Do I Have to Combine My Facelift with a Neck Lift?

Posted February 24, 2024 in Face Lift, Neck Lift

A facelift is often combined with a neck lift to ensure a youthful transition between the face and neck. However, while rare, some may benefit from just one or the other. A neck lift alone may suffice if patients make good use of skin care and non-surgical facial procedures, such as injectables, laser treatments, or microneedling. This blog will explain the advantages of facelifts and neck lifts and the benefits of combining these procedures.

4 Min Read:

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift, also called a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck by repositioning deeper tissues to restore a youthful, lifted appearance. Facelifts are often combined with liposuction to achieve a sculpted face, chin and jawline.

What Are My Facelift Options?

There are multiple types of facelift surgeries, such as mini facelifts, full facelifts, and deep-plane facelifts. Each facelift option offers unique benefits, catering to different patient needs and desired aesthetic outcomes.

• Mini facelifts are less invasive than traditional facelifts and target specific areas of the lower face and jawline. This facelift technique offers subtle rejuvenation with minimal scarring and downtime.
• Traditional or full facelifts—often called SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system)—involve lifting and repositioning deeper tissues for comprehensive and long-lasting facial rejuvenation. A full facelift addresses moderate to severe signs of aging in the lower two-thirds of the face, including the loss of volume in the cheeks, sagging skin, and jowls.
• Deep plane facelifts are similar to the SMAS lifts but go further by releasing deeper facial structures, allowing for more significant lifting and repositioning of the midface and neck. This technique is particularly beneficial for those with more pronounced sagging or advanced signs of aging, creating a dramatic yet natural-looking result.

Each facelift option offers unique benefits, catering to different patient needs and desired outcomes, ultimately helping individuals achieve a more youthful and refreshed appearance.

A facelift will not alter your unique facial features. It is, however, one of the most dramatically restorative procedures you can undergo, promising immediate, noticeable, and long-lasting results. Although it will not stop the process of aging, you will retain a more youthful appearance after a facelift than if you’d never had one.

There is no specific age limit or restriction on a facelift, but they are typically performed on patients with moderate to severe signs of aging.

What Is a Neck Lift?

A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, addresses laxity and signs of aging in the jawline and neck. Common concerns, like jowls and muscle banding, are corrected with deep tissue adjustment and excess fat and skin removal. The result is a smoother neck and a more defined jawline.

Why Combine a Facelift and Neck Lift?

In the past, patients often returned for a neck lift after their facelift, feeling that they still looked older than desired. It has become an industry standard to combine a facelift and neck lift in one procedure for a harmonious and consistent result.

Combining a facelift with a neck lift grants full access to the most important deep structures of the face and neck, allowing your surgeon to utilize the most comprehensive techniques. Ultimately, having both areas addressed during the same surgery results in the most noticeable improvement and greater patient satisfaction.

Why Choose a Neck Lift Without a Facelift?

The neck is an area of the body that tends to give away our age the soonest. Aging of the neck happens for a variety of reasons—the skin on the neck is thinner than on other areas of the body, it receives more sun exposure, and, as it bears the weight of the head and moves more than the face, it is subject to muscle shortening and skin sagging.

Moreover, although many patients are steadfast with their skin-care regimens, they often neglect the neck. Over time, the lack of active ingredients, hydration, sunscreen, and other skin-care benefits may lead to a neck that appears to have aged more rapidly than the face.

Some younger patients who want to improve the appearance of a double chin or delay visible signs of aging may benefit from a neck lift only.

Should I Get a Facelift Without a Neck Lift?

Although uncommon, there are cases in which someone might opt out of a neck lift, such as a lack of excess skin in the neck. Generally, though, the two will be combined due to the interconnected nature of the skin, muscles, and fascia in the face and neck.

How Much Does a Facelift With Neck Lift Cost in Houston, TX?

Because every facelift is unique to the patient, the cost of a facelift varies by person. During your consultation, Dr. Gallas will walk you through your options and provide an accurate cost estimate for your procedure.

Interested in Face and Neck Lift Surgery in Houston, TX?

To learn more about your options for face and neck lift surgery, schedule a consultation with Gallas Plastic Surgery today. Fill out our online contact form, or call us at (281) 646-1114. We look forward to hearing from you!