No more gobble, gobble.

Loose, saggy neck skin? Suffering from “turkey neck?” As Atlanta’s specialists for neck lift surgery, we can restore smooth, youthful contours to your neck and jawline for an enhanced appearance. We can help you accomplish what diet and exercise cannot.

The signs of aging appear not only on your face, but also on your neck. Just like the other parts of your body, sagging skin and wrinkles can make you look and feel much older. Unfortunately, there are no special exercises to improve the tone of your neck. There’s also not very much you can do to conceal the appearance of your neck. As a result, many men and women resort to wearing turtlenecks and scarves to hide the problems with their necks. A neck lift improves the overall tone and appearance of your neck and addresses problems such as “turkey neck,” excess fat and loose skin.

Neck Lift Candidates

• Loose, sagging skin from under the chin
• Visible vertical bands on the neck
• Areas of fat under the chin (double chin) and on the neck

The Direct Neck Lift Option

The direct neck lift involves removing excess skin and fat from the central neck and tightening the underlying platysma muscles. There are a number of possible incision techniques that can be used to perform direct neck lift surgery, including a simple elliptical excision, w-plasty, z-plasty. and the Grecian urn technique.

Direct neck lifts are most commonly used in older patients and in those who want to avoid a full facelift procedure. Given the incision placement right over the mid-line neck, this technique is more often used in older men as their thicker skin more easily hides the scar. However, with the passage of time and proper healing, the appearance of the scar is minimized.

This minimally invasive procedure is routinely performed using local anesthesia and is ideal for patients who suffer from severe skin laxity and want significant aesthetic improvements in their neck contour, with minimum healing and down-time.

About the Procedure

Neck lift surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using general anesthesia. During the procedure, loose skin is pulled up, back, and then removed. The neck muscles may be tightened or repositioned if needed. Incisions are hidden behind the ears thus providing a more youthful neck and jawline. It often accompanies a mini-facelift or full facelift procedure for a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. After the incisions are closed, a compression bandage is placed over the surgical area and worn for at least one week. Patients may experience bruising and swelling after the procedure and symptoms should last only a few days. Tightness, tingling, pulling, numbness, and burning are also common symptoms that should resolve within a few weeks of surgery. Most patients return to normal activities after 10 to 14 days, although more strenuous activities should be avoided for at least three weeks.

Aftercare & Recovery

After the procedure, a loose-fitting dressing will be applied. Because a neck lift is considered to be an outpatient procedure, patients can begin the recovery process in the comfort of their own home the same day as surgery. Typically, there is little to no discomfort after surgery. However, if pain is present, it can easily be controlled with over-the-counter medication. Discoloration and bruising is a normal part of the recovery process and generally fades away within seven days. The following aftercare guidelines will help facilitate the recovery process:

Each patient is unique; therefore, results of treatment may vary.

Request your consultation with one of our Plastic Surgeons in Sandy Springs or Hiram to learn more.

Procedures & Treatments