Facial Procedures
Neck Lift
Restore a defined jawline and smooth, youthful neck contour. Address loose skin, platysmal bands, and submental fullness with lasting results.
About the Procedure
What Is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, restores a youthful, defined contour to the neck and jawline by addressing the three primary concerns of aging in this area: loose skin, platysmal muscle banding, and excess submental fat. The neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging, and it is also one of the most resistant to non-surgical treatments.
Dr. Chen's approach goes beyond simple skin tightening. By addressing the underlying muscular structure with a corset platysmaplasty technique and precisely sculpting submental fat, he creates a clean, natural cervicomental angle that defines the transition from chin to neck. The result is a profile that looks naturally youthful, not surgically altered.
Concerns Addressed
Is This Right for You?
Ideal Candidates
Combination Approach
“The neck and lower face are one unit. Treating them together produces the most natural, harmonious profile.”
Surgical Artistry
Dr. Chen's Approach
Dr. Chen treats the neck as an integral part of the lower facial unit. His approach addresses all three layers contributing to neck aging: superficial fat, the platysma muscle, and the overlying skin. This comprehensive technique produces more dramatic and longer-lasting results than addressing any single layer alone.
For patients with significant neck concerns, Dr. Chen often recommends combining the neck lift with a facelift for a seamless transition from the midface to the neck. This combination avoids the tell-tale discontinuity that can occur when only one area is treated.
Your Procedure
Step by Step
Customized Evaluation
Dr. Chen examines your neck skin quality, platysma muscle tone, fat distribution, and jawline definition. 3D imaging captures your profile from every angle.
Anesthesia & Preparation
Performed under twilight sedation or general anesthesia in our private AAAHC-accredited surgical suite with a board-certified anesthesiologist.
Contouring & Tightening
Submental liposuction removes excess fat. The platysma muscle is tightened using a corset platysmaplasty technique to eliminate banding and restore definition.
Skin Re-Draping
Excess skin is carefully trimmed and re-draped with precise tension. Incisions behind the ears and under the chin are closed with meticulous layered suturing.
Recovery & Support
Compression garment placed immediately. Dr. Chen provides his personal cell number for post-operative questions. Follow-up visits at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.
Recovery
Day-by-Day Recovery Timeline
Rest at home with head elevated at 30 degrees. Compression garment in place. Mild to moderate discomfort managed with prescribed medication. Ice packs recommended.
Swelling and bruising reach their peak. Compression garment should be worn continuously. You may feel tightness in the neck, which is normal and temporary.
Sutures removed at your follow-up appointment. Swelling begins to subside noticeably. Light activities around the house are encouraged. Avoid bending or heavy lifting.
Most bruising has faded or can be concealed. Many patients return to desk work. Compression garment may be transitioned to nighttime-only wear.
Significant improvement visible. The new jawline and neck contour are emerging. Light exercise like walking is encouraged. Residual swelling continues to resolve.
Swelling fully resolved. Scars are fading and becoming very discreet. You can resume all activities including vigorous exercise. Final contour is visible.
Results are fully mature. Scars behind the ears are virtually invisible. Your neck and jawline look naturally defined and youthful. Annual follow-up with Dr. Chen.
Often Combined
Neck Lift + Facelift
More than 60% of Dr. Chen's neck lift patients opt to combine the procedure with a facelift for the most comprehensive rejuvenation. This combination addresses the entire lower face and neck as one cohesive unit, producing the most natural, harmonious result with a single recovery period.
Real Results
Before & After
Drag the slider to see neck lift transformations. Defined jawlines, smooth contours, natural profiles.
Neck Lift — 3 months post-op
Neck Lift + Facelift — 4 months post-op
Neck Lift + Lipo — 6 weeks post-op
Individual results may vary. Photos used with patient consent.
Investment
Pricing
Neck Lift
$6K–$9K
standalone
Neck Lift + Facelift
$9K–$12K
combined
Pricing includes surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility fee, and all post-operative follow-up visits.
0% APR financing available through CareCredit, Alphaeon, and PatientFi. Monthly payments as low as $149.
Explore Financing OptionsCommon Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A facelift primarily addresses the midface, jowls, and lower face, while a neck lift specifically targets the neck area including loose skin, platysmal bands, and submental fat (double chin). Many patients benefit from combining both procedures for a seamless, harmonious rejuvenation from the cheeks to the collarbone.
Yes. A neck lift is one of the most effective solutions for a double chin. Dr. Chen addresses submental fat through liposuction, tightens the platysma muscle to eliminate banding, and removes excess skin to create a clean, defined jawline and cervicomental angle.
Dr. Chen places incisions behind the ears and, when needed, a small incision under the chin. These locations are virtually invisible once healed. His meticulous closure technique ensures the most discreet scars possible.
A well-performed neck lift typically lasts 10 to 15 years. The platysma muscle tightening and fat removal provide structural changes that are long-lasting. You will continue to age naturally, but will always look years younger than if you had not had the procedure.
There is no minimum age for a neck lift. Some patients in their 30s and 40s have genetically loose neck skin, prominent platysmal bands, or stubborn submental fat that does not respond to diet and exercise. Dr. Chen evaluates each patient individually based on anatomy, not age.
Most patients take 10 to 14 days off work. A compression garment is worn for the first 1 to 2 weeks to minimize swelling and support the new contour. Swelling and bruising peak around days 2 to 3 and resolve significantly by week 2. Light exercise can resume at 3 weeks, with full activity at 4 to 6 weeks.
Redefine your
profile.
Schedule your neck lift consultation with Dr. Chen. Discuss your goals, explore your options, and discover how a more defined jawline and smoother neck can transform your profile.