Neck Lift St. Louis

Neck-lift plastic surgery may be performed a variety of procedures, depending on the individual. Three possible neck-lift procedures may include:

liposuction
cervicoplasty
platysmaplasty

The Neck Lift Procedure

The location of the procedure may be the doctor's office, outpatient surgery center, or hospital. Since there may be more than one procedure performed during a neck-lift, your time in surgery may be one hour to several hours. The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, but usually does not involve an overnight stay.

The procedures involved in a neck-lift may be performed endoscopically. For an endoscopic neck-lift, an instrument visually guides the surgeon through the procedure. The advantages of an endoscopic procedure may include a smaller incision, no general anesthesia, reduced bruising, and faster recovery. You can talk about the endoscopic option with Dr. Hart.

Liposuction

If your neck-lift requires liposuction to remove excess fat, the liposuction procedure is typically performed first. An incision will be made below the chin to remove the excess fat deposits. The fat deposits will be removed by inserting a small cannula (a hollow tube with an opening near its blunt end) beneath the skin and into the fatty tissue. The cannula is used to break up the fat, and then remove it from the neck area. A bandage will be applied to reduce swelling and discomfort. Dr. Hart may also apply a bandage around your neck and head.

Cervicoplasty

The cervicoplasty procedure is performed to remove excess skin on the neck. An incision is made under your chin and behind the ears (or possibly in just one of these locations). Dr. Hart will then cut back and lift the skin, which will be secured with permanent sutures or a special type of permanent adhesive glue. A bandage and tape will be applied to the incision locations to reduce swelling and discomfort. An elastic bandage will be applied to your neck and head.

Platysmaplasty

The platysmaplasty procedure is performed to reduce the banded appearance of the neck. During the procedure, incisions will be made under the chin or behind the ears, or both. Dr. Hart will then insert a tiny instrument to either remove a portion of specific neck muscles or realign them, which will tighten the middle area of the neck. Dr. Hart will permanently suture areas of the muscles in order to clasp them in the best position. A bandage and tape will be applied across the chin or behind the ears (or both) to reduce swelling and discomfort. An elastic bandage will be wrapped around the neck and head.