What is the difference between a Neck Lift and a Facelift?

A neck lift is a more limited version of a facelift. Whereas a facelift can tighten and contour the skin from the mid-face to the neck, the neck lift just focuses on the skin, muscle, and fat from the chin down. A facelift can target wrinkles caused by loose, hanging skin from below the eyes (not including fine wrinkling around the eyes, which is best targeted using either a form of resurfacing or Thermage). This includes hanging jowls, but not nasolabial folds.

A neck lift, on the other hand, focuses on slackness in the neck area, tightening the skin, and the platysma muscle as well. The platysma muscle, which runs from your chin and jawbone to the collarbone and beyond, grows slack over time, sagging into a suspended curve, which leads to the hanging, banded appearance of the neck. A neck lift tightens the skin and the platysma muscle if necessary.

In general, a facelift is indicated when skin and muscle slackness extends from the cheeks down, while a neck lift is indicated when the slackness goes only from the chin to the chest. However, when the slackness is only in the skin, and is relatively slight, noninvasive treatments like SkinTyte may also be able to remedy the condition.

To learn which procedure is right for your situation, please call or email us to set up a consultation with one of the cosmetic surgery specialists at Face Beautiful.