As you grow older, your neck also starts to age. The neck muscles become weaker and your skin loses some of its elasticity. As a result, you may end up with wrinkled and excess skin on your neck. Although neck ageing is a natural process, some people may choose to get a cosmetic treatment to reduce ageing signs in this area.

Treatments such as neck lift, or platysmaplasty, surgery require a skilled plastic surgeon with a lot of training in aesthetic surgery.

Plastic Surgeon Dr Hunt has extensive experience in facial and neck surgery. He offers patients in Sydney and Wollongong several surgical and non-surgical options.

Plastic Surgeon Dr Maryam Seyedabadi consults at the Woollahra clinic in East Sydney and is available now for consultations on a range of plastic surgery & cosmetic surgery.

What Causes Loose Neck Skin?

Excess skin around the neck is the result of a natural ageing process. With time, the skin on your neck starts losing the proteins responsible for making your skin strong and flexible, called collagen and elastin. The skin then begins to lose its ability to tighten and stay firm.

This is usually accompanied by other age-related changes, such as:

Loose skin on the front of the neck
Platysmal bands on the neck
Excess skin around the lower jaw (jowling)
A less defined angle between the face and neck
Descent of cheeks

Patients typically start noticing these natural changes in their late 30s or early 40s. But they can also occur at a younger or older age depending on your genetics, sun exposure, and smoking habits.

Several options can help you if you are concerned about these aesthetic changes. Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam provide their patients with customised recommendations and approaches depending on their age and the degree of skin laxity.

What Are the Ways to Reduce Excess Neck Skin?

When it comes to cosmetic neck treatments, there are a wide range of options. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your neck, physically healthy, and aware of the risks, you might consider one of the following options.

1. Full Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Surgery – Deep Plane or Traditional Rhytidectomy

The full facelift (rhytidectomy) can be suitable for people with moderate to severe signs of facial and neck ageing. A full or traditional rhytidectomy, can be performed as a SMAS lift or a deep plane facelift (rhytidectomy).

This option can present some great benefits for many people. But it’s not for everyone. Before you choose to get rhytidectomy or facelift surgery, you’ll need to talk about your medical history with an experienced surgeon. You’ll also need to weigh the pros and cons. For example, the procedure can create a dramatic change in your facial appearance, but it also involves an extensive recovery.

A facelift usually includes a neck lift to also reduce the loose skin on the neck and along the jawline. Dr Maryam and Dr Hunt have extensive experience in performing both of these surgeries.

2. Mini Facelift or Rhytidectomy Surgery

A mini face rhytidectomy (also called S-lift, mini-lift, or short scar facelift) is a facial surgery that deals with less severe signs of facial ageing, focusing more on jowls than neck skin.

The mini-lift rhytidectomy is often the preferred procedure for people with wrinkles and loose skin concentrated in the lower part of the face. It can address both the upper neck and jowls. If you have mild to moderate signs of facial ageing, a mini rhytidectomy might be for you.

The benefits are different for everyone. But in general, compared to the traditional procedure, the benefits of the S-lift (rhytidectomy) include:

Being less invasive
Leaves a smaller scar
Has a quicker healing time after surgery

In contrast, you should consider the following:

The cosmetic results are not as dramatic
It does not address the ageing signs in the upper face
It does not address wrinkles in the lower neck
Not suitable for severe excess neck skin

3. Neck Lift Platysmaplasty Surgery

Neck lift, platysmaplasty, or lower rhytidectomy are all names of a procedure done to remove excess tissue from the neck. A neck lift (platysmaplasty) can treat cosmetic concerns about the neck and chin area.

During a platysmaplasty, all the muscles and soft tissue are pulled up to a higher position and tightened. The excess skin is then removed and the incision is closed.

Although the procedure can be great for people who want to reduce their excess neck skin, a disadvantage is that it does not address the facial skin and can involve a long recovery time.

The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

4. Mini-Neck Lift (Platysmaplasty)

A mini neck lift (platysmaplasty) is another neck procedure. Also known as submental platysmaplasty or single incision neck lift, a mini-neck lift removes excess neck skin right under the chin.

The single incision platysmaplasty surgery can work for people who are mainly unsatisfied with the way their necks look. It is performed to remove a small double chin.

This procedure offers a smaller scar than traditional platysmaplasty, but it does not treat more severe cases of excess neck skin.

5. Thread Lifts

A thread lift is a non-surgical procedure that lifts and tightens the face using temporary sutures under the skin. It’s suitable for people with less prominent signs of ageing.

A thread lift procedure uses threads to pull up and straighten the stretched skin in your face. These threads, inserted under the skin, dissolve after a few months. During this time, the collagen production in your face is stimulated.

Advantages:

Less downtime than surgery
Local anaesthesia can be used instead of general anaesthesia
No surgery and no scars
Costs less than a facelift

Disadvantages:

Does not fix severe signs of skin laxity
Does not drastically change your appearance
Less permanent results than a facelift (rhytidectomy)

6. Facial Injectables

Injectables, or dermal fillers, are volumising substances injected into the skin. These dermal fillers are used to volumise specific facial areas depending on the desired results. They are often used to treat the early signs of ageing in the face and neck.

Injectable dermal fillers include hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), Poly-L-lactic Acid, Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and autologous fat injections. These gel-like substances can:

Treat the fine lines around the neck and face
Add volume to areas such as the cheeks
Treat facial asymmetry

However, they:

Offer temporary results
Can’t remove excess skin
Can’t treat severe ageing signs

The administration of dermal fillers by a non-health professional or by self-injection can have dangerous complications. Find an experienced cosmetic surgeon to perform your injections.

7. Facial and Neck Tightening Devices

Skin tightening devices are non-surgical alternatives for the face and neck surgery. They target and treat cosmetic concerns through the thermal energy waves. These waves can heat up the fluids in the deeper layers of your skin. This stimulates the production of collagen.

Skin tightening devices can involve:

Radiofrequency waves (RF therapy)
Ultrasound waves (Ultherapy)
Near-infrared (NIR)

If you’re not ready yet for surgery, these treatments can help reduce mild signs of ageing. However, some patients have been disappointed with the temporary and poor results of these treatments.

What is a Good Way to Treat Excess Neck Skin?

One size does not fit all when it comes to the most effective treatment for excess neck skin. Different people show different degrees of ageing. The choice between surgical and non-surgical anti-ageing procedures is a personal choice and it comes down to your goals and desired results.

The surgical options

If you have moderate to severe signs of ageing, your option would probably be one of the surgical treatments. A face lift (rhytidectomy) and a neck lift (platysmaplasty) can treat severe skin laxity around the face and neck. The procedures can target multiple areas and aesthetic concerns at once. However, they will require extensive healing time and may result in scars.

The non-surgical options

If you have localised minimal signs of skin ageing, then other nonsurgical treatments might help you. Treatments such as threads, injectables, and other facial devices can address mild skin laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines. However, they’re milder treatments that don’t give dramatic results.

There isn’t one right way to correct skin laxity that can apply to all people. Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam will recommend an approach for you depending on your anatomy, the extent of loose skin, age, health, and desired outcomes.

FAQS on Neck Laxity

What age does neck skin laxity start?

Most people notice their necks begin to wrinkle in their early 40s. But you can get excess neck skin earlier depending on your skin’s elasticity, sun exposure, and smoking habits.

Will losing weight help with the appearance of the neck?

Losing weight can help reduce unwanted fat around the neck, but it won’t get rid of loose or excess skin.

Is neck lift surgery (platysmaplasty) permanent?

A neck lift (platysmaplasty) surgery can’t stop the ageing process. But, if performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, a platysmaplasty can offer long-lasting results. This also depends on the patient’s health and lifestyle.

Medical References about Neck Treatment

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is suitable for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and requires a personalised approach to reach their goals.

Dr Hunt has provided his one-on-one service and attention to detail to thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A. Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from well-established and experienced plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

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Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.

Surgical and Non-Surgical Solutions for Excess Neck Skin