Neck Lift

A neck lift is surgery that pulls the sagging muscle and skin at the front of the neck upward toward the outside (behind the ear) to refine the line under the chin and of the neck.

In a word, it is surgery that lifts the thin muscle and skin covering the front of the neck toward behind the ear.

Directly beneath the skin at the front of the neck lies a single wide, thin layer of muscle. In medical terms, it is called the platysma.

When this muscle loosens, the area under the chin sags and vertical bands form on the neck. These bands are called neck bands. This is the change you may have noticed on your neck in the mirror.

Surgery in which an incision is made under the chin and the muscle is gathered and tied in the middle is double chin muscle tightening. It is a different surgery from a neck lift and is explained in Double Chin Muscle Tightening surgery information.

It is done when the area under the chin and the neck sag so that the boundary between the jawline and neck has blurred, or when vertical bands form on the neck.

If you have felt that your neckline is not what it used to be, go through the list below one item at a time in front of a mirror.

If any of the following apply, we check at the consultation whether a neck lift is right for you.

• The angle between the underside of the chin and the neck has disappeared
• Muscle cords stand out vertically on the neck like bands
• In profile, the boundary between the jawline and neck has blurred
• Your face has been refined, but your neckline has not kept up

There is more than one reason a neck looks saggy. Loose skin, excess fat, and separated muscle are each different. At the consultation, we first distinguish the cause.

A Word from the Doctor

"In any case, an accurate diagnosis is essential."

Meeting one of these does not mean we will immediately recommend surgery. The first of our treatment principles is "We never recommend unreasonable surgery." If you do not need a neck lift, we will tell you so.

A facelift pulls the cheeks and jawline upward from the outside, and a neck lift pulls the neck and jawline upward from the outside. Double chin muscle tightening is surgery in which an incision is made under the chin and the muscle is gathered and tied in the middle.

The names are similar, so it is natural to be confused. We show them divided in a table.

Anesthesia, time, and hospital stay are as follows.

The areas addressed and the incisions are as follows.

Double chin muscle tightening is explained on a separate page. See Double Chin Muscle Tightening surgery information.

When Another Method Suits You Better

• If the muscle in the center under the chin has separated so that only the area under the chin is bulky and the neck skin is not much loosened: look first at Double Chin Muscle Tightening surgery information, in which an incision is made under the chin and the muscle is gathered to the center and tied.
• If your main concern is cheeks that have descended and a jawline that has lost definition: see Facelift surgery information. If the sagging is less, see Mini Facelift surgery information.
• If the area under the chin is bulky because of fat and skin elasticity remains: look first at methods that reduce fat (liposuction). Reducing only the fat leaves the loosened muscle and skin as they are.
• If sagging is at an early stage and there is not much excess skin: look first at Thread Lift procedure information.
• If your only concern is horizontal neck lines: a neck lift is surgery that pulls a sagging neck. It is not surgery to remove the horizontal lines themselves.

After anesthesia, an incision is made behind the ear, the loosened neck muscle and skin are pulled in a side and back direction and fixed, and then the excess skin is trimmed and sutured. It takes 2–3 hours.

Since it is your first time, it may feel unclear, so we have laid it out in order below.

1. A consultation is held and the cause is distinguished

We look at which of skin, fat, and muscle makes the neck look saggy. Whether the face should be done together is also decided at this time. Please tell us about all medications you take and illnesses you have. Even things that seem trivial are fine.

2. Anesthesia is given

Sedation or general anesthesia is used.

3. An incision is made behind the ear

The incision behind the ear gives access to the muscle and skin at the side of the neck.

4. The platysma is pulled in a side and back direction and fixed

The lateral edge of the loosened muscle is pulled behind the ear and fixed. Gathering and tying the muscle in the middle under the chin is double chin muscle tightening.

5. Excess skin is trimmed and sutured

After pulling, the excess neck skin is trimmed behind the ear. It is sutured along the incision line.

6. You go home the same day

A hospital stay is not required.

Whether a drain (a thin tube that removes collected blood and fluid) and a compression band are used after surgery, and when they are removed:

Neck lift scars remain behind the ear. It is not a surgery that leaves no scar.

It is natural to worry about marks on the neck.

The incision line behind the ear follows the fold where the ear folds. If double chin muscle tightening is done together, an incision line is also made under the chin.

The incision line is red at first. Over time, it comes closer to the color of the surrounding skin.

Depending on your constitution, a hypertrophic scar (a thick, raised scar) may form. If you have ever had a large scar from a previous surgery or injury, please tell us at the consultation.

Most people can resume daily activities to some degree 1–2 weeks after a neck lift. It is surgery without a hospital stay, but a separate recovery period is needed until most of the swelling and bruising subside.

If you have work or an important appointment coming up, this is probably what you are most curious about.

The recovery schedule (when swelling and bruising are at their worst, when most of the swelling and bruising subside, how long a compression band is worn, when stitches are removed, and when the final shape is checked):

The speed of recovery differs from person to person. If you have an important event coming up, please tell us in advance at the consultation.

So that you do not have to endure recovery alone, the doctor and the nursing team check your swelling, pain, and condition together. The third of our treatment principles is “We see patients more frequently after surgery.”

A Word from the Doctor

"Careful treatment and follow-up after surgery are essential to avoid major problems."

Precautions after surgery

Do not apply cold or hot compresses. This is because skin sensation is reduced after surgery, so there is a risk of burns.

Sleeping position and turning the head, when to start face washing, shampooing, makeup, and shaving, when to resume exercise, drinking, and saunas, and the schedule of visits to the clinic after surgery:

If both the face and neck sag, we discuss doing the two surgeries together. Doing them together makes the overall surgery time longer.

If both your face and neck concern you, this is probably what you most want to know.

Sagging of the cheeks and jawline is handled by a facelift, and sagging under the chin and of the neck is handled by a neck lift. If only the face is pulled, the vertical neck bands and the sagging under the chin may remain.

If only the neck sags, only a neck lift is done. If only the face sags, a neck lift is not recommended.

The anesthesia method, whether a hospital stay is needed, and the overall surgery time when both are done together:

A facelift is explained in Facelift surgery information.

You can call our main number, 02-541-8500, or apply through Consultation & Booking information.

If you still have questions after reading this, please feel free to ask them at your consultation.

The clinic is located on the 4th floor of Vorati Al Building, 480 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station.

At your consultation, please tell us about previous procedures and surgeries, the medicines you take, and whether you smoke.