Neck Lift Surgery Sydney

A neck lift procedure is a surgical alteration of the neck muscles, fat, or skin to combat signs of ageing and saggy tissue. It is important to note that the neck lift procedure is nearly always performed in conjunction with a facelift. Many people confuse these as two separate procedures able to be performed individually; however, this is not usually the case.

To properly perform a full facelift, the neck must be addressed, especially if you have severe jowls or platysma bands,  known as "turkey neck."

A neck lift, depending on the desired look of the patient, can include:

• Cervicoplasty: A procedure that will remove excess skin
• Platysmaplasty: The removal or alteration of the neck muscles
• Neck liposuction: The removal of excess fat

Some aesthetics can also be created via anti-wrinkle injections in the neck region if patients feel their neck offers a full look, also referred to as "bands." Dr. Hodgkinson will work with you to understand the issues you are experiencing and the look you wish to achieve, deciding then which of the processes above will be required.

About Neck Lift Surgery

If you have a sagging neck that bothers you then you have a few options for improvement depending on your age and ageing. For the under 40s who still have good skin elasticity and do not have sagging platysma (neck bands) then there is still the possibility of liposculpture to regain definition and a more youthful looking neck. Once elasticity is gone, however, there is no effective option other than a surgical neck lift.

Neck lift surgery should be performed as a part of and with every full Facelift in both women and men. When addressing the sagging of the jowels or jawline during a facelift, if you stop at that point you make the face look unnaturally tight as it does not appear in isolation from the jaw, chin and neck.  Neck lifting addresses the area from the jawline all the way down to the collar bones and should seek to get rid of the not only the "turkey neck" but age defining "rings" around the neck where possible.  A neck lift may only require the same incision lines as the facelift but in the majority of cases it is impossible to get a good result without a small incision just behind and underneath the chin.

No facial rejuvenation surgery such as facelifting such be considered without first examining the neck.  All the aesthetic areas of the face must be treated with equal importance and taken back to the same point in time to avoid an unnatural or operated on look. The one exception to this rule is for men who are only bothered by their sagging neck.  For men, sometimes a neck lift is performed without a face lift.  This is because a more chiselled jawline makes the face and profile look not only more youthful but masculine.  If a man is solely concerned about his neck and not the rugged ageing of his face then it may be appropriate to perform the neck lift in isolation and not combine it with a face lift or other facial rejuvenation surgery. Again, all full facelifts should include a neck lift if it is required to give the patient a natural, youthful and attractive result. You can learn more about facelift surgery with Dr Hodgkinson here.

How Much Does Neck Lift Surgery Cost?

Once Dr Hodgkinson has had a chance to examine you, you will receive fixed price quote inclusive of the surgeon’s fee, facility fee and anaesthetic fee.  There are no surprises.

For any procedure, there are at least three costs involved:

• The Surgeon’s Fee – The number one determinant in your result is your surgeon’s expertise. Remember that a low fee does not always mean a bargain.  Once done, many things can not be undone.
• The Surgical Facility Fee – All cosmetic surgery must be performed in a licensed accredited facility by law. You will either be billed before or after surgery for your time in the operating theatre and recovery and possibly overnight fees too if in a hospital. Be sure to find out what these fees are. If they are not fixed in advance you might be in for a unpleasant surprise.
• Anaesthesia – All licensed facilities are required to have an anaesthetist present to monitor your vital signs whether you are under general anaesthesia or twilight sedation.  Again, you will be billed for this either before or after.  Make sure you know what these fees are as well.

To learn the approximate costs of neck lift surgery, please click here. You can also contact us to speak to one of our experienced patient coordinators to learn more about neck lift surgery and discuss your options. Please contact us via email or call (02) 9362 7400.

Complimentary Procedures

Patients who are seeking any form of facial rejuvenation such as neck lifting will more than likely have aged in more areas than just the neck.  As we age and the fatty tissues and muscles of the face and neck slacken and resorb, we get not only wrinkling but a loss of elasticity of the skin and sagging and drooping of the underlying tissues.

These tell tale signs of ageing can be the "turkey neck" or droopy "hang dog" jowls, droopy upper eyelids or baggy lower ones, a loss of volume or tone in the face, a tired or angry look, fine lines and/or blotchy sun-damaged skin.  To set back the clock it is important that all aesthetic areas of the face and neck are dealt with at the same time to create an overall natural and more youthful look.

Here are some of the procedures to create a more youthful you and what they address:

• Facelift (Rhytidectomy) (including mini-lift, S-lift etc) – To create a more youthful lower third of the face addressing the nasolabial folds and jawline.
• Mid-Facelift – To re-establish the position of the tissues in the mid-third of the face around the cheekbones.  This can also be accomplished by combining cheek implants or fat injections or more viscous injectible fillers with a facelift where appropriate.
• Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) – Eyelid surgery can correct droopy upper eyelids or baggy lower ones.
• Browlift – To address the sagging or ageing of the top third of the face; the brow.  Often heaviness in the area of the eyes is actually caused due to sagging of the brows not the eyelids.
• Laserbrasion/Dermabrasion – Laser or dermabrasion can be used to deal with the fine lines that form around the mouth (smokers lines) and eyes.  They are also able to address facial scarring such as acne scarring.
• Cheek and Chin Implants – Cheek and chin implants can restore balance to the profile of the ageing face where volume or contour has been lost.
• Lip Enhancement – Lips too can get thinner as we age.  Lips can be surgically enhanced or volumized with non-surgical injectible fillers for a short term improvement in appearance.
• Non-Surgical Treatments – Non surgical treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections for lines, injectible fillers for naso labial folds and minor areas of volume loss are useful either in the younger patient or as an adjunct to surgery or maintenance program for facial rejuvenation patients.

What Makes Dr. Hodgkinson Different?

One of the primary reasons why people know and trust Dr. Hodgkinson, is his extensive experience having performed thousands of cosmetic surgery procedures. He puts a significant focus on the personal side of surgery, getting to know his patients to develop a complete understanding of their desires and goals and in turn, what will be required in their procedure. The main goal is a result that brings a smile to your face to regain  confidence and get your “mogo”back.

As an expert in cosmetic plastic surgery, Dr. Hodgkinson is well-respected in the industry and has over thirty years of experience to his name. His surgical training was completed at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States and he holds two higher degrees in plastic surgery. Dr. Hodgkinson also keeps involved in the surgical community by serving on the Scientific Committee of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) and the editorial board of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal.

The Double Bay Day Surgery from which Dr Hodgkinson operates, is a fully licensed accredited day surgery centre. We can ensure the highest levels of care for our patients as our clinic offers state of the art cosmetic and plastic surgical equipment. Our well-experienced and knowledgeable team work hard to understand your needs and goals. We make it a priority to ensure that you are completely comfortable prior to making the decision to undergo a neck lift surgery by keeping you well-informed and ensuring all of your questions are answered in advance.

Our post-operative care procedures are second-to-none to ensure the best recovery possible for all of our patients. One of our nurses may stay with you the first post-operative evening to keep you relaxed and comfortable. Our nursing staff are on call 24 hours a day, and in cases where it may be applicable, are able to perform home care. We do this to provide all of our patients with the best results and care possible. Speak to our highly skilled staff today and find out for yourself, that the level of patient care we provide is one of our greatest strengths in providing excellent results.