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Neck Lift
A neck lift improves the contour of the jawline and the definition between the chin and the neck. Depending on what is driving the change, it can involve reducing fat under the chin, tightening or repositioning the platysma muscle through platysmaplasty, redraping the skin and removing any excess, and supporting the tissues along the jaw.
Several things alter the neck over time: fat accumulating beneath the chin, laxity and separation of the platysma muscle creating vertical bands, loose skin, a small or set-back chin, and the position of deeper structures such as the submandibular glands. Two people with the same complaint about their neck often need different operations, which is why assessment matters more than the name of the procedure.
Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, MBBS FRACS, consults in Paddington, Sydney and offers two approaches to the neck: a Complete Neck Lift and the minimally invasive MyEllevate technique. Each addresses a different degree of change, and each has different incisions, recovery and limitations.
Who it may suit
- Fullness under the chin that has not responded to weight loss or exercise.
- Vertical bands running down the front of the neck when you talk or tense the muscles.
- Loss of a clear angle between the chin and the neck.
- Loose skin along the jawline and upper neck.
- You are a non-smoker or prepared to stop before and after surgery, and in reasonable general health.
Your two neck lift options
Complete Neck Lift
The more comprehensive option, generally suited to necks with a meaningful amount of loose skin and clear platysmal banding, where skin needs to be redraped and removed as well as muscle tightened. Incisions are placed around and behind the ears and usually under the chin, giving direct access to the platysma. It is more involved surgery with a longer recovery, and it is the option able to address substantial skin excess. It is often combined with a facelift where the changes extend into the cheeks and jowls.
Read more about the complete neck lift
MyEllevate minimally invasive neck lift
A suture suspension technique that works through small entry points rather than skin excision, so there are no long incisions in front of or behind the ear. It combines liposuction under the chin, a suture placed to support the platysma and jawline, and often energy-based skin tightening with Renuvion. It generally suits mild to moderate laxity with reasonable skin quality where a shorter recovery is a priority. It does not remove skin, so it is not a substitute for a complete neck lift when skin excess is marked.
Recovery
Recovery differs substantially between the two options and between individuals, and Dr Maryam gives you a specific plan for the procedure you choose.
- A supportive garment or chin strap is usually worn for a period after either procedure.
- Swelling and bruising are usual in the first one to two weeks and can take longer to settle fully.
- Time away from work is often around one week after MyEllevate and around two weeks after a complete neck lift, though this varies.
- Tightness, firmness and altered sensation in the neck are common early and generally improve over weeks to months.
- Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are usually restricted for about four to six weeks.
Risks and considerations
Both options carry risks: bleeding and haematoma, infection, seroma, altered or reduced sensation, contour irregularity or asymmetry, sutures that become visible or palpable, injury to nerve branches affecting lower lip movement, burns or contour change where energy devices are used, scarring, delayed healing and skin loss with higher risk in smokers, and anaesthetic risks including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Neither option stops ageing, and neck laxity can recur. Deeper anatomy, including prominent submandibular glands, muscle bulk and hyoid position, limits how much definition is achievable in some necks whichever technique is used. Where skin excess is significant, a minimally invasive approach can leave you short of what you hoped for, and that is discussed openly before you decide.
Your consultation with Dr Maryam
Cosmetic surgery in Australia requires a referral from a registered medical practitioner, and a referral from your GP is preferred so your general health is taken into account. There is a cooling-off period of at least seven days between your consultation and booking surgery, and three months for patients under 18, who also require assessment by an appropriate registered health practitioner.
Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, AHPRA registration MED0001341746, consults at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington NSW 2021 and operates at St Luke’s Hospital in Potts Point, East Sydney Private Hospital, Sydney Day Hospital, The Skin Hospital in Darlinghurst and Double Bay Day Hospital. She examines your neck, takes planning photographs, and goes through the risks, the alternatives including non-surgical treatment and no treatment, and which of the two options she considers appropriate for your anatomy, before you decide. Fees are quoted after your consultation. Call 1300 067 668.
What actually happens
Your Journey, Step by Step
Before your consultation
Common questions, answered plainly.
What is the difference between a complete neck lift and MyEllevate?
A complete neck lift is the more invasive option. It addresses sagging skin and the vertical platysmal bands that show as the neck ages, using incisions around the ears and often under the chin. MyEllevate is a minimally invasive technique that uses a suture suspension system through much smaller incisions, without removing significant skin. They suit different degrees of ageing, and Dr Maryam explains which applies to you.
Which neck lift option is right for me?
This depends on how much loose skin you have, how prominent your platysmal bands are, the amount of fat under your chin and your jawline definition. People with mild to moderate changes may be candidates for MyEllevate. More significant skin laxity generally needs a complete neck lift. Photographs and an in-person examination are used to work this out, and both options carry risks that are discussed at consultation.
How long does recovery from neck lift surgery usually take?
Recovery varies with the technique used. After MyEllevate, most people wear a supportive garment for a short period and return to routine activities within one to two weeks. After a complete neck lift, most people plan two to three weeks before returning to social activities, with longer before strenuous exercise. Swelling, bruising, tightness and altered sensation are expected early and settle gradually.
Do I need a GP referral before a neck lift consultation in Sydney?
Yes. In Australia a GP referral is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery. A cooling-off period also applies between your consultation and any surgery date, so you have time to consider the information given to you. Consultations are held at the rooms at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington, and you can arrange one on 1300 067 668. Risks and complications are discussed in detail at that appointment.
