Aging around the neck is one of the first changes many people notice as they get older. A neck lift offers a reliable way to restore definition in this area.
At Bella Cosmetic Surgery in National Harbor, Maryland, your neck lift is performed by Dr. Anya Costeloe a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with advanced training in facial and neck procedures.
What Is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that tightens the skin and muscles of the neck while removing excess fat and loose tissue. The goal is a smoother neckline and a sharper jawline.
This procedure can correct sagging skin (sometimes called “turkey neck”), deep creases, neck bands, and extra fat beneath the chin. For many patients, a neck lift restores the definition that aging and genetics have hidden over time.
What Concerns Can a Neck Lift Improve?
A neck lift can address a range of cosmetic issues around the neck and jawline, including:
- Loose, sagging skin under the chin or jaw
- Fat accumulation under the chin (double chin)
- Vertical neck bands caused by the platysma muscles
- Wrinkles and crepey skin on the neck
- Blurred or softened jawline
If you’ve tried non-surgical options like skin tightening treatments or injectables without much success, surgery may provide more noticeable improvement.
Who Is a Candidate for Neck Lift Surgery?
Most people considering a neck lift are in good health and have realistic expectations. The procedure is popular with both men and women, typically in their 40s to 70s.
You might be a good candidate if you have visible aging in the neck area that you feel affects your appearance or confidence. Smoking and certain medical conditions could impact your candidacy, so be sure to discuss your health history during your consultation.
Types of Neck Lifts
A youthful neck is defined by a sharp jawline, a smooth contour beneath the chin, and a clean transition from the face to the neck. As aging progresses, changes often occur at multiple anatomical levels: excess fat can accumulate beneath the chin, the platysma muscles may separate or band, skin loses elasticity, deeper tissues descend, and the submandibular glands may become more visible. Because these changes occur in different layers, the most effective neck rejuvenation depends on selecting the right procedure for the underlying anatomy rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Structural Neck Lift
A structural deep neck lift performed through a submental incision only is designed to address fullness and contour concerns concentrated beneath the chin and in the central neck. Through a small incision hidden in the crease under the chin, deeper structures can be accessed directly. This allows removal or sculpting of excess subplatysmal fat, tightening or re-approximating the platysma muscles, contour refinement around the digastric region, and selective reduction of prominent submandibular glands when indicated. This approach can produce dramatic improvement in the cervicomental angle and jawline in younger patients or in those whose primary issue is deep neck fullness rather than loose skin. However, because the lifting vector is central and there are no incisions around the ears, this procedure has limited ability to redrape significant lateral neck skin or reposition descended facial tissues.
Isolated Deep Plane Neck Lift
An isolated deep plane neck lift expands correction by combining a submental incision with additional incisions hidden around or behind the ears. This technique addresses not only the central neck structures, but also allows release and elevation of the platysma and soft tissues from the sides of the neck. By using these lateral access points, excess skin can be repositioned and redraped more effectively than with a submental-only procedure. It is often an excellent option for patients whose concerns are focused on the neck but who do not yet require full facial rejuvenation. Compared with a central-only neck lift, this technique can create stronger jawline definition, better smoothing of neck laxity, and more balanced contour from multiple angles.
Deep Pane Face and Neck Lift
A full deep plane neck lift combined with a facelift offers the most comprehensive correction for patients with significant aging changes of both the lower face and neck. In these patients, laxity is rarely isolated to the neck alone. Jowling, descent of the cheeks, heaviness along the jawline, banding, loose skin, and submental fullness commonly occur together. By elevating the deeper facial retaining structures and continuing that lift into the neck, the jawline and neck are treated as one continuous aesthetic unit. This creates the most natural and powerful rejuvenation because the tissues are repositioned in harmony rather than tightening one area while leaving adjacent areas untreated.
When there is significant laxity in the submental area—particularly loose skin beneath the chin, heavy jowls, or substantial neck skin redundancy—a neck lift alone may not provide the best result. Tightening the neck without addressing descended facial tissues can leave residual heaviness along the jawline or create an imbalance between the face and neck. For these patients, combining a deep plane neck lift with a facelift typically delivers superior contour, smoother transitions, and longer-lasting improvement. In many cases, the best neck result is achieved by treating the face and neck together.
Minimally Invasive Neck Lift
For patients with early laxity or mild neck contour concerns who are not ready for surgery, a minimally invasive option such as the MyEllevate device may be considered. MyEllevate uses a guided suture support system placed through tiny entry points under the skin to elevate and define the jawline and neck without traditional surgical incisions. Recovery is typically quicker than formal surgery, with mild swelling, tightness, or tenderness that often resolves within days to one to two weeks. While it can be an excellent option for select younger patients or those with mild skin laxity, it does not replace the more dramatic and longer-lasting correction possible with a surgical neck lift when significant looseness or deeper structural aging is present.
Which Neck lift is Best for me?
Ultimately, the ideal procedure depends on your anatomy, degree of skin laxity, muscle changes, gland prominence, and facial aging pattern. A customized surgical plan is essential. Patients with isolated fullness may do beautifully with a structural deep neck lift, those with moderate skin laxity may benefit from an isolated deep plane neck lift, and patients with more advanced aging changes usually achieve the most elegant and complete result with a full deep plane facelift combined with neck rejuvenation.
What are the Submandibular Glands?
An often overlooked but critical component of elite neck contouring is management of the submandibular glands. These paired salivary glands sit beneath the jawline and can become more visible with age, weight loss, or naturally thin anatomy. Even after liposuction or muscle tightening, prominent glands may blunt the angle under the jaw and limit the final definition of the neck. In carefully selected patients, conservative reduction or suspension of the glands can significantly refine the contour and enhance the cervicomental angle. This requires advanced anatomical knowledge and meticulous technique, but when performed appropriately, treatment of the submandibular glands can be one of the key differences between a good neck result and an exceptional one.
The Neck Lift Procedure
Your neck lift will be performed by Dr. Anya Costeloe at our fully accredited Harbor Surgery Center in National Harbor. The procedure typically follows these steps:
- Small incisions are made behind your ears or under your chin, depending on your needs.
- The underlying neck muscles are tightened to create smoother contours.
- Excess fat is removed or sculpted to refine the jawline and neck area.
- Loose, sagging skin is trimmed to reduce folds and creases.
- Incisions are carefully closed to help minimize visible scarring.
IV Sedation is typically used during the procedure, which usually takes a few hours to complete. Most patients can expect some swelling and bruising in the first few weeks, with results gradually improving as the area heals.
Recovery from a Neck Lift
Recovery after a neck lift depends on the extent of correction performed and whether the procedure is limited to the neck or combined with facial rejuvenation. A structural deep neck lift through a submental incision only typically has the fastest recovery, with most swelling, tightness, and bruising centered under the chin and upper neck. Many patients feel socially presentable within 7 to 10 days, with continued refinement over several weeks.
An isolated deep plane neck lift using incisions under the chin and around the ears generally involves a slightly longer recovery because both the central and lateral neck tissues are repositioned. Swelling and mild bruising are common during the first two weeks, with most patients returning to normal social activities in 10 to 14 days.
A full deep plane neck lift combined with a facelift usually carries the most comprehensive recovery period, as both the face and neck are healing simultaneously. While many patients resume light activities within two weeks, residual swelling continues to improve over several weeks to months as the final contour settles. Regardless of technique, following post-operative instructions, limiting strenuous activity, and allowing time for tissues to heal are essential to achieving the best result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Neck Lift Scars Be Noticeable?
Incisions are placed discreetly behind the ears and under the chin, making scars difficult to detect once fully healed. Your surgeon will explain scar care during your recovery.
How Long Do Neck Lift Results Last?
Results are long-lasting. Most patients enjoy a more youthful neckline for 10 to 15 years, although aging will naturally continue over time.
Can a Neck Lift Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Yes. Many patients combine a neck lift with a facelift, eyelid surgery, or fat grafting for more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
Is a Neck Lift Painful?
Discomfort is typically mild and well-controlled with prescribed medication during the initial recovery period.
Why Choose Bella Cosmetic Surgery?
Your care at Bella Cosmetic Surgery is guided by Dr. Anya Costeloe, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon whose training is focused exclusively on procedures for the face, head, and neck. Her background allows her to approach each neck lift with a deep knowledge of anatomy and an eye for natural-looking refinement. Dr. Costeloe’s experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery enables her to tailor treatments to your unique structure.
Working alongside her is Dr. Michael Chiaramonte, a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience and fellowship training from Johns Hopkins Hospital. Together, Dr. Costeloe and Dr. Chiaramonte offer a level of training and experience rarely found in one practice. All procedures are performed at Harbor Surgery Center, a fully accredited surgical facility located in National Harbor, Maryland.
Schedule Your Neck Lift Consultation
Ready to explore what a neck lift can do for you? Schedule your consultation with Bella Cosmetic Surgery in National Harbor, MD, by calling 301-567-6767. Our board-certified surgeons are here to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision.
