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Neck Lift

Some people are blessed with a young-looking face: taut, supple, and relatively line free. The neck, unfortunately, might tell a different story, with vertical band lines and sagging skin. This can be particularly true for those individuals who have undergone significant weight fluctuations over their lives. In such cases, the board-certified plastic surgeons at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery offer neck lift surgery in Wisconsin as an effective way to restore a more youthful appearance to the entire face.

Dr. David Janssen is an expert in neck lift procedures, and is helping women and men from places such as Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan perfect their personal Renaissance. To find out more about your facial rejuvenation options, request your consultation in either the Oshkosh or Appleton office using our online form or contact us at (920) 233-1540. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

What Is a Neck Lift?

A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure which improves visible signs of aging in the jawline and neck, such as:

• Excess fat and skin relaxation in the lower face that creates jowls
• Excess fatty deposits under the chin
• Loose neck skin
• Muscle banding in the neck, which creates abnormal contours

The loss of youthful contours in the face and neck can be due to a variety of factors, including heredity, gravity, environmental conditions, and stress. An elegant neck contour is not only associated with a youthful appearance, but also with health and vitality. Non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results as a rhytidectomy, but may help delay the time in which a neck lift becomes appropriate.

A neck lift is always combined with at least a face lift. Eye surgery, liposuction and a laser profractional can be added too. Normally, a neck lift alone does not accomplish the goals of many patients. If the neck is loose, the face is generally loose too. When the neck is opened for a neck lift, it is convenient to perform a face lift at the same time. It is better to endure one recovery period with multiple procedures than to have multiple procedures at different times. Not only is there a cost savings, but there is less total time spent in recovery. Patient satisfaction is much greater when there is full correction so we only offer neck lifts in conjunction with a lower face lift.

Pricing

A neck lift is a cosmetic procedure, which is not paid for by insurance. In general, a neck lift with lateral skin platysma displacement (LSD) and a lower face lift costs $13,750. The price includes the surgeon’s fee, the facility fee at the Theda Care Surgery Center, and anesthesia. The pricing is subject to change, and will change if the surgery is done at another facility, and if there are unique circumstances surrounding the surgery, etc.

The use of Strataderm® immediately after wound closure and for several weeks afterwards, is highly recommended for optimal healing. Stratamed is the first film-forming silicone gel-based wound dressing approved for the use on open wounds and compromised skin. Depending on the length of the incision, a tube of Strataderm® costs $32-$54.

Usually, the actual price for the neck lift portion of a multiple procedure operation is considerably lower because of multiple procedure discount pricing for cosmetic surgery: 15% off the surgeon’s fee for the 2nd procedure, and 30% off the surgeon’s fee for the 3rd procedure. There is a 50% discount off the facility fee for the 2nd procedure. Anesthesia is based solely on time. There are financing options, such as Care Credit available. However, payment by cash gives the patient an additional 5% discount. There could be additional discounts, which are too varied to be mentioned here.

The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Best Candidates

In general, good candidates for a lower neck lift include:

• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions which impair healing
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

Aging of the neck is usually a combination of loose skin, muscle and some excess fat. This combination results in a “turkey gobbler” for which a neck lift can be beneficial. A neck lift can be performed on those who feel the need to improve their neck contour. Typical patients range between the ages of 40 and 70.

Preparing for Surgery

In preparing for neck lift surgery, patients may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust their current medications
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Preparing for surgery with a clear, complex-carb rich beverage will keep you strong and enhance your recovery. Drinking ClearFast PreOp prior to your medical procedure is a safe way to speed up recovery time, nourish your body, and reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting. It is available at Hometown Pharmacy on N. Sawyer Street, Oshkosh at $8 a bottle. The recommended dosage is one bottle the night before your surgery once you are in the fasting window, and a second bottle two hours before surgery. Consult with your anesthetist before taking the beverage. Afternoon surgery patients are encouraged to take this beverage.

Special instructions patients receive will cover what to do on the night before and morning of surgery, the use of anesthesia during the neck lift, and post-operative care and follow-up. A neck lift may be performed in a licensed ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. Patients must arrange for someone to drive them to and from surgery, and to stay with them for at least the first night following surgery.

Procedure

Anesthesia is administered during the surgical procedure. The anesthesiologist will determine the best choice of anesthesia. Depending on the degree of change desired by the patient, the incision may be a traditional neck lift incision or a lateral skin displacement neck lift.

A traditional neck lift incision often begins in the hairline at the level of the sideburn, continues down and around the ear and ends in the posterior hair. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the jowls and neck. The tissue underlying the neck skin is repositioned, and commonly the platysma muscle is tightened inwards. Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A separate incision under the chin is often necessary for liposuction of this area and for repair of the muscle. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.

We use a new technique called lateral skin platysma displacement (LSD). It has a shorter recovery period and better outcomes than the conventional neck lift method, and only costs $500 more. The incision begins the same as a traditional neck left, but ends much deeper into the posterior hair.  There is no submental scar because there is no incision under the chin. The platysma bands are tightened outwards with sutures. This technique skews the anatomy of the muscle, displacing it in a more lateral position and decreases the risk of recurring bands.

Incision lines are closed with sutures and perhaps skin glue. Sutures may be dissolving, or may need to be removed after a few days. Once healed, the incision lines are usually well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the ear. The visible improvements of a neck lift appear as swelling and bruising subside.

Discuss your neck lift options with Dr. Janssen of Fox Valley Plastic Surgery. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to schedule a consultation.

Recovery

After surgery, a bandage is gently be placed around the face and neck to minimize swelling and bruising. Patients will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site, and when to follow up with the office. Patients will a medical compression bandage to help reduce post-operative swelling. This is worn day and night for at least five days and then only at night for a longer period of time.

It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Avoid wearing any clothing that must go over the head. Keep the head elevated above the heart to minimize swelling and to keep the head straight (no excessive twisting or bending of the neck). Do not apply ice to the neck as this can compromise blood flow and result in skin death.

Recovery from a neck lift takes time. Most patients can return to work at a desk job in 5-7 days. Patients who are physically active will have to wait at least three weeks to resume activities. It takes several weeks to months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to six months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of the neck lift.

Meet Our Surgeons

Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek combine experience, refined surgical techniques, and artistry to produce beautiful results for their plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

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Potential Risks

Patients will sign consent forms prior to the surgery to ensure that they fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications. Neck lift surgery risks include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Temporary or permanent hair loss along the incisions
• Facial asymmetry
• Rare nerve injury that could cause weakness of the lower lip
• Fluid accumulation (hematoma)
• Infection
• Unfavorable scarring
• Prolonged swelling
• Skin irregularities and discoloration
• Skin loss
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation and require removal
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Persistent pain
• Poor wound healing
• Rare risk of deep venous thrombosis
• Unsatisfactory results which may require a revision

Consultation

During a neck lift consultation, patients should be prepared to discuss:

• Their surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
• Previous surgeries

The plastic surgeon will also:

• Evaluate the patient’s general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Discuss rejuvenation options
• Examine and measure the face
• Take photographs
• Recommend a course of treatment
• Discuss likely outcomes of a neck lift and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used

At your personal consultation, all your questions about neck lifts will be answered by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to request a consultation. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.