Neck Lift
Over time, gravity and natural skin changes soften the crisp angle beneath your chin, creating a heavy look that does not match your inner energy. For many people, noticing loose skin or a permanent double chin is the moment they begin seeking an expert solution. Neck lift surgery directly addresses these structural shifts to restore the clean, youthful architecture to your lower face and jawline.
At Kennedy Facial Plastic Surgery, we believe that your profile deserves the attention of a dedicated specialist. Dr. Paige Kennedy limits her practice solely to face and neck rejuvenation, bringing elite training from across the country back home to Louisiana. Her meticulous technique repairs the deep foundations of the neck without creating an unnatural, over-tightened appearance. If you are ready to learn how this personalized treatment can restore your baseline confidence, we encourage you to contact our boutique office to schedule your personal consultation.
Smooths sagging skin, eliminates a double chin, tightens underlying muscles, and restores a sharp, youthful jawline.
Most patients feel comfortable returning to public outings and desk work within two weeks.
The outpatient surgical procedure typically takes 2-3 hours, depending on your individual anatomy.
The results of a deep plane neck lift often last a decade or longer.
A neck lift is a highly specialized cosmetic surgery that targets the visible signs of aging along the jawline and the skin beneath the chin. As collagen production declines, the thin skin across the neck area loses its elasticity, causing it to drape and sag. A neck lift procedure goes deep beneath the skin's surface to reshape fat, tighten loose tissue, and reverse the structural descent that comes with aging.
Patients have access to multiple options based on their specific physical anatomy and desired outcome. Dr. Kennedy evaluates your concerns to design a bespoke surgical plan that allows your profile to age naturally from a more youthful, defined starting point, helping you feel confident from every angle.
On the day of your neck lift procedure, our clinical team prioritizes your comfort and safety at every step. The surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, depending on the complexity of your surgical plan.
In the first step of the neck lift surgery, Dr. Kennedy creates precise incision lines concealed around the earlobes and behind the ears, ensuring they blend seamlessly into your natural skin creases once healed. She then gently lifts and tightens the underlying muscles, including the platysma muscle that extends across the front of the neck, anchoring them securely to restore a firm, graceful contour. If excess fat is present, neck liposuction is performed to sculpt away the heaviness that creates a double chin. Once the deeper contours are restored, the skin is gently draped, the redundant tissue is removed, and the incisions are closed with fine sutures.
This surgical procedure focuses on the neck and the lower third of the face, starting at the lower jaw and extending down to the base of the collarbone. It addresses the submental area directly beneath the chin, where excess fat often collects, obscuring your bone structure. By cleaning up this space, the treatment creates a sharp, continuous line that gracefully frames your entire face.
A neck lift also addresses the lateral sides of the neck, where loose skin tends to gather and crinkle over time, and eliminates the sagging pockets at the jawline known as jowls. This three-dimensional approach ensures that your profile looks balanced and supported from every angle.
A neck lift helps reverse the effects of gravity, sun damage, and weight fluctuations on both the deeper and surface layers of the neck. One of the most common conditions it corrects is a "turkey neck," where loose skin hangs away from the throat in heavy folds. It also addresses prominent neck bands, the vertical cords caused by splitting and sagging platysma muscles, that make the neck look strained and weathered.
The surgery is also highly effective for individuals with a double chin, an area where fat tends to linger even with a healthy diet and exercise routine. By removing the stubborn fat cells and tightening the surrounding muscle and skin, the procedure eliminates permanent puffiness. Together, these balanced adjustments help restore a more sculpted, youthful appearance.
Dr. Kennedy's deep-plane approach to neck lift surgery provides long-lasting, harmonious results by targeting the underlying muscles, fat, and neck skin in one cohesive procedure. Your friends will notice that you look rested, healthy, and fit, without suspecting you underwent plastic surgery.
By physically repairing loose muscles and removing excess fat, this surgery restores the classic geometry of a youthful neck. This crisp definition provides an elegant frame for your face, beautifully emphasizing your chin and jawline. The smoothing effect also removes deep texture creases, allowing you to wear any neckline or style with comfort.
Looking in the mirror and seeing a firm, clean contour alters how you carry yourself and helps you feel confident without hiding behind scarves or high collars. The results are long-lasting, effectively resetting the clock on signs of aging in the neck to help you look more youthful and toned from every angle.
Neck lift patients are often men and women in their 50s or 60s who are bothered by visible sagging skin, heavy jowls, or vertical muscle bands in the neck area. Candidates should be at a stable, healthy weight and have realistic expectations about what a surgical procedure can achieve. It is essential that patients are in good overall health to support a safe healing process.
Certain medical conditions or lifestyle habits mean you should postpone or avoid this surgery. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, active bleeding disorders, or poor healing responses can increase your clinical risks. Smoking or using nicotine products severely restricts blood flow and compromises your skin's surface healing, so you must commit to quitting entirely before and after the operation. During your consultation, Dr. Kennedy will thoroughly review your medical history to verify that surgery is the safest path forward for you.
Before your return home from your neck lift procedure, your neck will be placed in a soft, supportive compression garment to minimize swelling and bruising. During early recovery, you can expect mild soreness and a feeling of tightness around the jaw, which is managed with prescribed medication during the first few days.
During the first two weeks, resting with your head elevated is crucial to assist your body in draining fluid away from the face and neck. You will return to our practice for close follow-up visits so Dr. Kennedy can track your progress and remove your fine sutures. While major swelling resolves quickly, you must avoid strenuous exercise, bending over, and heavy lifting for several weeks to let the underlying muscles heal safely into a secure position.
The final, refined results of your neck lift surgery will reveal themselves as minor fluid retention subsides over the months following your procedure. Patients enjoy a beautifully contoured neckline, a clean chin profile, and a refreshed lower face. The heavy, sagging appearance is entirely replaced by a naturally smooth, youthful contour.
These improvements are built to last, with many patients enjoying optimal rejuvenation for ten years or longer. While your body will continue to age naturally over time, you will always look significantly younger than you would have without cosmetic surgery. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding significant weight changes, and investing in medical-grade skincare will help preserve your beautiful results over time.
Your face and neck are your most visible, defining features. Surgical rejuvenation of these areas demands specialized, high-level expertise. Dr. Paige Kennedy limits her boutique practice exclusively to facial and neck rejuvenation, allowing her to maintain precise focus on this complex anatomical region. As the only female facial plastic surgeon in Breaux Bridge, she brings a uniquely empathetic, meticulous eye to your care.
Dr. Kennedy’s clinical background is anchored by ten years of highly competitive postgraduate training at top-tier programs in Houston, Chicago, and Austin, where she mastered the most advanced deep plane lifting techniques available today. Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, she is committed to providing naturally beautiful results through highly personalized care for every patient.
Yes, a neck lift can be performed as a standalone surgical procedure if your aging concerns are isolated beneath the jawline. This is common for younger patients or individuals who naturally maintain good volume in their cheeks but have loose skin beneath the chin. Dr. Kennedy evaluates your facial balance during your initial visit to help you select the exact path that fits your goals.
A surgical lift physically adjusts the deep underlying muscles and removes excess skin for a permanent, comprehensive change. Non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as dermal fillers or skin resurfacing, can improve fine lines and mild skin texture concerns. For example, dermal fillers can be used to restore lost volume in the neck area, and fractionated laser treatments improve skin texture. However, these approaches cannot lift heavy, sagging skin or repair separated muscles. For true structural laxity and a double chin, surgery remains the gold standard for long-lasting results.
Dr. Kennedy meticulously places incision lines within the natural shadows around your earlobes and hides them along the lower hairline behind the ear. Once the healing process is complete, these lines fade into fine, faint markings that are incredibly difficult to see during daily interactions. We provide clear scar care guidelines to ensure your skin heals beautifully and smoothly.
Visible swelling and bruising will peak within the first 3-4 days, and most swelling subsides within 10-14 days post-surgery. Most patients feel completely comfortable returning to social situations and professional environments by day fourteen with light camouflage makeup. Minor, residual tightness can persist for a few months as the tissues adjust, but this is rarely noticeable to others.
Neck liposuction is highly effective for removing excess fat cells, but it relies entirely on your skin's natural elasticity to snap back into place after the fat is gone. If you have loose skin, severe skin loss, or separated neck muscles, liposuction alone can leave the area looking deflated or wavy. Dr. Kennedy often combines liposuction with muscle tightening to achieve a smooth, properly supported neck contour.
While many comprehensive lifts are performed under general anesthesia or deep intravenous sedation for your ultimate comfort, some localized options can be completed under local anesthesia. This depends entirely on the scope of your surgery and your personal comfort preferences. Dr. Kennedy discusses these options openly during your consultation to build a safe, reassuring plan.
The total neck lift cost can vary based on the extent of your tissue modification, whether you choose to combine it with multiple procedures, and facility fees. Because every treatment plan at our boutique practice is completely customized, we provide a detailed, clear financial breakdown after your personal evaluation. We focus on transparent communication so you can plan your aesthetic investment with peace of mind.
As with any surgical procedure, potential risks include minor bleeding, temporary numbness, asymmetry, or unfavorable scarring. Choosing a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who operates in accredited facilities significantly minimizes these clinical risks. Dr. Kennedy utilizes precise techniques and structured aftercare steps to prioritize your safety and ensure an optimal, beautiful outcome.
