Surgery: Neck Lift
Time required: 2-3 hours
Anaesthesia: General
Length of Stay (In Hospital): 1 night
Follow up: 7-10 days after surgery

Pre Operative Assessment

Neck Lift
A neck lift, or platysmaplasty, is a surgery designed to remove excess, sagging skin under the jaw line and on the neck.

Neck Lift Surgery
The Surgeon will usually make two incisions under or behind the ears and then loosen the skin, redrape it and remove the excess skin. If you are having a platysmaplasty with additional skin lift, you may have a small incision under the chin along with the ones behind or under the ears.

With a platysmaplasty, a section of the platysma muscle may be removed and the ends are sutured to bring them together at the front of the neck. This will rearrange and tighten the platysma muscle and improve the look of the neck and throat area. Also with this procedure, neck skin will be loosened and redraped with incisions under or behind the ear to further firm up the neck.

Some surgeons prefer to perform a neck lift using sutures, mesh or other materials as a sort of hammock to keep the neck tight and eliminate the turkey wattle look.

The doctor will close the incisions with sutures or tissue glue. You will have a pressure dressing placed around the top of your head to underneath your chin. You are then gently awakened and brought into the recovery room.

You may be required to stay overnight after your surgery, dependant upon your case.

Preparation before Surgery
Two weeks prior to surgery, you are advised to stop smoking, stop all medications and supplements. You must avoid aspirin and medicines containing aspirin or other blood thinning compounds two weeks before the surgery. You must advise the surgeon of any allergies or serious medical conditions.

Taking Care after Surgery
Your neck may feel tight and sore as the anaesthesia wears off. You may feel emotional and upset or cold. This is normal. If you feel cold, ask for a blanket or a heating lamp.

You may also feel nauseated. If this happens, the nurse can give you the medication. Sipping water can help settle your stomach.
 
Procedure Risks and Side Effects
Allergies to the anaesthesia can occur. Blood clots might develop and a possibility of infection, injury nerves and numbness that may be temporary or permanent.

Post Operative Recovery
You may notice a change in how your face moves, tightness, tingling, sporadic sharp pains, pulling, burning or cold sensations. These usually subside within the first few weeks. As the swelling subsides, you will see your new and firmer neck appear.

If you are in pain, take your pain relievers. You may be groggy from the anaesthesia and/or medications for the first day or two. You will also have to sleep with your head elevated for one or two weeks. Use two or three pillows on your bed.

You have to keep your head and neck still after the neck lift. Avoid turning your head from side to side. If you have to turn and look at something, turn your whole body, not just your head.

Your lower face and neck will get more swollen and possibly a bit bruised over the first three days after surgery. As the days go by, the swelling will dissipate. This is a part of the healing process.

Take your antibiotics for the time prescribed.

You will have one or more post-operative visits to your surgeon in the days after your surgery. Your dressings may be changed as needed. Your sutures won’t be removed until day 7 or 10 days after surgery

Your skin will be numb around the incision and anywhere it was moved during surgery. This is normal.

Give yourself time to recuperate. Take it easy and try not to do too much, too soon but do get up and walk around at least a couple of times a day if you can.

For the first weeks after the surgery, avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects. Your surgeon may give you a limit on how heavy an object you can lift safely. Remember that this may mean that you can’t pick up a small child.

Please ask the surgeon when you can participate in contact sports or physical activity safely.

Continue to avoid alcohol, aspirin and ibuprofen for a few days to a week after surgery. If you quit smoking before your neck lift, don’t start back up. Smoking greatly increases your risks of improper healing and excessive scarring. This is a good time to quit smoking completely.

Please avoid food and drink 6-8 hours prior to the operation.

How can I find out more?
For further information
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or call us Toll Free
New Zealand 0800-7-88-66-33
Australia 1-800-606-284

Please note: this should be used only as a guide to your treatment. All specifics will be discussed with your surgeon at the consultation.

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