Male Neck Lift

Definition and contouring in the neck and jaw is important, especially for men. Having a strong jaw and profile are key masculine features that define a man’s overall appearance.

Gravity, heredity, significant weight changes, and the natural aging process slowly wear away skin elasticity in your face, neck, and jaw. Loss of skin elasticity is further accelerated by the skin-damaging effects of stress, smoking, and other environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays and air pollution. All of these factors are why your chin and jaw line continue to look less defined as you age.

Men typically notice these youthful contours diminishing during their late 30s and early 40s as fat begins to deposit under the chin, followed by the sagging neck skin appearing in their late 40s to early 50s. As skin laxity and fat deposits continue to increase, it’s common to develop a “turkey neck” (excess wrinkly skin hanging from the neck, double chin (“turkey wattle”), and jowl lines. 

The Male Neck Lift Procedure

Male plastic surgery requires a specific approach, different from plastic surgery for females, to ensure that patients achieve the desired results while maintaining a natural and masculine appearance. Male jawlines are typically more prominent and sharper than in women. Surgeons also have to be mindful of the Adam’s apple in male patients when tightening muscles or skin tissue to avoid a feminized appearance post operatively. 

The neck lift procedure has become highly advanced over the years. While it used to involve longer incisions and greater recovery time, now the same results can be accomplished using better techniques. In today’s neck lift, small incisions are made behind the ears and just under the chin. These incisions give the surgeon access to the inside of your neck, which enables removal of fatty deposits, tightening of neck muscles, and elimination of redundant loose skin.  

Who is a Candidate for a Neck Lift?

The best way to determine what can be done to restore a more youthful contour to the neck area is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boeckmann at his office. Dr. Boeckmann determines candidacy for all of his patients on an individual basis, after carefully evaluating the cosmetic issues and signs of aging that concern them most. With that said, the neck lift is most commonly performed on men and women in their late forties and beyond, who:

• Suffer from "turkey neck," double chin, sagging skin, or jowls 
• Are non-smokers and in good overall health.
• Possess realistic expectations for what a neck lift can accomplish.

Though these guidelines should give you an idea of who can benefit from a neck lift in Orange County, the only way to know for sure if you are an ideal candidate is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Boeckmann.

What is the Recovery Following a Neck Lift?

Surgery is done on an outpatient basis using general anesthesia or IV sedation. Patients will wake from surgery with a supportive band around the chin and head as well as a compression garment over the neck. This will help with swelling and will ensure that the muscles and skin begin to heal properly. There may be drainage tubes placed to ensure fluid does not build up.

We recommend arranging to have a friend or family member stay with you during the first twenty-four hours, as you may need help moving around and performing simple tasks. Pain medication is provided as well as instructions on how to bathe and sleep. It is important to keep the head elevated for the first week or so to minimize swelling and bruising.

The neck will feel tight for a few weeks due to swelling but the acute stage of early recovery usually lasts about 48 hours. Though each patient is unique, most of our patients are ready to resume work and their normal daily routines within two weeks. However, it’s important to continue to avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks to avoid complications and ensure an optimal healing process.

Dr. Boeckmann will schedule postoperative visits to check on healing and progress. If there are drains placed they will usually be removed at the first visit when the incisions are checked.

There will be some bruising and swelling as healing progresses. Bruising will fade after a week and the swelling will come and go as healing progresses. Patients should expect to experience fluctuations in how they heal over the first few weeks. 

Male Neck Lift results will typically continue to improve with time; even once the patient has recovered from the surgery. It usually takes around six month to observe optimal results.

Expert Orange County Male Neck Lift Surgeon

When choosing a plastic surgeon to perform a neck lift, it is important to choose carefully as the results of the procedure will be with you for a decade or longer. Dr. Jacob Boeckmann is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and head and neck surgeon, and has become a highly sought after neck lift surgeon in Orange County, due to his exceptional level of skill and artistry with this complex procedure. He utilizes the most advanced surgical techniques to create a masculine, natural-looking outcome.  To learn more about the male neck lift in Orange County, call 949-273-3112 to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Boeckmann in our Laguna Niguel office.