Necks are a sometimes-overlooked part of the human body and often tend to age faster than the face of people. The surgery will reverse these effects allowing you greater control of how you appear. Knowing the basics of a neck lift procedure is important for every person hoping to get it.
Even though neck lifts are an optional surgical procedure you should be careful in preparing for them properly. You should learn about the steps for planning plastic surgeries so that you can decide what to avoid before the procedure. As you get older the skin loses the collagen and becomes thinner. Often areas that can easily be ignored seem to be the center of attention. What we commonly call a double chin has become the enemy of today’s beauty standards and a neck lift can be considered the best solution.
What is a Neck Lift Procedure?
A chin-lifting procedure, also known as platysmaplasty, is the most commonly used cosmetic procedure. A report by American plastic surgeons says that around 160,000 neck lifts are performed each year. The procedure consists of lifting the neck, removing excess skin and loose neck muscles to help you reduce the common Turkey neck and give you a younger-looking appearance. You will need local or general anesthesia during your neck lift.
How to Prepare For a Neck Lift?
Experts suggest that if your procedure is to go ahead you will need a re-checking of your blood pressure and clearance from your primary physician. Many patients require cessation of smoking from three to five weeks before surgery and cessation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, including ectobutyrol or ibuprofen. Having a support network and taking adequate time off from work will help in restoring your health. Drinking alcohol is also prohibited before the procedure and after for a few days as well.
Preparing for Your Neck Lift
The physician advises that you do not rely on medications before surgery. If you have any allergy problems then you should discuss that with your doctor so he may guide you on what to do about it. The reason for stopping the intake of any medications is that this can cause allergic reactions to anesthesia. Neck lifts are often paired with Liposuction for the best results.
If you smoke you must stop smoking within four days of surgery and 4 weeks after. It’s important to stop cigarette smoking in the meantime as a way of improving your condition. Eat healthful diets. You’ll have better health and well-being if you consume healthy and nourishing dietary foods. You need a minimum of 2 weeks off. Get the doctor’s exact time for the rest period. Make a space in your home to recover.
What to Expect During a Neck Lift?
Neck surgery is a complicated procedure since there are so many nerves and blood vessels in the way. For that reason, the doctors performing the surgery need to be extra careful hence, they use anesthesia. When the anesthesia wears off after the procedure, you should expect some discomfort.
The operation may be carried out under general anesthesia or under IV sedation. It’s recommended for you to slowly get out of bed after waking up when the anesthesia wears off. After the surgery, it is recommended that the patient receive 24-hour medical care. The patient must do as the doctor advises regarding the recovery period. The recovery period can be a very challenging time for the patient as it requires patience and extra care.
Neck Lift Risks
In the weeks following the surgery, you will gradually begin to feel better. But since the neck is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body, you have to be extra careful about mobility. It is also important that you avoid infections if the surgery is successful. When you notice any fever, you should contact your medical professionals for advice. Symptoms include bruising, swelling of the ovaries, or swollen skin.
Usually, there are not many things that can go wrong in a neck lift procedure. However, the patients need to be careful and mindful that even if their procedure goes well they are to take extra care of the wound since a minor infection can lead to adverse effects.
The benefits of a Neck Lift
Fillers, Botox & Lasers can be effective only in the neck area. As a result, filler on the lower and upper face region and jaw looks unnatural. Although not every cosmetic operation looks “natural”. The effects on the skin of a facial lift tend to be the ideal combination of subtle and pleasing.
The main purpose behind getting this surgical procedure is for the beautification of your appearance. If you’re getting it done from a well reputable hospital or clinic then you’ll get that for sure but if any untrained person operates on your neck then that can lead to adverse and sometimes even fatal effects.
Neck Contouring Options
It does not depend purely on surgery but on the aesthetic goals of patients. A plastic surgeon may employ a completely different approach when treating patients who want to reshape the whole head whereas those who want the removal of the “turkey neck”. It is possible to perform neck contours individually or combined with other facial cosmetic surgery treatments in the same procedure to improve the overall appearance.
Possible side effects
Surgery means literally devoting your life to making your body look, feel and function properly. Unfortunately, the risks associated are constantly a threat. As with any surgery, there are potential risks such as infection that may require treatment and surgical scars that may require revision. Risks from the surgery include recurring vertical laxity and residual fullness or laxity.
What Should I do Before Surgery For a Neck Lift?
Your physician may be able to tell you about the procedure. They will advise on a series of steps that can be taken in preparation for your neck lift procedure. In general, a good lifestyle helps in surgical recovery. Plastic surgeons usually provide guiding principles which are something like these:
Exercise Within Reason
Cosmetic surgeons discourage the use of a rigorous workout program during neck lifting operations. Instead, they recommend you maintain a routine and avoid all activities that may result in injury. Working out just the ample amount is ideal. Over-exercising can lead to your muscles pulling and extra strain on the body.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Do NOT reduce calories. Instead, eat a good balance of fruit, vegetable protein, and calories. It helps you recover faster than ever before. When you go through a medical procedure under any sort of anesthesia, your body becomes depleted of nutrients. Eating more healthy foods will replenish your body’s requirements of nutrients which will result in recovery.
Wear Loose, Comfortable Clothing
When your surgery is over, wear a short sleeve shirt with buttons on the back. After neck surgery, it is very important to avoid any irritation to the wound from happening. That can cause an infection which can further create a tone of other problems for you. So to speed up your recovery, you need to be careful about your wound so it can heal properly.
How Painful is a Neck Lift Surgery?
Most patients whose neck is lifted say it is mildly painful. The most common causes are tightness, pain, or tension if the patient feels it. For some, it may induce an anxious feeling, but the majority describe it more in the manner of tight turtlenecks. Besides that, every surgery has some negative effects regarding pain. When your painkillers wear off, no matter how expertly your surgery has been done, you will feel some pain.
What are the Complications of a Neck Lift Surgery?
Rare nerve injury that can weaken the blood flow system of your body. As mentioned, the neck is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body. It is full of millions of nerves and blood vessels. Any damage to these nerves can cause severe pain and even fatal accidents. Rare vascular thrombosis with cardiovascular or lung sequelae in patients is caused by nerve damage as well.
Conclusion
To conclude, we can say that although a neck lift surgery has a lot to offer in terms of a better and younger appearance but there are also a lot of complications involved in this procedure. Anyone who is thinking about getting this procedure done should go to the right people who can expertly conduct it. Neck lift procedures are by no doubt dangerous, but the right doctors can make it a piece of cake.
Dr. Jim Brantner’s Plastic Surgery Clinic offers a variety of cosmetic surgery procedures like rhinoplasty, liposuction, tummy tuck neck lift surgery and more! We specialize in skin rejuvenation and injectable remedies. Contact us today and book an appointment!