The Face
Neck Lift
A Defined Jawline. An Elegant Contour.
A Defined Jawline. An Elegant Contour.
The neck is one of the earliest and most revealing indicators of age—and one of the most difficult to address without surgery. At Edition Plastic Surgery, Dr. Schwartz approaches the neck lift as a precise method for restoring the definition of the jawline and profile. Whether addressing excess submental fat that creates a double chin, platysmal banding that produces vertical cords, or the "turkey neck" effect caused by skin laxity, our philosophy is to achieve a result that is both structural and natural. No amount of exercise or non-surgical treatment reverses these structural changes; a comprehensive neck lift addresses all components together to restore the clean, elegant profile that our patients want to see when they turn to the side.
The surgical technique Dr. Schwartz utilizes, often referred to as a platysmaplasty, focuses on the underlying muscles as much as the skin itself to create a firm, lasting foundation. He begins by addressing excess fat through liposuction when necessary, then precisely tightens the platysma muscle to create a smooth, taut support system. By placing incisions discreetly behind the ears and under the chin, Dr. Schwartz is able to excise redundant skin and redrape the remaining tissue for a smoother contour while ensuring that scarring remains well-hidden within the natural folds of the skin. This comprehensive approach allows him to refine the lower third of the face and restore the crisp cervicomental angle that defines a youthful appearance.
At Edition, we believe that a successful outcome depends on a partnership between the surgeon and the patient, which is why Dr. Schwartz provides direct, honest guidance from the initial consultation through your recovery. Our team focuses on your safety and comfort at every stage, ensuring you understand exactly what to expect during the initial 7-to-10-day healing phase. Our goal is to provide a significant, lasting improvement to your profile that allows you to feel more confident in your appearance, achieving a refreshed look that avoids the artificial appearance of being over-tightened.
A successful neck lift begins with the platysma—the thin muscle sheet covering the front of the neck. Dr. Schwartz performs a platysmaplasty to suture these muscle edges together, restoring a smooth, firm floor that serves as the foundation for your new profile. At Edition, we believe this structural repair is essential; without it, skin will eventually redescend over reformed muscle banding.
To sharpen the cervicomental angle—the critical junction between the chin and neck—Dr. Schwartz often utilizes submental liposuction. By removing excess fat through the same small incision used for muscle repair, he creates a more sculpted, athletic jawline. While our younger patients may benefit from liposuction alone, Dr. Schwartz typically recommends this in combination with a full platysmaplasty for the best result.
Incisions are strategically placed within the natural creases around the ear and beneath the chin, following the same refined patterns used in a facelift. At Edition Plastic Surgery, Dr. Schwartz prioritizes tension-free closure, which is the key to creating scars that heal to be virtually imperceptible. This allows our patients to wear their hair up or short with complete confidence.
For your safety and absolute comfort, Dr. Schwartz generally recommends general anesthesia for a neck lift. However, in specific cases where the scope of surgery is more limited, our team can perform the procedure using local anesthesia combined with sedation. We will discuss the safest and most appropriate option for your health profile during your private consultation at Edition.
Most of our patients are comfortable returning to office-based work and social activities within 7 to 10 days as bruising and swelling begin to subside. While the improvement in your contour is visible almost immediately, Dr. Schwartz advises waiting at least three weeks before resuming strenuous exercise or heavy lifting to ensure the internal repairs have properly stabilized.
A neck lift specifically targets the area beneath the jawline, while a facelift addresses the midface, nasolabial folds, and jowls. Many patients at Edition Plastic Surgery choose to combine these procedures for a comprehensive rejuvenation. During your consultation, Dr. Schwartz will evaluate the balance between your face and neck to determine if a standalone neck lift will achieve your aesthetic goals.
The best candidates are individuals at a stable weight who are frustrated by 'turkey neck' banding, a 'double chin,' or loose skin caused by aging or weight loss. If you feel your neck no longer matches the more youthful appearance of your face, our approach is designed to restore that harmony and create a clean, defined profile.
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All photographs are of actual Edition Plastic Surgery patients. Individual results may vary.
A neck lift has a focused, manageable recovery — most patients are surprised by how quickly they feel comfortable and how immediately the improvement in neck contour is visible.
Dr. Schwartz will evaluate the neck anatomy — assessing the degree of platysmal banding, the amount and distribution of submental fat, skin laxity and quality, and the lower facial contribution to the neck appearance. He will advise whether a neck lift alone or in combination with a facelift will produce the most harmonious result for your anatomy.
A neck lift is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, typically taking two to three hours as a standalone procedure. When combined with a facelift it is performed as a single session. You are discharged the same day with a compression chin strap garment, wound care instructions, and a follow-up appointment within the first week.
Swelling and bruising in the neck and chin area are expected. The compression chin strap is worn continuously for the first one to two weeks to support healing and minimize swelling. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery is — tightness in the neck is the dominant sensation rather than pain, and it resolves progressively over the following weeks.
Most patients are comfortable appearing in public within two weeks, with makeup covering any residual bruising. Desk work resumes at ten to fourteen days. Strenuous exercise is restricted for four to six weeks. The improvement in neck contour is visible immediately beneath early swelling — and most patients describe seeing the profile they remember from years past beginning to re-emerge.
Final results emerge as swelling fully resolves over three to six months. The platysmal repair is permanent; the skin result is long-lasting when maintained with a stable weight. Most patients describe the neck lift as one of the most impactful improvements they have made — the profile view is often more motivating than even the frontal improvement.
A neck lift that produces a clean, defined cervicomental angle and smooth neck contour requires thorough platysmal repair, careful fat management, and precise skin redrapage in correct proportions. Dr. Schwartz's approach to neck rejuvenation — whether as a standalone procedure or as part of a comprehensive facelift — is guided by the same meticulous surgical philosophy and commitment to natural results that defines every Edition procedure.
Full Credentials →A neck lift is most appropriate for patients whose primary aging concern involves the neck — whether a double chin, platysmal banding, skin laxity, or all three — and who want a result that restores definition rather than simply tightening.
Dr. Schwartz will evaluate the balance between your face and neck and advise candidly whether a neck lift alone, or in combination with a facelift, will produce the most harmonious and lasting result for your anatomy.
Answers to the questions Dr. Schwartz hears most often from neck lift patients.
A neck lift specifically addresses the neck and submental region—the platysma muscle, submental fat, and loose neck skin often referred to as a 'turkey neck.' A facelift addresses the lower face and jawline in addition to the neck. Ideal candidates are those with good facial tone but significant laxity, surface lines, or a double chin that obscures their profile. During your consultation at Edition Plastic Surgery, Dr. Schwartz evaluates your anatomy to determine if a neck lift alone will achieve your goals or if a combined approach is best.
Yes. Our approach addresses submental fat through liposuction and corrects muscle banding through a platysmaplasty. During this process, Dr. Schwartz sutures the separated edges of the platysma muscle together in the midline, eliminating bands and restoring a smooth, sharp contour. This provides a complete, lasting result that cannot be achieved through non-surgical treatments or neurotoxins, which only temporarily soften the bands rather than correcting the underlying muscle separation.
Dr. Schwartz places incisions very carefully behind the ears and, when necessary, a small incision under the chin to ensure they are well-concealed within the natural folds of your skin. Our goal at Edition Plastic Surgery is to achieve a tauter, more elegant neckline while keeping the evidence of surgery as discreet as possible. Over time, these fine lines typically fade and become very difficult to detect.
For a comprehensive neck lift, Dr. Schwartz generally recommends general anesthesia to ensure our patients' complete comfort and safety. Most patients describe the recovery as much more manageable than they anticipated; 'tightness' is the dominant sensation rather than acute pain, and it resolves progressively. We will discuss the best anesthetic approach for your specific case during your surgical consultation.
A compression chin strap is worn for the first one to two weeks to support the new contours. Most patients are ready to return to office-based work within 10 to 14 days and are comfortable being presentable in public by the two-week mark. While bruising and swelling fade quickly, Dr. Schwartz restricts strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for four to six weeks to protect the platysmal repair and ensure optimal healing.
A neck lift produces significant, long-lasting results—typically eight to twelve years. While the platysmal repair is permanent, your skin will continue to age naturally, though from a significantly younger baseline. Maintaining a stable weight will help preserve the integrity of the result, and most of our patients do not require a revision for a decade or more.
The investment for a neck lift is highly individual, as it depends on the extent of skin laxity and whether we are incorporating liposuction or combining the procedure with a facelift. At Edition Plastic Surgery, we believe in being direct and transparent. Following your consultation, Dr. Schwartz provides a personalized, all-inclusive fee quote tailored to your specific surgical plan so you know exactly what to expect.
Dr. Schwartz performs your neck lift as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia at Edition Plastic Surgery, where our approach centers on a recovery of rest and protected stabilization. To support your results, you will wear a compression chin strap for one to two weeks; during this time, Dr. Schwartz advises avoiding clothing that might rub against your incisions. While most of our patients return to public life within ten to fourteen days, Dr. Schwartz requires that strenuous exercise be restricted for four to six weeks to ensure your refined new profile settles perfectly into place. Throughout this journey, our dedicated patient concierge team provides the comprehensive aftercare and coordinated follow-up necessary to ensure your result develops as beautifully as it was designed.