The neck is one of the first areas to show signs of ageing. A crepey skin, turkey wattle, jowls, double chin, and general sagginess are usually what bother most people.
Some people hide it by wearing high necks, popping their collars or tying a scarf around their necks. However, there are others who choose to have a surgical neck lift.
But since it’s a cosmetic procedure, typically, it’s not available on the NHS or covered by insurance. Which leads to the question: How much is a neck lift?
In general, you should expect to pay thousands (of pounds or dollars) since it’s an invasive surgery and requires a lot of expertise. Still, there are many factors that affect the overall cost. Read on to learn more about a neck lift.
What Is A Neck Lift?
A neck lift is a cosmetic procedure that tightens the platysma muscles in the neck and removes excess skin and fat to reshape and recontour the neck. It’s also known as a lower rhytidectomy.
Platysma is a sheet-like muscle that covers the front of the neck. As we age, this muscle unravels, splitting into two rope-like bands called the platysmal bands. This is what ends up forming the so-called “Turkey neck.” Thinner skin makes these bands even more noticeable.
To fix that, a neck lift includes what’s known as “platysmaplasty” to essentially sew the muscles back together. But that alone doesn’t ensure good cosmetic results if you also have excess skin and fat.
For the excess skin, in particular, there’s another procedure that’s done as a part of a surgical neck lift. It’s known as “cervicoplasty.” While it can also take care of the excess fat, depending on how much you have, your surgeon might also recommend liposuction.
Here, it should be noted that some non-surgical treatments are also marketed as alternatives to surgical neck lifts. They involve the use of lasers, cryotherapy, ultrasound, radiofrequency, Botox, or deoxycholic acid injections.
While they can help to a certain extent, keep in mind that they won’t stitch your muscles back up or cut out excess skin. So, their results are unlikely to be as dramatic.
What Is A Deep Neck Lift?
A deep neck lift addresses the issues with the following in the deep plane of the neck:
- Subplatysmal fat – fat underneath the platysma muscle
- Digastric muscles – small paired muscles under the jaw
- Large submandibular glands – salivary glands (leaves a visible bulge)
The “traditional” neck lift doesn’t target subplatysmal fat; it’s focused on submental fat, which is present under the chin.
Enlarged digastric muscles and submandibular glands can also affect the overall contour of the neck. However, with surgery, a portion of these are cut out, which can give you your desired results.
Who Is The Ideal Person For A Neck Lift?
You’re an ideal candidate for this surgery if:
- You’re healthy and don’t smoke.
- You want to get rid of your “Turkey neck.”
- You want to remove excess skin and fat from your neck.
- You want to reduce your jowls and/or eliminate a double chin
- You want your neck to look more youthful
- You have realistic expectations
On the other hand, if you have a bleeding disorder, uncontrolled diabetes or issues with your immune system, you might be contraindicated for this procedure.
What Is The Procedure For A Neck Lift?
A neck lift is an inpatient procedure that’s mostly performed under general anaesthesia.
During the surgery, incisions are made around the ears, extending to the back of the hairline. Additionally, the chin may also be cut into, especially when the deeper structures of the neck are to be fixed. It depends on your target areas, and the size of the incision also varies because of that.
Following that, depending on the underlying structural issues, platysmaplasty, cervicoplasty, and/or liposuction are performed. Usually, it’s a combination of different surgical procedures.
Fat isn’t always removed, it’s also redistributed to reshape the neck. If an inexperienced surgeon removes too much fat, it can give very unnatural results, giving you what’s known as a “cobra neck.”
Once everything’s done, the skin is sutured, and you may have surgical drains for excess blood and fluid.
The entire surgery can take anywhere between 1-3 hours.
You Can Get A Neck Lift And Facelift Together
It is possible for you to combine a neck lift with a facelift. In fact, some surgeons recommend their patients to do so for more harmonious results.
If you have severe sagging of the skin on your face, a neck lift alone might not give you satisfactory results. Keep in mind that facial fat also moves downward due to ageing, and a facelift can take care of that as well.
So, if you have severe skin laxity with deposits of facial fat, it would be a good idea to combine a neck lift with a facelift in Turkey.
Patients also have the option to have a brow lift or chin implants, but it depends on their aesthetic goals and expectations.
What Is The Recovery Time For Neck Lift Surgery?
The recovery time for a surgical neck lift is usually 1-2 weeks.
Usually, swelling and bruising are experienced after the surgery, which takes around 2 weeks to get better. However, the swelling does tend to linger for 3-6 months. So, you’ll be able to see the final results of your surgery only after that.
Other than that, you might also feel soreness, discomfort and tightness in the surgical area. But this will also get better with time.
To better deal with these side effects, make sure to take your prescribed medications and follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions.
Don’t put any stress on your neck by pulling or tugging at it. Even avoid wearing shirts that have to go over your neck. Moreover, don’t engage in any vigorous physical activities for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery.
It will help you recover quickly and normally.
How Long Does A Neck Lift Last?
The results of a surgical neck lift should last for a decade or so. Please note that this surgery won’t stop the process of ageing, so it will lose some of its elasticity with time.
You can, however, try to enjoy these results for longer by keeping your neck protected from UV rays, avoiding smoking, and having a healthy life.
However, if you like, you can have another neck lift surgery.
How Much Is A Neck Lift?
In the UK, a neck lift can cost anywhere from £5,000 to £10,000.
In other countries too, this surgery is generally expensive. But you can get it cheaper in Turkey because of differences in the cost of living and currency exchange rates.
| Country | Cost of Neck Lift |
| US | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| UK | £5,000 to £10,000 |
| Canada | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Australia | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Turkey | £2,000 to £3,000 |
What Factors Determine The Price Of A Neck Lift?
Typically, the location of the clinic and the experience of the surgeon have the most impact on the price of a neck lift.
However, there are further variations depending on the surgical technique, the extent of surgery, the type of anaesthesia (general is more expensive), medication, follow-up appointments, and whether or not the procedure is inpatient or outpatient.
Some clinics also charge for the initial consultations and medical tests before the surgery, so you might need to take that into account as well. Even a GP’s referral letter will add to your total cost.
Moreover, you need to consider your personal expenses, which include time off from work and flight tickets, or any other travel costs.
In any case, it’s very important to be upfront about any “hidden costs” that the clinic might have. Usually, clinics only mention the surgeon’s fee when quoting a price.
Therefore, you should ask the clinic/hospital to clearly state all your billables before the surgery so there are no unexpected surprises after the surgery.
Are Neck Lifts Dangerous?
Neck lifts are relatively safe to undergo. Still, since it’s a surgery, it carries certain risks. For instance, it can lead to the following complications:
- Infection
- Seroma
- Hematoma
- Asymmetry
- Skin irregularities
- Skin sensation changes
- Nerve injury
- Bad scarring
- Necrosis
A bad surgery can also give you very poor results.
For this reason, it’s important to find a board-certified and experienced surgeon. That can help minimise the risk of these complications.
You Can Get Cheaper Neck Lift Surgery In Turkey
You can save more than 50% on the UK or US prices by getting a neck lift in Turkey.
As mentioned above, the price differences are due to the low cost of living and currency exchange. It’s not because of lax standards of healthcare.
However, a cheap neck lift shouldn’t mean very cheap, either. It should be around the average price in an area.
Otherwise, the extremely low price may be due to the clinic being unregistered or the surgeon being not qualified or experienced enough.
Why Choose Longevita For A Neck Lift In Turkey?
Longevita is an award-winning provider of cosmetic procedures. Over 10 years, we’ve performed thousands of procedures with a very high success rate.
We also work with specialists who are members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) and the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.
Therefore, rest assured you’ll get the highest quality of patient care with optimal results. Your surgeon will operate in a state-of-the-art modern facility that’s well-equipped to meet all your needs.
If you have any questions or want us to prepare a free customised treatment plan for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Reviewed and approved by Prof Dr. Fuat Yuksel
FAQs
What is a mini neck lift?
A mini neck lift is a less invasive version of a traditional neck lift. It mainly focuses on removing a small amount of excess fat and skin from the neck. So, it’s not suitable in more severe cases.
How do I get rid of my saggy neck?
A surgical neck lift can help you get rid of your saggy neck. However, if the sagginess is only mild, you may also benefit from non-surgical neck lifts using laser, ultrasound or radiofrequency.
