Baltimore, Maryland Neck Lift Surgery
Dr. Adam Summers
Dr. Summers and his Baltimore, MD cosmetic surgery staff are known throughout Maryland for helping patients with wrinkles and sagging skin achieve a rejuvenated appearance. For people with these problems or unwanted fat in the neck area, he offers a neck lift procedure. In fact, Dr. Summers performs several different types of neck lift procedures for his Annapolis and Baltimore patients. In some cases, liposuction alone is very effective. In other cases, a midline necklift can be done under local anesthesia. And, patients from across the region have sought out Dr. Summers for his minimally invasive suture suspension neck lift -- this is a good option for those seeking a well defined jaw line. A description of the neck lift procedure and frequently asked questions can be found below.
| Necklift Introduction: |
Sometimes, eating right and exercising does not prevent fat from accumulating in problem areas. This is often the case with the neck as we grow older. In other individuals, the neck skin begins to wrinkle or sag or develop bands of skin. Even with a young looking face, problems with the neck can age a person considerably.
A necklift procedure can be performed at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center with tightening of the skin, removal of excess fat, and the placement of internal sutures or suspension sutures, as necessary. If the skin is of adequate quality, neck liposuction alone is an excellent way to improve the appearance of the neck. During the procedure, Dr. Summers will make incisions in areas that will hide the scars, such as the crease under the chin or behind the ears. Next, Dr. Summers will sculpt the neck area to your specifications.
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| Necklift Goals: |
- If you have bulges of fat in the neckline area, neck liposuction can eliminate them.
- If you have loose and sagging skin, tightening or suspension of the skin can create a smooth profile.
- If you have neck "bands", tightening of the neck muscles will create a clean neckline.
Note: If Dr. Summers believes you have reduced elasticity of the skin, a facelift may be recommended at the same time as the neck liposuction to prevent the excess skin from sagging around the areas where the fatty tissue was removed.
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| The Procedure: |
For most neck lift procedures, you will remain awake - however, you may choose to have sedation if desired. A local anesthetic will be used on the areas to be treated so that you will experience no pain, but you may experience some sensations of pressure or vibration. In some cases, a sedative or general anesthetic is given, which would make you sleep through the surgery. The neck lift procedure is completed in about an hour.
Tightening of the neck muscles requires hidden incisions under the chin. Permanent sutures are placed to create a "corset" - this procedure is also known as a platysmaplasty.
Traditionally, necklift procedures (such as above) have required the removal of skin from behind the ear, leaving a scar that runs up into the hairline. Other disadvantages to a "traditional" necklift procedure include:
- the scar may be visible in patients with short hair
- a man's beard may be moved behind the earlobe
- a "pulled" look can occur on the side of the neck
- stretching of the scar can cause distortion and discoloration of the skin behind the ear
Several years ago, Dr. Summers modified the traditional necklift procedure. He found that he was able to significantly reduce the length of the incisions in most patients, eliminating the visible scar in the hairline. Next, Dr. Summers improved the stability of the platysmaplasty (the muscle tightening portion of the traditional necklift) by incorporating an interwoven and interlocking suspension suture technique. He has made further modifications to this, and in most patients is now able to lift the neck without displacing the beard and without the issues related to scars behind the ears. In fact, Dr. Summers has been able to obtain a secure, long-lasting necklift in most patients with only a small incision hidden in the crease behind the ear.
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| Necklift Recovery: |
Necklift procedures are performed on an outpatient basis at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, and you will be able to go home within a few hours after the surgery. If you had your procedure done under sedation, please arrange to have someone drive you home. You may return to work and sedentary activities at your convenience.
You may experience soreness, stiffness, burning, swelling, numbness or bleeding for a few days after the procedure. This is part of the healing process, and Dr. Summers will prescribe medication to alleviate your discomfort.
Stitches will be removed within one week. You will be given a compression band to wear 24-hours daily for the first week after surgery. This is necessary to maintain the new shape of your neck during the healing process and to prevent fluid collections. This band will also reduce swelling.
The results of a necklift are permanent, and the fat deposits will not recur. However, sagging skin through the natural process of aging can still occur.
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In addition to helping neck lift patients, Dr. Summers offers other facial procedures at his cosmetic surgery practice. Please visit these pages to learn about how Dr. Summers helps Baltimore facelift, rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, eyelid lift and forehead lift, patients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Lift:
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