Neck lift surgery is an option to improve the appearance of your neck. Neck lift surgery, known as cervioplasty, is designed to tighten up sagging skin and muscle, scoop out fat deposits and create a more defined jaw line. Knowing what to expect with a neck lift will allow you to make a decision as to whether this elective surgery is for you.

A neck lift is considered a basic cosmetic surgery that takes the surgeon about three hours to perform.  A variety of things can be done during a neck lift, depending on the patient’s needs. The surgeon will generally remove excess skin and muscle in the neck and jaw area via small incision under the ears. Then, each end is brought together and sutured. This procedure is often combined with liposuction, which removes fat from the neck area.

Because neck lifts are so common, many surgery clinics perform the operation as an outpatient procedure. This means that the patient is checked in and processed early in the day. General anesthesia is given and the patient is put to sleep. After several hours of surgery, the patient is moved to a recovery room for monitoring; it is in the recovery room that the patient slowly and safely comes out from under anesthesia. After doctors verify that there are no complications from the surgery, the patient is allowed to go home the same day.

Post surgery, the doctor will likely prescribe some pain medication for the patient to manage the discomfort associated with the cosmetic surgery. Most patients are required to wear compression garments, which support the neck and keep swelling down, while forcing circulation and fluids to keep moving and not settle in the surgical area.

Some complications may arise, such as swelling, bruising, nerve damage and even infection, so patients are given strict instructions on what to look for in the weeks following the surgery. As with any surgery, patients are advised to take at least a week off from work or other activities and to proceed gently and cautiously for the following two or three weeks.