Platysmaplasty, or neck lift plastic surgery, is a plastic surgery procedure that tightens the platysma muscles in the neck and removes excess skin in order to sharpen or improve the jawline.
In fact, as we get older, vertical banding and horizontal lines start to appear in the skin of the neck. For some, their skin starts to droop and sag while for others the jowls start to get fatter.
Often, a neck lift plastic surgery is performed as an add-on procedure to a facelift. However, some patients opt for stand-alone neck lift surgery procedures in order to improve the contour of their jawlines.
What to Know Before a Neck Lift Plastic Surgery
Those opting for a neck lift plastic surgery must be aware of a few factors before signing up for the treatment. For starters, the best candidates are non-smokers. In addition, patients who are not misled by ‘miracle’ neck lift surgeries that they see on Google images.
Here are a few other things you should know before signing up for surgery.
1. Talk About Your Medications
Prior to a neck lift plastic surgery, your Plastic Surgeon will most likely conduct a few lab tests to assess your general health and determine whether or not you’re ready for a platysmaplasty surgery. It’s imperative that you discuss the medications you’re on during the pre-op period as you may be required to discontinue some medicines before surgery.
Certain drugs and herbal supplements can interfere with the operation as they can lead to complications like excessive bleeding.
So it’s important to talk to your Plastic Surgeon about everything you’re taking.
2. Monitor Your Lifestyle
If you’re a regular smoker it’s advisable to quit sometime before surgery. The carcinogens in cigarettes affect the elasticity of the skin and smoking can exacerbate complications during and after the surgery.
If you plan to lose a great amount of weight, do so before the surgery as this will give the surgeon a better idea of the extent to which to tighten the skin and muscles. Excess skin usually doesn’t contract on its own and losing a significant amount of weight after the surgery can cause the skin around the neck to look disproportionate to the rest of the body. Even after the surgery, be sure to keep your weight in check, and if you’re planning to lose weight, do so at a steady pace.
3. Get a Driver
After neck lift surgery, ask a close friend or family member to drive you back home. This is important because you will not be able to drive yourself after the anesthesia.
4. Have a Recovery Station
Most doctors will ask you to sleep at an incline during the first night after surgery. This is necessary in order to maximize the effects of the neck lift.
So before surgery, set up your home so that you’re able to relax comfortably after your surgery.
5. It Might Get Ugly at First
Neck lifts are performed on an outpatient basis. Right after surgery, your Plastic Surgeon will wrap a compression garment around your head and underneath your chin.
Your neck will start to feel a little sore as the anesthesia wears off and you may notice increased swelling or bruising after three days. The dressing can be removed within one week and worn a few more days just at night. The sutures will be visible for at least a week after surgery.
However, compared to most plastic surgery procedures, a neck lift surgery has a relatively short recovery period and you should be looking good in no time.
6. Restrict Physical Activity
Most people can return to moderate and regular physical activity within just a week. However, you need to avoid excess physical exertion and minimize a few simple activities like bending down, lifting heavy objects, and even turning your head from side to side. All these movements can aggravate the area and cause blood to rush in, resulting in swelling.
So be mindful of your movements and the physical activity you’re performing immediately after neck lift surgery.
7. Avoid Eating Right Before
If you’re undergoing general anaesthesia for neck lift surgery, you may have to abstain from all forms of food and drink from the evening before surgery. Of course, your Plastic Surgeon will inform you of exactly how long you need to fast before your surgery, but just remember that for the general anesthesia to be safe and effective you need to avoid eating and drinking for at least 12 hours before surgery. Peninsula Plastic Surgery’s Chief of Anaesthesia is a Sr. Anesthesiology Attending at Torrance Memorial Medical Center with over 20 years of experience.
Here’s to a New You!
Watch your diet, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and select the right Plastic Surgeon. These are the only prerequisites to a successful neck lift surgery. Just keep these points in mind when opting for a neck lift surgery; the more informed you are, the less complicated the procedure will be.
So, be realistic about the results and take care of yourself during the post-op period. By caring for yourself properly, you can ensure a satisfying and successful neck lift that is sure to help you look like the best version of yourself!
Dr. Rosso is one of the leading Plastic Surgeons in the South Bay and performs a large number of Neck and Lower Facelift surgeries. He has been voted 2018 Daily Breeze South Bay’s Favorite and 2017 Best of the Beach and the Peninsula Plastic Surgery doctors and staff have been awarded the 2018 Spectrum Award for Customer Service Excellence.