Neck Lift
As we age, loss of skin elasticity and muscle laxity often lead to hanging neck skin, muscle banding, or a "turkey neck" appearance that diet and exercise cannot fix. At Knoxville Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Fowler performs customized neck lift surgery (platysmaplasty) to repair underlying muscles and remove excess tissue.
Tightens loose platysma muscles, trims sagging neck skin, and removes excess submental fat under the chin.
Typically 2 to 3 hours under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with deep sedation.
Most patients return to light social activities and desk work within 10 to 14 days.
Restores a sharp jawline angle and smooths vertical neck bands.
A neck lift, or platysmaplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to address visible signs of aging along the jawline and neck region. Natural aging causes the platysma muscle along the front of the neck to separate into vertical bands, while skin loses collagen and sags.
During surgery, Dr. Daniel Fowler tightens these underlying muscle bands, extracts localized fat deposits (often utilizing submental liposuction), and trims away excess skin. Depending on your anatomical needs, a neck lift can be performed as a standalone procedure or combined with a facelift or liposuction for complete lower-face harmony.
On the day of your surgery, our medical team ensures you feel completely comfortable and supported. Once you are under appropriate anesthesia, Dr. Fowler places small, discreet incisions behind the ears and, when necessary, a tiny incision beneath the chin.
Through these incisions, localized submental fat is gently removed. Dr. Fowler then brings the separated platysma muscles together like a corset, tightening the internal framework of the neck. Stretched skin is smoothed over your new contours, excess tissue is trimmed away, and delicate sutures close the incisions before supportive dressings are applied.
A neck lift directly targets the jawline, submental area under the chin, and the front and sides of the neck.
Neck lift surgery provides dramatic, natural-looking lower-body rejuvenation that enhances your overall profile.
Sleek, Defined Profile
Tightening underlying muscles and removing excess skin eliminates sagging and restores a youthful, crisp jawline.
Seamless Procedure Combinations
A neck lift can be combined easily with a facelift, chin augmentation, or laser resurfacing for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Good candidates for a neck lift are healthy adults who are bothered by loose skin on the neck, a double chin, or vertical neck bands. Candidates should have a stable weight and realistic expectations regarding surgical recovery and scar placement behind the ears. During your consultation, share your full medical history and current medications with Dr. Fowler.
Allowing your neck muscles and skin time to heal properly is essential for smooth results. You will wear a supportive elastic neck garment for the first 1 to 2 weeks to reduce swelling, manage fluid, and support your changing profile. Mild tightness, bruising, and soreness are normal and easily managed with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.
Most patients feel ready to return to desk work and light social routines within 10 to 14 days. Strenuous workouts, heavy lifting, and intense twisting movements of the neck should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks.
You will see an immediate change in the tightness of your neck and the definition of your jawline right after surgery. Final results refine over 2 to 3 months as swelling fully resolves and incisions soften behind the ears.
While a neck lift cannot stop natural aging, it provides long-lasting structural correction for 10 to 15 years. Maintaining a steady weight and protecting your skin from UV sun damage will preserve your smooth, elegant profile for years to come.
At Knoxville Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, your surgery is guided by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Fowler. Our unique practice model brings facial plastic surgeons, board-certified dermatologists, and licensed aestheticians together under one roof on Papermill Drive in Knoxville, TN. Whether performing a standalone neck lift or combining it with cosmetic dermatology services, our team delivers approachable, high-quality care tailored to your life.
A neck lift focuses strictly on the platysma muscle, submental fat, and skin from the jawline down to the collarbone. A facelift treats sagging cheek tissue, jowls, and the mid-to-lower face. They are frequently performed together.
Incisions are strategically hidden in the natural creases behind the ears and beneath the chin. Once healed, neck lift scars are discreet and difficult to see during everyday activities.
Non-surgical treatments like Kybella or radiofrequency can reduce minor fat or mild laxity. However, surgical platysmaplasty is the only procedure that can repair separated muscle bands and remove significant hanging skin.
A neck lift provides long-lasting structural improvement that typically lasts 10 to 15 years, significantly setting back the visible clock on lower facial aging.
Surgical costs vary depending on whether platysmaplasty, liposuction, or a facelift is included. Our team provides clear, straightforward pricing details during your personal consultation.
