excess fat beneath the chin, or a less defined jawline are affecting your appearance, Fante Eye & Face Center can help you explore your treatment options. Our doctors will evaluate your anatomy, discuss your goals, and explain whether neck lift surgery or another approach may be right for you.
To book a consultation with us in Denver, CO, serving patients from Greenwood Village, Castle Pines and the surrounding communities, call (303) 839-1616 today.