The neck is one of the first locations on your body to show prominent signs of aging. Some of the most common concerns related to the neck include sagging skin, banding, and stubborn pockets of fat under the chin. Over time, unchecked skin laxity and fat accumulation lead to problems like the dreaded “turkey wattle” and “double chin.”
“Turkey wattle” refers to the loose flaps of skin hanging from the chin, resembling a turkey wattle. And a “double chin” refers to the accumulation of excessive fat tissues under the chin, leading to the appearance of a second chin made of fat. Signs of aging on the neck can lead to severe self-consciousness and anxiety.
If you want to reverse the signs of aging on your neck, you should consider your neck rejuvenation options. You have several possible options, but you must find the procedure most suitable for your specific concerns and goals. Below, we describe top neck rejuvenation options, including neck lift, mini neck lift, neck liposuction, and Kybella.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is the most invasive surgical procedure for patients with advanced signs of aging, such as double or triple chins, excessively sagging skin tissues, and severe neckbands. During the neck lift procedure, the surgeon makes incisions at the bottom of your ears or under the chin. After making the incisions, they remove the unwanted fat tissues, tighten the muscles with sutures, and trim away the excess skin tissues. Once the adjustments are made, they pull the skin tight over the incisions. This smoothens your neck and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and bands. A neck lift is generally meant for patients in their 50s or 60s.
Mini Neck Lift
A mini neck lift is a less-invasive variation of the neck lift procedure. This procedure is also invasive and involves considerable downtime and recovery, but it’s not as invasive as a neck lift. A mini neck lift is suitable for patients with moderate amounts of excess skin and unwanted fat. The surgeon makes small incisions under the chin to remove the unwanted fat pockets and tighten the skin slightly. This procedure also smoothens your neck, but it mostly addresses excessive fat accumulation. Mini neck lifts are suitable for patients in their 40s with early to moderate signs of aging.
Neck Liposuction
Neck liposuction is a procedure that literally suctions away the unwanted fat pockets from your neck. This procedure doesn’t address issues pertaining to sagging skin or loss of muscle definition — it’s only concerned with unwanted fat. The surgeon makes a small incision on the neck to insert a tube-like device called a cannula. The cannula breaks down the unwanted fat cells and suctions them out of your body, giving you a more contoured and angular jawline. This procedure is ideal for patients with excessive submental fat tissues, regardless of age. You can expect a little downtime after the procedure, but not as much as a neck lift.
Kybella
Kybella is the only non-surgical treatment for submental fullness, i.e., a double chin. Kybella is a cosmetic injectable made of a naturally-occurring component called deoxycholic acid. When injected into the chin, the deoxycholic acid activates your body’s metabolic process to break down the fat cells in the region. Over time, your body breaks down and metabolizes the unwanted fat tissues until they’re expelled from the body. This leads to a contoured and angular jawline without a double chin. Kybella doesn’t produce immediate results — the results appear gradually over several weeks. However, Kybella doesn’t involve any downtime, either, making it suitable for everyone.
All of the neck rejuvenation techniques mentioned above have unique objectives and recovery periods. They also address different concerns, and they’re suitable for different types of patients. Please schedule a consultation with the experts at Richmond Plastic Surgeons to discuss your options.