Neck Lift

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Overview

Resetting the balance between face and neck

The neck ages in ways that diet, exercise, and skincare cannot undo — loose skin, visible platysma bands (“turkey neck”), loss of jawline definition, and submental (under-chin) fullness. A neck lift specifically targets these changes, often as a standalone procedure for patients whose face still looks good but whose neck has moved ahead of it.

Dr. Arredondo also offers neck lift as part of a comprehensive facelift when both areas benefit from simultaneous work. The approach is chosen based on what the anatomy actually requires — not a one-size-fits-all technique. The goal is a cleaner cervicomental angle (the line between jaw and neck) and a softer transition from face to body, without a “done” look.

The neck often gives away aging before the face does. A neck lift resets that balance.

Candidacy

Who This Procedure Is For

Patients in their 40s through 70s with loose neck skin, visible platysma bands, or submental fullness that bothers them in photos and in the mirror.
Patients whose face looks relatively rested but whose neck has aged faster — a common pattern, especially in patients who have taken care of their skin but still notice the neck moving ahead.
Non-smokers in good general health with realistic expectations about what a neck lift can and cannot do.
Patients whose concerns are not adequately served by non-surgical options such as Ultherapy, Kybella, or CoolSculpting Neck — all of which have real but limited roles.
Patients considering a facelift may benefit from combined neck and face work, because the two areas age together and addressing only one often looks incomplete.

The Procedure

How It’s Performed

Platysmaplasty

The platysma is a thin sheet of muscle covering the front of the neck. With age, its front edges separate and become visible as vertical cords. Platysmaplasty tightens and re-approximates these edges through a short incision hidden under the chin. This is the structural core of a neck lift — the step that actually corrects what patients see as banding, rather than simply tightening the skin over it.

Addressing loose skin

Skin laxity is addressed through carefully placed incisions behind the ears, extending along the hairline. Excess skin is redraped, not tensioned. The technique mirrors the facelift approach but is focused on the cervicomental angle — the line between jaw and neck. The result is a cleaner contour without the pulled appearance that comes from skin-based tightening.

Submental contouring

Fullness under the chin is often treated simultaneously, through liposculpting, platysmaplasty, or both. The result is a cleaner jawline and a sharper cervicomental angle. For patients whose primary concern is submental fullness without significant skin laxity, less aggressive options can sometimes be enough — that’s a conversation Dr. Arredondo has in consultation.

Anesthesia & duration

General anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. A neck lift typically takes two to four hours when performed alone, and longer when combined with other procedures. Same-day discharge is the norm, with a soft head wrap in place for the first day or two.

Watch

Dr. Arredondo Explains

Smaller Incisions for Facial Rejuvenation

Recovery

What to Expect After Surgery

First 48 hours

Wrapped and quiet

Head wrap in place, swelling peaking, and mild to moderate soreness. Bruising is common, particularly along the jawline and upper neck. Head elevation and cold compresses meaningfully shorten this phase.

Week 1

Sutures out, bruising fading

Sutures are removed around day 5–7. Bruising is starting to fade but still visible. Activity is limited — short walks only — and your appearance won’t yet feel ready for public-facing interactions.

Weeks 2–4

Back to social activities

Bruising mostly resolves. Swelling continues to come down. Most patients feel comfortable returning to social activities and non-strenuous work, with the contour of the result beginning to emerge.

6 weeks

Cleared for full activity

Exercise, travel, and higher-exertion activity resume once Dr. Arredondo confirms healing is on track. The jawline and neckline are looking much closer to final.

3–6 months

Final definition emerges

Subtle tightening continues, scar lines fade, and the cervicomental angle settles into its final form. Most patients say the result simply looks like a younger version of their own neck.

Honest Conversation

Things to Consider

Aging continues. A neck lift typically provides seven to twelve years of durable improvement. You’ll always look younger than you would have without surgery — but the neck, like the rest of the face, keeps aging.
Nicotine is a dealbreaker. Smokers and any nicotine users face meaningfully higher risk of skin-healing complications. Patients must be off all nicotine products for a minimum of four to six weeks before and after surgery.
The submental incision heals thin. The small incision under the chin typically fades to a nearly invisible line, but it exists — and scar outcomes depend partly on genetics and sun protection during healing.
Nerve injury is uncommon but possible. The marginal mandibular nerve, which controls movement of the lower lip, runs close to the work. In experienced hands, injury is rare and almost always recovers over weeks to months.
A neck lift doesn’t fix everything. It will not improve skin quality, pigmentation, or horizontal “necklace” lines — those are skin-level concerns better addressed by resurfacing or injectables.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Do I need a full facelift, or just a neck lift? +

It depends on what’s actually aging. If the jowls, cheeks, and midface still look rested and the neck is the only area that’s moved ahead, a standalone neck lift is often the right answer. If the lower face is changing too, a combined facelift and neck lift tends to produce a more balanced result — because addressing only one half often looks incomplete.

Will the bands come back? +

The platysma bands themselves are structurally repaired during surgery and don’t simply “fall back.” That said, time continues — the muscle and skin both keep aging, and subtle softening can re-emerge over many years. Most patients see a decade or more of real improvement before any meaningful change returns.

How bad is the bruising? +

Bruising is common and usually most visible along the jawline and upper neck in the first week. It typically begins fading by day 7–10 and can be well-concealed with makeup by the end of week two. Head elevation and avoiding blood-thinning medications in the weeks leading up to surgery meaningfully reduce it.

Can I get this done with an eyelid surgery? +

Yes — neck lift is frequently combined with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and the two recoveries overlap well. Combining procedures means one anesthesia, one recovery period, and a more balanced overall result. Dr. Arredondo will assess whether combining is safe and appropriate for your anatomy during the consultation.

Will I look pulled? +

Not with modern technique. The pulled look comes from tensioning the skin rather than repairing the muscle beneath. Proper platysmaplasty restores the deeper layer and lets the skin redrape naturally over it — the result is a cleaner neck and jawline, not a tighter face.

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