The neck is where age most reliably reveals itself. A face can look remarkably youthful while the neck tells a completely different story — loose skin along the jawline, vertical bands running down the front of the neck, lost definition between chin and neck, or a softened jawline that makes even a well-rejuvenated face appear incomplete. For many patients, the neck is what pushes them from “I still look good” to “I’m starting to look older than I feel.” The good news is that neck rejuvenation has become one of the most refined areas of modern plastic surgery, with techniques that range from minimally invasive skin tightening to comprehensive repositioning of the underlying platysma muscle.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs cervicoplasty, platysmaplasty, and combined facelift-necklift surgery at his Athens, Greece practice, drawing on more than two decades of private practice experience devoted to facial rejuvenation. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Anastasatos has been invited to deliver lectures on advanced facelift and neck lift techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026). Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor, he has been featured in Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, LA Confidential, Vogue Greece, and Elle Greece, as well as on the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck. His dual practice in Beverly Hills and Athens welcomes patients from across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States for neck rejuvenation performed with the combination of technical skill and aesthetic judgment that defines his broader facial practice.

Understanding How the Neck Ages

The neck ages through a combination of skin changes, muscle changes, and volume shifts. The skin loses collagen and elasticity, which produces the loose, crepey quality that often appears first along the sides of the neck. The platysma muscle — a broad, thin muscle that covers the front of the neck — begins to separate along its midline, producing the vertical “platysmal bands” visible when patients tighten or animate their neck. Subcutaneous fat can accumulate beneath the chin, blurring the jawline and producing the appearance of a double chin even in patients who are not overweight. Meanwhile, the jawline itself softens as the deep tissue that defines it descends with age.

Because these changes occur simultaneously, effective neck rejuvenation often requires more than one technique. Excess skin must be removed; separated platysma muscle must be rejoined; accumulated fat must be addressed; and the jawline must be redefined. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates each of these components individually during consultation to build a plan matched to the patient’s specific aging pattern rather than applying a single technique to every neck.

“A beautiful neck result depends on seeing all the layers — the skin, the platysma muscle, the fat, the jawline — and addressing each one that needs correction. Patients who get poor neck lift results often had surgery that only addressed one layer. When I plan a neck lift, I’m planning a coordinated correction of every layer that’s contributing to the aged appearance. The result is a neck that matches the face, not one that fights it.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

Why Patients Choose Neck Lift Surgery

Patients pursue neck rejuvenation for concerns that typically develop progressively over a decade or more. Common motivations include:

• Loose Skin Along the Jawline: The loss of a defined transition from face to neck, producing what patients often call “turkey neck” or “waddle.”
• Vertical Platysmal Bands: The two vertical cords running down the front of the neck that become visible as the platysma muscle separates with age.
• Double Chin or Submental Fullness: Accumulation of fat beneath the chin that blurs the jawline, often independent of overall body weight.
• Loss of Jawline Definition: Softening of the angle between face and neck that makes the face appear heavier and less youthful.
• Horizontal Neck Lines: Deep horizontal creases encircling the neck (“necklace lines”) that persist even at rest.
• Neck-Face Mismatch After Facelift: Patients whose facelift did not address the neck, leaving a rejuvenated face that now highlights the aged neck by contrast.
• Medical Weight Loss Aftermath: Significant weight loss that has left loose skin and platysmal laxity the patient wants corrected.

Types of Neck Lift Surgery

Dr. Anastasatos performs several neck rejuvenation techniques, selected based on which layers of the neck need correction.

Cervicoplasty

Cervicoplasty is the classic neck lift for patients whose primary concern is excess skin and fat without significant platysmal muscle separation. Through incisions hidden behind the ears and sometimes beneath the chin, excess skin is removed, submental fat is addressed if present, and the skin is redraped for a smoother, tighter appearance. Cervicoplasty is often appropriate for patients in their forties and early fifties whose aging is primarily at the skin level.

Platysmaplasty

Platysmaplasty specifically addresses the platysma muscle — the thin muscular sheet that, when it separates along its midline, produces the vertical neck bands that many patients find particularly aging. Through a small incision beneath the chin, the separated edges of the platysma are rejoined in the midline, and the muscle is tightened laterally to redefine the jawline angle. Platysmaplasty is typically performed alongside cervicoplasty or as part of a combined facelift-necklift for patients whose aging includes muscular changes.

Neck Lift With Liposuction

For patients whose neck aging includes accumulated fat beneath the chin or along the jawline, neck lift can include targeted liposuction of the submental area. Even in patients who are not overweight, this fat can blur the jawline and create the appearance of a double chin that resists diet and exercise. Removing it sharpens the face-to-neck transition dramatically.

Combined Facelift and Neck Lift

For patients whose aging extends from the lower face into the neck — which is typical in patients in their fifties and beyond — combining facelift with neck lift produces the most harmonious result. Addressing the face without the neck, or the neck without the face, often creates a visual mismatch between the two regions. Coordinated rejuvenation of both produces a natural overall refreshment.

Deep Plane Facelift With Neck Component

For more advanced aging, a deep plane facelift that includes the neck produces the most durable and natural results by repositioning the composite soft tissue of the lower face and neck as a unified unit.

What to Expect From Neck Lift Surgery

Neck lift surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia or deep sedation. Surgery takes approximately two to four hours depending on the technique and whether the procedure is combined with facelift. Most patients return home the same day or stay overnight for observation.

Bruising and swelling are most pronounced during the first week and resolve progressively over three to four weeks. A supportive chin strap or dressing is worn during the first several days and then periodically during the first two weeks. Most patients feel socially presentable at approximately two to three weeks and fully recovered by six to eight weeks. Final refinement continues as tissues settle over three to six months, and scars mature and fade significantly over twelve to eighteen months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Lift Surgery

Do I need a facelift along with my neck lift?

Often yes, but not always. If aging is limited to the neck and jawline while the face remains relatively youthful, a neck lift alone may be sufficient. If the face also shows descent and volume loss, addressing the neck without the face can create a mismatch. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates both regions during consultation and recommends the approach that produces the most harmonious result.

How long do neck lift results last?

Neck lift results typically last ten years or more. Natural aging continues, but the specific changes that were corrected do not return to their original state, and the neck remains meaningfully more refined than it would have been without surgery even many years later.

Will my scars be visible?

Incisions for neck lift are placed behind the ears, in the natural crease beneath the chin, and sometimes into the hairline. When healed, they are generally difficult to detect even at close range. Dr. Anastasatos uses refined closure techniques and scars typically fade to barely visible lines over twelve to eighteen months.

What is the difference between cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty?

Cervicoplasty addresses the skin and fat of the neck. Platysmaplasty addresses the platysma muscle specifically — rejoining its separated edges in the midline to eliminate vertical neck bands. Most comprehensive neck lifts include both components, because aging typically affects both layers.

Can non-surgical treatments replace neck lift surgery?

For mild, early neck aging, non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening or Kybella injections can produce meaningful improvement. For loose skin, pronounced platysmal bands, or significant jawline laxity, non-surgical treatments cannot produce the degree of correction a surgical neck lift provides. Dr. Anastasatos discusses realistic expectations for each approach during consultation.

How do I know if I need cervicoplasty alone or a combined neck lift?

It depends on which layers of the neck are aging. Patients with primarily loose skin and some fat may do well with cervicoplasty alone. Patients with vertical neck bands, significant jawline loss, or combined skin and muscle laxity typically benefit from a more comprehensive approach. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates skin quality, platysmal anatomy, fat distribution, and bony support during consultation.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Your Neck Lift

• Two Decades of Facial Rejuvenation: Private practice experience since 2005 devoted largely to facial and neck aesthetic surgery.
• Royal Society of Medicine Invited Lecturer: Presented on advanced facelift and neck lift techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026).
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Full Spectrum of Techniques: Cervicoplasty, platysmaplasty, neck liposuction, and combined facelift-necklift all offered — allowing each plan to be matched to the patient’s anatomy.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News Top Doctor.
• Dual-Continent Practice: Offices in Beverly Hills and Athens welcome patients traveling from across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States with coordinated planning and recovery.

Schedule Your Neck Lift Consultation in Athens, Greece

If your neck has begun to age ahead of your face, or if loose skin, platysmal bands, or a softened jawline have become the feature that makes you look older than you feel, neck lift surgery offers comprehensive correction that lasts a decade or more. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to the Athens, Greece office at Palas Kefalari, Kolokotroni 23, Kifisia, for a private consultation covering your neck anatomy, the combination of techniques best suited to your aging pattern, and realistic outcomes. Contact the practice to arrange your appointment with Dr. Anastasatos.