WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FACELIFT AND A NECK LIFT?
There are so many different options for cosmetic and plastic surgery, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed! Some of the most popular procedures are the facelift and neck lift, which are wonderful procedures for tightening skin around the middle and lower parts of the face. Both can have overlapping results, so sometimes it can be difficult to choose which one to do and what their specific differences are. What you might know is, both have different enough results that they’re commonly done together to maximize facial rejuvenation effects.
WHAT’S A FACELIFT?
There are actually an unbelievable range of facelifts, each with different results and techniques. In general, facelifts are a skin tightening procedure. They’re done to help with sagging skin in the midface, sagging lower eyelids, nasolabial folds (creases that go from your nose to the corners of your mouth), jowls, and double chins.
WHERE ARE THE INCISIONS?
During a facelift, your surgeon will hide an incision by the hairline and near the ear. Then extra skin and fatty tissue is trimmed and your skin and SMAS will be tightened and sutured.
WHAT’S A NECK LIFT?
A neck lift is a skin tightening procedure that reduces what’s commonly called a “turkey neck,” which is another term for the combination of excess skin under the chin, jawline, and jowls.
WHERE ARE THE INCISIONS?
With a neck lift, your incision will be hidden under your chin. Then, excess skin and fat will be trimmed, and your skin and SMAS will be tightened and your incision will be closed.
WHAT’S RECOVERY LIKE?
Recovery for both of these procedures are actually pretty similar. For both the procedures you’re advised to keep your head upright all the time, even when you’re sleeping. It’s very common for patients to experience swelling, bruising and soreness for a few weeks after the surgery—but this is only temporary and should go away. For about four weeks, you should also avoid any kind of strenuous activity that can encourage bleeding.
Dr. Evan Beale uses one of the most natural-looking and reliable techniques when it comes to facelifts and neck lifts. With this new technique, Dr. Beale goes under the skin and also tightens a deeper layer of tissue called the SMAS. In the past, surgeons only pulled the skin tight rather than pulling both, which is what causes that “overly-done” look people usually associate with facelifts. As a board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Beale has mastered the complicated lifting methods that lead to superior results for combination neck and face lifts. Think you might need either procedure or both? Contact Dr. Evan Beale for a consultation.