A Guide to Neck Lift Cosmetic Surgery

A neck lift, also known as platysmaplasty, is a form of plastic surgery to improve the appearance of the neck by treating conditions such as a fleshy neck and turkey wattle characterized by excessive fat in the neck region and loose wrinkly skin, respectively.

A neck lift can be performed independently or along with a facelift. The type of procedure will be decided by your surgeon after doing a body checkup and taking into consideration factors such as your age, extent of treatment required your ability to withstand general anesthesia, smoking habits, and medical records. You will be advised to give up smoking a few weeks before surgery because nicotine use impairs post-operative healing, you will have to adhere to the nicotine moratorium till you have healed completely. Certain herbal medications can act as blood thinners; you will have to give up these as well.

Neck banding can be treated with botox injections and fat can be removed through liposuction. These two short procedures can be performed along with a platysmaplasty and the surgeon may indeed prescribe these if he feels that a combination of procedures will yield the best results for you. Incisions under the chin and if required behind the ear will allow access to the neck muscles that can be tightened. The surgeon can remove excess fat if required. The incisions are sutured back in place after excess skin is cut and remaining skin is stretched to remove wrinkles.

The stitches may be removed after ten to twelve days after surgery depending upon the progress of your recovery or the surgeon may elect to use the type that dissolve on their own. A small pipe may possibly be placed on the underside of the neck to drain fluids; this helps to minimize swelling that is a common post-surgery effect. The draining pipe is usually kept for not more than forty-eight hours. You may also have to wear a compression bandage for a week to bring down the swelling. The choice of anesthesia, whether general or local, depends upon the extent of surgery decided.

Avoid vigorous head movements for a few days after the surgery. Use your common sense to avoid stretching the skin on the neck. Wear button-down clothes instead of sweaters and tees that you have to pull over your head. The surgeon may elect to keep you in the clinic overnight after surgery for observation purpose. At home, you will pretty much be on your own. Monitor the extent of swelling. Keep a thermometer handy. If you detect fever get in touch with your surgeon because it may indicate an infection and the body's efforts to ward off the infection. Keep your neck relaxed and comfortable at all times. Take special care when walking and eating. Avoid driving for a few days.

Swelling, bruising, and numbness around the skin of the neck are common after-effects of the surgery and should subside after a week or so. However, discoloration of skin, persistent loss of sensation, and discharge of pus or blood are symptoms that you should report to the cosmetic surgeon who has performed the neck lift procedure.