You’ve decided that it is time to do something about the loose extra skin on your neck. Now comes the time to make a decision. Neck liposuction and neck lift surgery are two cosmetic procedures that are frequently used to address this problem. Both procedures can address extra skin on the neck and chin, and leave an impact on your overall jawline contour. But these two operations perform different functions and are best suited to address different facets of the aging process. Put simply: they produce different results in terms of neck skin tightening.
The expert cosmetic surgeons at Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons in Los Angeles are here to help you determine if neck lipo or a neck lift is a better choice for you. Below, we will discuss which patients should pursue neck liposuction, who should get a neck lift and who should consider doing both.
If your saggy neck is paired with a double chin, or with fat deposits in the neck, neck or chin liposuction with skin tightening with Renuvion (J-Plasma or J-Plasty) is likely your best bet to improve jaw shape while yielding a more youthful neck. As we age, the fat in our cheeks drops down below our chins, causing either a double chin or neck bands and leaving our cheeks looking wrinkled and gaunt. This neck and chin fat is often notoriously diet and exercise-resistant. Awake VASER liposuction of the neck and chin is one of the most effective ways to eradicate undesired fat that accumulates under our faces. This cosmetic procedure is very easily paired with Renuvion skin tightening, meaning that you can produce a tight neckline on the same day.
Awake VASER liposuction of the neck is performed by creating a few tiny (2-4 mm), well-hidden incisions to insert a thin rod called a cannula. The most common sites are under the chin, and behind the ears. The VASER produces ultrasonic waves that gently and precisely remove fat from the surrounding tissue. The fat is then suctioned out. If your VASER Liposuction procedure is paired with skin tightening, the J-Plasma Renuvion treatment happens next. The skin is heated, causing it to contract. The procedure will also stimulate collagen production, causing some additional chin and neck tightening over the following weeks. At Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons, the entire procedure is done awake (without the use of general anesthesia) and usually takes under two hours. And then, voila! The procedure has eliminated stubborn chin fat and left behind a more youthful neck.
Neck lifts are specifically designed to address wrinkles, creases and slack extra skin. There are a variety of ways to perform neck lift surgery, but all of them will refresh the appearance of the neck and jawline. Neck lift surgery will also reposition and reshape the fat extracted from the chin and neck area and tighten the neck muscles. The surgeon will also remove any hanging skin, attack sagging jowls, enhance the jawline and eliminate any neck banding. These procedures are commonly preceded by a neck liposuction. The intensive and comprehensive nature of the procedure means that this solution is worth considering for patients with considerable amounts of neck fat and large amounts of excess skin.
As was probably apparent in the section above, there is a wide range of approaches and degrees to a neck lift procedure. Neck lifts can involve incisions that run from the temple hairline all the way down behind the ears to the base of the neck hairline. Some neck lifts are performed using only minimal cuts behind the ears.
The common pathway for a neck lift, essentially, is that the skin below the jawline is pulled back towards the ears, loose skin is cut off, and the incisions sutured closed.
Both procedures produce a smoother, younger-looking neck. Awake VASER Neck Liposuction is incredibly effective at removing fat around the chin and jawline areas, and addressing excess skin when paired with skin tightening. It is a very good solution for patients with light to moderate amounts of excess skin and fat. Neck lifts are best suited for patients of more advanced age, or with large quantities of loose skin and fat.
Generally speaking, neck lift surgery is significantly more invasive than Awake VASER Liposuction of the neck. Whereas neck or chin liposuction produces leaves behind only tiny holes, neck lifts typically involve larger incisions as well as the removal of skin and readjusting the neck muscles. It is a longer procedure, and it is often done under general anesthesia.
Neck lipo patients are sent home right after surgery. They return to work and their normal activities in the days immediately following the procedure. Neck lift patients typically require a longer period of recovery. Most patients go back to work and resume their normal activities within 2 weeks. Recovery after a neck lift tends to be more painful, and neck movement is typically hampered for weeks.
Again, due to the difference in the size of the incisions used to perform the procedures, the likelihood of significant scarring is much high after neck lift surgery than liposuction. Working with a quality, board-certified cosmetic surgeon usually means that the scarring in either case will be as small and well-hidden as possible. Aftercare and scar treatment also go a long way in helping with the long-term result.
Neck lift surgery is more expensive than neck liposuction. It is a more complex and time-consuming procedure than liposuction.
Research is the first step on the path to addressing your sagging neck or double chin. But it is important to engage with experts on a decision of this magnitude. The team at Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons LA is here for you. Set up an initial consultation with Dr. Jain and his talented body sculptist. Discuss your concerns, your goals and the procedures in detail. Our boutique practice will build a customized procedure to help you achieve a more defined and youthful neck and chin. Begin your transformation journey today!
ROYAL COLLEGE OF
SURGEONS
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
COSMETIC SURGERY
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
