When your neck develops loose skin and tissue, it can make you look older than you really are.

Neckbands can weigh down and make the lower part of the face appear heavy and droopy as well. Fortunately, Dr. Yirae Ort who specializes in facial rejuvenation surgeries, offers neck lift surgery at her practice in Bellevue, WA to combat this sign of aging, making you look as good as you feel.

What is a Neck Lift?

A neck lift is a surgical procedure to address excess skin and laxity around the neck and jawline. As we age, the muscles in the neck become looser, causing the surrounding skin to sag and the muscles to droop.

With a neck lift, the underlying tissue is tightened and lifted, while the excess skin is removed, to help you achieve a more youthful appearance. Liposuction techniques may be used at the same time to address pockets of stubborn fat under the chin.

Some patients also combine the facelift to address sagging in the midface, achieving full facial rejuvenation. The result is a natural and youthful face and neck.

Who is a Candidate for a Neck Lift?

Most Bellevue and Seattle neck lift patients are in their 50s or older, but some younger individuals can also benefit from this cosmetic procedure. No matter your age, some patients have folds or bands around the neck from sagging tissue, while other patients develop a turkey wattle neck, with a flap of sagging skin from the chin to the middle or lower part of the neck.

The aging body has less collagen or elastin that supports the tissues of the neck, leading to sagging. In some cases, a patient will have both folds in the neck and sagging skin, requiring a more extensive surgery process.

Excellent neck lift candidates are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, without major heart, lung, or kidney problems. Anyone with a history of poor healing or uncontrolled bleeding issues may require additional testing to determine if it is safe to have this type of surgery.

During your consultation for a neck lift Bellevue facial plastic surgeon Dr. Yirae Ort will conduct a thorough review of your medical and surgical history, what medications you are taking, and what other surgical procedures you’ve had. This will help to determine if you are the ideal patient for this procedure.

How is the Neck Lift Performed?

The process for performing a neck lift is through a minimally invasive surgical procedure, performed by Dr. Ort. In keeping with the aesthetic considerations of plastic surgery, the incisions for a neck lift are made in less noticeable places and difficult for others to see.

Dr. Ort can make incisions behind the ears or below the chin, where others seldom look. While these incisions are well-placed, and they heal cosmetically well, Dr. Ort uses special instruments that allow her to reach under the skin to adjust the underlying tendons and muscles. Afterward, the excess skin from the neck is pulled upward and removed, also from behind the ears.

Am I Awake for the Procedure?

A neck lift is usually performed in our clinic operating room or the surgery center, depending on the patient’s candidacy for surgery. It can be performed under local anesthesia while you are awake, or for more comfort, you can choose to have sedation or general anesthesia. This is an important step, as Dr. Ort wants to keep you as comfortable as possible during the surgery.

Dr. Ort maintains the highest standards of safety as she operates near delicate structures around the neck. A highly trained anesthesia provider and nursing staff will be monitoring you during surgery to assure a precise surgical outcome.

What Can I Expect After My Neck Lift?

A neck lift is an outpatient procedure, and will not require you to stay overnight in a hospital or facility. After the surgery, you will return home to recover, as patients generally feel more comfortable resting at home.

Some swelling and bruising are expected but generally resolves in 1-2 weeks, as your incisions heal. Many patients require some pain medication for the first 1-2 days, followed by a few more days of over-the-counter medication for comfort.

You will wear a compression garment or bandage on the face and neck to hold the skin and underlying tissues in place. You should also sleep with your head and neck elevated and supported by pillows, to help reduce the swelling, and you will need to remain on your back.

You cannot perform any strenuous activities, such as going to the gym, for at least a week, and you will need to rest for several weeks for total recovery from the surgery.

What Are the Risks of a Neck Lift?

When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, the risks of this surgery are the same as any other surgical procedure. The most common surgical risks are infection, skin irregularities, or bleeding. Other risks include skin changes or unfavorable scarring.

By having a highly trained and qualified surgeon, the chances of these or other surgical or anesthetic risks are minimal and can be addressed with the highest of medical skill. Dr. Ort strives to meet your aesthetic goals while also maintaining your safety as the utmost priority.

Can a Neck Lift be Performed with Other Surgical Procedures?

In general, a neck lift can easily be combined with other procedures of the face. It may be possible to combine with other procedures, such as a facelift or rhinoplasty. This will depend on several factors, including your current health status, and how much time you can take off from work, as doing more than one procedure at a time increases your healing time. During your consultation, Dr. Ort will determine if it is safe to combine procedures, or whether it is advisable to split them up and do them separately.

How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?

A neck lift is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance. After a thorough consultation with Dr. Ort, a detailed and individualized surgical plan will be outlined, and you will receive a customized quote, including the cost of surgery and anesthesia.

Visit us today

Take the next step to discover your true beauty.

Contact us to set up your personalized consultation with Dr. Ort. We warmly invite you to experience exceptional cosmetic surgery at Yirae Ort M.D. Facial Aesthetic Surgery.

Call Today (425) 200-5890

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Neck Lift in Bellevue, Wa