Neck Lift

Most patients experience moderate discomfort following a neck lift procedure, which is manageable with prescribed pain medications and proper post-operative care. Swelling and bruising are common but typically subside within two to three weeks. Dr. Bitar’s gentle surgical technique and the use of local anesthesia combined with sedation help minimize pain during the procedure itself. Patients report that the recovery phase is much more comfortable than they anticipated, especially with attentive follow-up care.

You can expect multiple follow-up appointments after your neck lift to ensure proper healing and monitor your results. Patients are typically seen the day after surgery, then at one week, one month, three months, six months, and one year post-operatively. These visits enable Dr. Bitar to assess the healing process, address any concerns, and provide guidance on scar management and the resumption of activity. 

Initial results from a neck lift are often visible within two to four weeks, as swelling and bruising subside, revealing an improved neck contour and enhanced skin tightness. However, it can take up to 12 months for the final results to fully settle as the tissues soften and scars mature. Patients report feeling more confident soon after surgery and enjoy gradual improvements in their neck’s appearance during the first year.

Yes, a neck lift can be safely combined with other cosmetic procedures to enhance overall facial harmony. Common complementary treatments include facelifts, eyelid surgery (also known as blepharoplasty), and skin resurfacing to address wrinkles and enhance texture. Combining procedures can provide more comprehensive rejuvenation and reduce total recovery time compared to having surgeries separately.

Risks can include bleeding, infection, fluid accumulation (seroma), and unfavorable scarring. Some patients may experience numbness, tightness, or changes in skin sensation around the neck or jawline, which are typically temporary but can persist in rare cases. There is also a small risk of nerve injury, which could affect muscle movement or expression; however, this is exceedingly rare in the hands of experienced practitioners.

Aesthetic risks may include asymmetry, contour irregularities, or dissatisfaction with the final result, especially if healing doesn’t progress as expected. Fortunately, these concerns are minimized through meticulous surgical planning and precision during the procedure. Dr. Bitar prioritizes patient safety by conducting thorough health evaluations, operating in an AAAASF-accredited facility, and maintaining rigorous safety standards throughout your care.

At The Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take pride in ensuring that we provide our patients with the best possible surgical experience, anticipating potential problems or setbacks and addressing them before they occur. This process encompasses preoperative preparation, the actual surgery, and postoperative care.

• General Complications
  General complications can occur with any surgery. Cosmetic surgery is typically a safe procedure performed on healthy patients and, like all surgeries, carries a low risk. To further reduce the risk of complications, we operate at a first-class surgery center with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. To avoid postoperative complications, we advocate for early mobilization – patients seen in our office one or two days after surgery- and active participation in their own postoperative care. When we create a partnership, the results invariably improve.
• Bleeding
  Bleeding after a neck lift is rare. Before surgery, our patients are tested to make sure they don’t have any common bleeding disorders by their own physicians and by lab tests. The use of a tumescent solution before liposuction of the neck during a neck lift minimizes bleeding. In my practice, the rate of significant bleeding is less than 1%. The treatment of a hematoma or blood clot under the skin of the neck involves opening the incision and removing the blood clot. Typically, this is a straightforward procedure.
• Infection
  The most important step in avoiding infections is to undergo surgery at a first-rate surgical facility with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. Patients are given the appropriate intravenous antibiotic coverage throughout the surgery. During the surgery, the patient’s skin surface is cleaned thoroughly. After the procedure, my patients are prescribed antibiotics to minimize infection. As a result of these extra precautions, my rate of infection after a neck lift is extremely rare.
• Open Wounds
  In a neck lift, a relatively large amount of skin is manipulated, and the skin is closed under mild tension. Because the incisions are under tension, there can be either loss of some skin or a small opening of the wound behind the ears. This is treated with dressing changes and wound cleaning in the office as needed. This occurs in approximately 1% of patients. Usually, the wounds heal very well, and nothing further needs to be done with nicely hidden scars. Very rarely, we may need to do a scar revision to improve the appearance of that scar.
• Nerve Injury
  One advantage of a neck lift over a face lift is that there are fewer nerves in the neck that may be affected by surgery. The result is a minimal rate of nerve injury. In rare instances, temporary loss of sensation from a “stunned” nerve or a bruised nerve may occur in the time period after surgery. This may result in a temporarily uneven smile, but full nerve function usually returns within a few days to a few weeks.
• Smoking
  Smoking is an absolute contraindication in a neck lift. The carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke cause a severe reduction in blood supply to the skin and breast tissue during healing. This results in delayed wound healing, wound separation, death, and a higher risk of infection. Cotinine testing is performed in patients with a smoking history to ensure that they are safe when having this procedure.