Fast Facts About Neck Lifts
- Posted on: Feb 7 2017
by Dr. Patrick Flaharty 
One of the biggest misunderstandings that the public has about cosmetic surgery is that the facelift is the “be all, end all” of procedures. Public perception is that a facelift is all you really need. The reality is a little more complicated. Yes, absolutely, a facelift can produce remarkable results and is an essential part of a facial rejuvenation! However, if you just leave it at that, your rejuvenation will be incomplete. Rejuvenating one area can actually draw attention to the other areas that haven’t been treated, especially the neck.
The neck is one of the first areas of the body where skin will start to lose firmness and begin to sag. When it comes to showing early signs of aging, the neck has the face beat, hands down. As you age, the skin around the neck starts to become loose as collagen is lost. This sagging skin can really impact your appearance, making you look years older than you actually are. A graceful neckline is one of the marks of youth and good health. This is one of the reasons that neck lifts are fast becoming one of the most requested cosmetic surgery procedures today.
Personally, my preference is to do a neck lift at the same time as a facelift, as the two surgeries perfectly complement each other. These two surgeries are at the heart of the Azul Natural Lift.
Before we schedule your neck lift, I’ll sit down with you to discuss your goals for the operation and explain the most likely outcomes.
The procedure itself is very simple, and it takes about 2 hours. Before we begin, as in most surgeries, you’ll be administered anesthesia. I’ll make incisions behind the ear and in the hair line to start to reposition the skin. The excess, sagging skin around your neck will be cut away. Then we simply close up the incisions and the procedure is complete.
Generally, the recovery time for a neck lift is about 7-10 days, during which you will experience some swelling, pain and bruising. This is normal and will subside as the tissue heals. You can take general painkillers to help with the discomfort. I say with some pride that I’m a master at placing incisions to avoid visible scars, so you can expect your incisions to fade over the course of a few weeks, until they seem almost invisible.
You should keep in mind that the results of a neck lift technically aren’t permanent, as nothing can stop the aging process. However, it can be a part of an incredible, long-lasting rejuvenation that restores the appearance of youth for years to come.
If you don’t feel quite ready for surgery yet, or you simply prefer a less invasive option, we’ve had some great results with Ultherapy; essentially a non-surgical neck lift. Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to penetrate deep into the skin, promoting the formation of new collagen. This new collagen helps lift and support your skin, reducing sagging and restoring a more youthful appearance.
One of the great things about Ultherapy is that there’s no downtime associated with the procedure. It’s completely non-invasive, and the procedure only takes between 60 and 90 minutes. You’ll be in and out of the office before you know it. You might experience some minor bruising, but that’s about it. As the new collagen is formed over the next few days and weeks, you’ll begin to notice a gentle lift in the skin around your neck.
I must point out that there’s really no replacement for a surgical neck lift or facelift. These procedures remain the gold standard of cosmetic rejuvenation. But if you wish for something a little more subtle, with less recovery time involved, Ultherapy can provide results you will love.
The effectiveness of a surgical or non-surgical neck lift can be greatly enhanced with advanced skincare products, such as those produced by Trilogy Laboratories. After a neck lift, I especially recommend the Azul Blue Diamond Neck and Décolleté Sculpting Complex. This fantastic skincare cream, developed specifically for Azul, was formulated at Trilogy Laboratories by my wife, Dr. Kristen Flaharty. This cream utilizes five incredibly potent skincare ingredients to give the neck and décolleté areas an impressive level of firming, plumping and sculpting. (And here’s a little secret, it is also great at firming up your derrière!) All of Trilogy’s products meet my exacting standards, so you can always be sure that you will be purchasing the best in skincare at Azul.
No matter which route you take, surgical or non-surgical, choosing to have a neck lift is a wonderful way to reclaim your youth and start to look just as young on the outside as you feel on the inside.
If you would like more details about Neck Lifts, Ultherapy and other procedures, visit www.azulbeauty.com, or give the office a call at (239) 415-7576. I would love to see you for a free consultation to talk about how we can work to give you a completely harmonious rejuvenation.
Posted in: Neck Lift, Procedures