Neck Contouring

Loose, sagging skin on the neck, jowls and chin can be the result of aging and weight fluctuations. This skin laxity can often cause individuals to look and feel older than their age. Neck Contouring procedures can help to reduce the appearance of sagging skin, tighten the neck and jawline and help you to feel confident again. Dr. Barr provides many options for those that have heaviness, excess skin and skin laxity in the neck. These procedures are designed  to eliminate stubborn fat while simultaneously re-contouring and firming the face and neck. These technologies include lasers, ultrasonic energy and helium plasma to precisely remove fat and create  dermal heating to effectively contour and tighten the skin.

Educate Yourself on Your Procedure

If you are considering a neck lift or J-Plazty procedure, please continue reading for further information on these procedures. If you have any questions about these, or any of our other procedures, please contact us.

What are the Benefits of the Neck lift or J-Plasty Procedures?

Some benefits of a neck lift or J-Plazty procedure include:

  • Improving the contours of your face and neck
  • Reducing or eliminating the appearance of sagging skin on the neck and jowls
  • Removing unwanted heaviness of the neck (removal of a double chin)
  • Minimal postoperative discomfort and bruising
  • Limited incisions
  • Improved confidence

Preparing for Your Facial or Neck Contouring Procedure

What is the first step in pursuing the facial or neck contouring procedure?

The first step when considering a  neck contouring procedure is to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Barr. The consultation process provides an opportunity for you to obtain important information about the procedure and to have all your questions answered prior to proceeding with surgery. It also enables Dr. Barr to properly assess you and determine whether you are a suitable candidate for a neck lift or the J-Plazty procedure.

You should be prepared to discuss your medical history, including any medical conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries, all current medications, as well as any significant weight gain or loss.

During your consultation Dr. Barr will carefully examine your face and neck area, and will assess your general health. Different surgical approaches and options will be discussed, and he will explain which surgical approach would be best suited to you based on your personalized examination and your aesthetic goals.

The benefits, risks and potential complications associated with each option will be thoroughly explained during this consultation. The information provided will be comprehensive and thorough and will enable you to make an informed decision about which procedure is right for you. At the time of your consultation, a comprehensive instruction package will be provided to you that will ensure you are well informed. 

Am I a candidate for a face and neck contouring procedure?

The ideal candidates for a neck lift or J-Plazty procedure are healthy men and women who have realistic expectations of surgical outcomes. You may be a good candidate for these procedures if you have one or more of the following conditions:

  • Loose or sagging skin in the jowl region and neck
  • Excess fat in the chin and neck region
  • Visible vertically oriented muscle bands in the neck
Can I combine another surgery with my neck contouring procedure?
Some patients are only bothered by the aging changes in the neck and will chose to do a neck lift or a J-Plazty procedure.  In contrast, some patients have other facial aging changes they want addressed during the same consultation.  When communicating with our office to book your consultation, just let us know what you would like to discuss during the consultation.   It may be possible to schedule an additional procedure at the same time as your neck rejuvenation surgery. 

The Procedure

What will I need to do prior to surgery?

Prior to your neck lift or J-Plazty procedure you will be scheduled for a pre-op session with a Registered Nurse to review your medical history and your post-op instructions. She will review the information you will need to know in order to prepare yourself for surgery and the normal post-operative course.

How are the neck lift and J-Plazty procedures performed?

The Neck lift incisions are well hidden in the natural creases behind your ear, along the hairline in your lateral neck and under the chin. The excess fat is carefully removed, the underlying muscles are tightened and repositioned to restore the youthful neckline.  The redundant skin is redraped using a tension free technique. The skin excess is removed and the skin is closed using meticulous surgical technique. This results in a natural looking neck rejuvenation while avoiding the pulled, unnatural look that is obvious to all. This procedure can take approximately 2 hours. To maximize patient comfort, this procedure is performed under general anaesthesia.

The J-Plazty neck lift  is used to remove excessive fat, muscle laxity and  sagging skin in the neck area.  It is usually used when the changes are less significant than those treated with a neck lift or when patients want to minimize the incisions used for the procedure.  It requires five small incisions that are strategically hidden inside the temporal hairline, below the ear and under the chin.

Through these incisions, ultrasonic energy is used to emulsify and remove all unwanted fat.  A proprietary technique is used to tighten and reposition the neck muscles and the skin is treated with helium plasma to induce collagen formation and skin tightening.  This procedure takes less than 1.5 hours and is done using sedation and local anaesthesia.  If patients request, we can arrange for a brief light general anaesthetic.

Recovery

Will I need to stay overnight following my facial contouring procedure?

Neck lifts and the J-Plazty are both outpatient procedures. Following your surgery you will need a friend or family member to pick you up and be available at your home for the next 24-48 hours. This person should be familiar with your prescriptions and post-surgery instructions.  This information will be discussed with you and your friend/family member prior to leaving Barr Plastic Surgery on the day of your procedure.

Will I have scarring?
Dr. Barr takes every precaution to ensure your scarring is as minimal as possible and hides the incisions so that they are almost undetectable. By using the deep plane to reposition and reshape the jawline and neck, Dr. Barr is able to provide a tension free skin closure.  This optimizes the healing of the incisions. Time improves all incisions. During the post-operative visits Dr. Barr and his staff will discuss methods to further optimize your incisions.  These include massage, sun avoidance and silicone gel.  In addition, light based treatments and injections can further diminish the appearance of incisions.    

More information on Neck Contouring

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