What is Neck Lift (cervical rhytidectomy)

Neck lift, or cervical rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to reduce signs of aging in the neck. You may choose to have this procedure if you have sagging skin, loose skin, or fat under the skin of your neck (turkey neck or jowls).

This procedure changes the shape (contour) of your neck. There are two kinds of neck lifts:

• A limited neck lift. You may have this kind if you want a slight change in your neck contour.
• Traditional neck lift. You may have this kind if you want a greater change in your neck contour.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• The last time you used tobacco and nicotine products.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Scarring.
• Numbness.
• Weakness in your lower lip muscle.
• Hair loss.
• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Change in skin color.
• Pockets of fluid under your skin.
• Uneven neck.

What happens before the procedure?

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Do not use any nicotine or tobacco products—such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes—for at least 4 weeks before your procedure. If you need help stopping, ask your health care provider. Using nicotine and tobacco products makes it harder for your neck to heal after surgery.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

• To reduce your risk of infection:
  • Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
  • Your skin will be washed with soap.
  • Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
• An IV will be started in your hand or arm.
• You will be given one or more of the following:
  • A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
  • A medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic).
  • A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
• Cuts (incisions) will be made in your neck. If you are having a limited neck lift, the incisions may be made only under your ears and chin. If you are having a traditional neck lift, the incisions will start in your hairline above your ears and continue in front of your ear, under your ear, and behind your ear. The incisions may extend into the hairline behind your ears.
• Your skin will be separated and lifted away from your neck.
• Fat beneath your skin may be removed or moved.
• Muscles beneath your skin may be tightened.
• Your skin will be pulled and lifted.
• Excess skin will be removed.
• The incisions will be closed with stitches (sutures) or adhesive strips.
• A small plastic tube may be left in place to drain any fluid that forms under your skin.
• A bandage (dressing) will be placed over your neck.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.

Neck Lift, Care After

Refer to this sheet in the next few weeks. These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Soreness.
• Tightness in your neck.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Do not take any medicines that your health care provider does not know about without first checking with your health care provider.

Incision care

• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your cuts from surgery (incisions). Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Keep the dressing clean and dry until your health care provider says you can remove it.
  • Leave stitches (sutures) or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Check your incisions every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• If directed, apply ice to sore and swollen areas:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

Activity

• Return to your regular activities gradually. You should be able to do most activities in about 2 weeks.
• Avoid strenuous activities for 4 weeks.
• Avoid twisting or bending your neck for 2 weeks.

General instructions

• Keep your head and neck elevated while resting or sleeping.
• Stay out of direct sunlight. Your skin is more sensitive to the sun after surgery. Use sunblock and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin.
• Maintain a healthy weight and eat a healthy diet. This helps the results of your neck lift last longer.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your pain does not improve or gets worse.
• You have bruising or swelling that lasts longer than 10 days.
• You have fluid or blood coming from an incision for longer than your health care provider told you to expect.
• You have more redness, swelling, or pain around an incision.
• You have more fluid or blood coming from an incision.
• An incision feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from an incision.
• You have a fever.