A common concern that patients inquire about is what can be done for a sagging neck. There are multiple options to address a sagging neck, and which procedure is right for you depends on what findings you’re displaying on exam.
The less invasive approach would be to think about doing some chin liposuction.
The next step up from liposuction would be thinking about a neck lift.
The next layer up would be combining a neck lift with a facelift.
What Determines Whether You Need Liposuction, a Neck Lift, or a Facelift?
A lot of what determines which procedure to do depends upon you as the patient and what findings you’re displaying on exam.
Normally, liposuction can be for individuals who are 40 and younger. Once you get past your 40s, that’s when you start thinking more about doing a neck lift.
In my hands, normally, the reason why I’m doing a neck lift is mainly because of the muscle.
There’s a muscle below the skin called the platysma. It has attachments on your clavicle, then comes up along the neck and interdigitates into the musculature of the face.
As you age, you start to get some banding in the neck area. Over time, that banding starts to become more lax and hangs down. That’s the indication to go in with a neck lift to tighten up that muscle and make things look more defined.
When a Facelift May Also Be Needed
The tricky part is when you start to get older and develop laxity in what we call the jowl area, as well as along the jawline.
In those instances, you have to make a determination: do you want to do a neck lift, a facelift, or a combination of the two?
I can’t tell you which one to do because it’s not that black and white. There’s a lot of overlap.
That’s where you need to have a conversation with your surgeon and find out what the benefits, pros, and cons are of both procedures.
A lot of it comes down to what you, as the patient, want and what you’re showing on physical exam.
I hope this sheds some light on the difference between liposuction, a neck lift, and a facelift. If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments.
