Neck Lift vs Facelift: Understanding the Difference

Is it a face lift that I require, or just a neck lift?" is one of the questions that the patient asks at the time of consultation, and it's a valid question indeed as the two surgeries target almost the same region of the body, yet there are subtle differences between the two. Some people cannot pinpoint their requirements.

The following will help you understand the differences between the two, and when do you require any of them, or both of them. It should be noted that only through a proper consultation can one find out whether you need any of them or both of them.

Contents

• The Core Difference: What Each Procedure Targets

• What a Neck Lift Involves

• What a Facelift Involves

• Common Signs You Might Need a Neck Lift

• Common Signs You Might Need a Facelift

• Why Many Patients Need Both Together

• Recovery Differences

• Scarring Considerations

• Malaysian Patient Considerations

• Risks and Safety Considerations

• Conclusion & Frequently Asked Questions

The Core Difference: What Each Procedure Targets

Facelift surgery mainly concerns itself with the drooping and aging of the middle and lower parts of the face – the cheeks, jowls, and the lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Necklift surgery is aimed specifically at the neck – loose neck skin, neck skin that develops vertical bands (also known as "turkey neck"), and a weak jawline that results from neck skin sagging and not face sagging.

Although these are adjacent areas of the body that tend to sag in similar ways, the surgical procedures used to treat each one are quite distinct, and that is why it is important to know which area concerns you.

What a Neck Lift Involves

Neck lift, which is referred to as lower rhytidectomy when done along with facelift, involves surgery to fix skin laxity, fat, and muscle bands in the neck area.

Some important things you should know about neck lift:

• It targets the saggy neck skin that gives an undefined jawline.

• It can target the vertical neck muscle bands, which are formed due to changes in the platysma muscle and become visible as one grows older.

• It includes liposuction of fat that is located beneath the chin.

• The incisions are made behind the ears and even under the chin area, usually invisible once they heal.

What a Facelift Involves

Facelift surgery corrects the drooping of the cheeks, jowls, and lower part of the face by lifting the tissues. The techniques used in facelift surgery depend on how deep and far-reaching they are, and this is discussed further in our article comparing deep plane, SMAS, and mini facelifts.

Important factors about facelift surgery:

• Treats drooping cheeks, jowls, and nasolabial folds

• Does not treat drooping neck skin and bands (unless it is done together with neck lift surgery)

• The incisions are made above the hairline and around the ears

• Different techniques are available, depending on the depth of the treatment area

Common Signs You Might Need a Neck Lift

• Excess, loose skin below the chin and on the jawline

• Vertical lines that stretch from the front part of the neck to the chin, which are especially apparent when you clench your neck muscles

• The look of a "double chin" resulting from excess skin and fat deposits, not extra body weight

• A neck that is aging quicker than your entire face

• A jawline that has lost definition owing mainly to neck issues, not your face

Common Signs You Might Need a Facelift

• Cheeks that have begun to sag and no longer retain their youthful volume and positioning

• Nasolabial folds (or “smile lines”) that give a tired or aging look to your face

• Jowl development around the jaw area, separate from the neck’s loose skin

• The sensation that your midface and lower face “sags” more than it once did

• Facial sagging independent of the neck area

Why Many Patients Need Both Together

In reality, it is quite likely that a person will need both types of surgeries because aging affects both the neck and the face simultaneously, and if one area is treated while the other is not, the final results are unlikely to be balanced and aesthetically pleasing. 

Thus, for instance, a person who needs neck lift and facelift at once might be disappointed that he or she still has jowls after a facelift without a neck lift, or vice versa.

Many specialists combine both procedures into a single procedure, thus avoiding the necessity of two separate periods of recovery.

How Surgeons Decide Between Combined or Staged Treatment

In cases when both regions require treatment, there are several factors that influence the decision whether to use the combined approach or have neck and facial surgeries staged:

• General condition and safety regarding the quantity of work that can be done at one time, because the combination means longer surgery time

• Degree of correction needed in both zones, as more complex corrections in both areas could make staged surgeries preferable

• Personal patient preference in recovery period, as some patients would rather have one long recovery than two short ones

• Issues related to anaesthesia, especially for patients with certain health issues for whom longer combined surgeries can be risky

Recovery Differences

The time required to recover from neck lifting surgery will generally be a little bit quicker and less complicated compared to that of a facelift surgery due to the smaller area to which it is applied; however, this is not always the case because of different methods applied.

Facelift recovery, which is thoroughly discussed in our daily facelift recovery guide, normally takes a longer period of time due to the larger area that has been affected. In a situation where the two procedures have been done at once, recovery time is normally equivalent to that of a single facelift surgery.

Scarring Considerations

In both cases, the cuts made are done strategically to blend in once the healing process is complete; for instance, a neck lift makes cuts around the ear region and occasionally in the area under the chin, whereas a facelift makes cuts around the hairline and ears. In most cases, the scars that are left after either procedure heal up to the point where they are almost invisible.

Malaysian Patient Considerations

Swelling Malaysia's hot and humid weather means that there will be increased swelling in the neck area and face post-procedure, irrespective of which treatment is done. Cool climates and proper adherence to aftercare instructions can aid in handling this situation.

Sun protection: Due to the constant presence of the sun in Malaysia, sun protection is a vital part of aftercare instructions after either procedure, helping in better healing of the skin in the recovery phase.

Work and social plans: The increased presence of swelling and bruising in the initial stages of two weeks post-procedure means that many Malaysians try to schedule their operations according to work and festive season holiday times.

Risks and Safety Considerations

These are both surgical operations and there are risks associated with both of them that are not unique to these surgeries, but are common to all other surgical operations as well, including infection, bleeding, and anaesthesia complications; and some additional risks associated with surgery on the facial and neck regions include some temporary or, very rarely, long-term nerve damage due to the surgical process itself.

Cost Factors to Understand

It is obvious that cost will vary, depending on whether you opt for a neck lift or facelift, or a combination of the two and on what technique the surgeon will use, and where the operation will be conducted. Generally speaking, a combined surgery procedure is going to be more expensive than any single surgery procedure; however, in some cases, it will be a more economical option than performing two separate operations.

Conclusion

A neck lift and a facelift operation target very distinct parts of aging despite their relationship being very close and the necessity for them to be performed simultaneously. Determining where your main problem lies – in sagging of your neck or your face, or even both – is the first step towards determining which operation you really need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a neck lift without a facelift?

Certainly, the neck-lift operation can be done as an independent surgery for those clients who need just to improve the look of their neck and not have any sagging of the facial skin needing a face-lift surgery.

Will a facelift alone fix my neck banding? 

Mostly not. The face-lift procedure works on the middle and bottom part of the face, while the vertical bands in the neck should be fixed using a neck-lift operation because it needs to operate the muscles.

Do I need both procedures if I have sagging in both areas? 

Indeed, many people having problems with both parts of the face at once should choose the combination surgery since the improvement of just one area may lead to an imbalance. That is why you should consult a surgeon.

Is recovery longer if I combine both procedures? 

Recovering after a combination of these procedures takes more time than just two recoveries together, which means that it is almost as long as the recovering after the face-lift operation.

How do I know if my concern is really about my neck or my jawline? 

It is quite hard for people to understand this difference themselves, and it is exactly what is supposed to be done during a consultation.

Which procedure addresses a "double chin"? 

It will depend upon the reason. In the event that it's mostly due to excess skin and fat around the neck area, a neck lift procedure (or neck lift and liposuction if necessary) will solve this problem.