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 ranging from minimally invasive skin tightening to comprehensive repositioning of the underlying platysma muscle. The right approach depends entirely on which layers of the neck are aging — skin, muscle, fat, jawline support — and addressing each one that contributes to the aged appearance is the difference between a satisfying neck lift result and a disappointing one. For patients evaluating neck rejuvenation alongside other face and facial procedures, this parent page outlines the full range of neck lift techniques available at the practice.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs cervicoplasty, platysmaplasty, neck liposuction, and combined facelift-necklift surgery at his Beverly Hills practice with academic credentials directly relevant to the procedure. Dr. Anastasatos co-published a study with Dr. Luis Vasconez at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on facelift and neck lift performed under local anesthesia — peer-reviewed academic work specifically on the safety, technique, and outcomes of these procedures. Dr. Vasconez, who trained Dr. Anastasatos directly, is one of history’s foremost plastic surgeons. Dr. Anastasatos has been an invited lecturer at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on advanced facelift and neck lift techniques, with an invited 2026 return as featured speaker, and was profiled by the Beverly Hills Courier in a feature titled “Anastasatos turns Body Restoration into art form.” With over two decades of facial rejuvenation expertise in Beverly Hills since 2007, he is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Understanding How the Neck Ages

The neck ages through a combination of skin changes, muscle changes, and volume shifts that occur simultaneously rather than in isolation. 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 typically 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: 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 previous facelift did not address the neck, leaving a rejuvenated face that now highlights the aged neck by contrast.
• Post-Weight-Loss Skin Laxity: 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 require correction. The right technique — or combination of techniques — depends on each patient’s specific anatomy.

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 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.

For patients whose neck aging includes both accumulated submental fat and platysmal muscle laxity, a combined approach addressing both components produces the most dramatic improvement. Targeted liposuction removes the fat blurring the jawline while platysma tightening rejoins the separated muscle and redefines the cervicomental angle. This combined approach is one of the most commonly performed neck lift variants and is covered in detail on the dedicated Necklift with liposuction and platysma tightening page.

Neck Liposuction Alone

For patients whose neck aging is limited to submental fat without significant skin laxity or muscle separation — typically younger patients with good skin elasticity — targeted liposuction alone can produce dramatic improvement to the cervicomental angle and jawline definition. Even in patients who are not overweight, submental 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 without the more involved recovery of a comprehensive neck lift.

Combined Facelift and Neck Lift

For patients whose aging extends from the lower face into the neck — 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 that neither procedure alone can match.

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. This advanced technique is appropriate for patients with comprehensive aging across the lower face and neck.

Neck Lift Under Local Anesthesia

For appropriately selected patients, neck lift can be performed safely under local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia — an approach Dr. Anastasatos co-published research on with Dr. Vasconez at UAB. The facelift and neck lift under local anesthesia page outlines this option in detail.

What to Expect From Neck Lift Surgery

Neck lift surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia or deep sedation, though local anesthesia is appropriate for selected patients. 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 depending on the extent of the procedure.

Bruising and swelling are most pronounced during the first week and resolve progressively over three to four weeks. A supportive chin strap or compression dressing is worn during the first several days and then periodically during the first two weeks to support healing and tissue redraping. Most patients feel socially presentable at approximately two to three weeks and are fully recovered by six to eight weeks. Final refinement of the result continues as tissues fully settle over three to six months, and any residual scarring matures and fades significantly over twelve to eighteen months.

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.

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 where the rejuvenated neck highlights the still-aging face. 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 through surgery do not return to their original state. Most patients find that even fifteen to twenty years after surgery, their neck remains meaningfully more refined than it would have been without the procedure.

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 as they mature.

What is the difference between cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty?

Cervicoplasty addresses the skin and fat of the neck — removing excess skin and contouring submental fat. Platysmaplasty addresses the platysma muscle specifically — rejoining its separated edges in the midline to eliminate vertical neck bands and tightening the muscle laterally to redefine the jawline. Most comprehensive neck lifts include both components because aging typically affects both layers simultaneously.

Can non-surgical treatments replace neck lift surgery?

For mild, early neck aging, non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening, ultrasound-based skin tightening, or Kybella injections for submental fat can produce meaningful improvement. For loose skin, pronounced platysmal bands, accumulated submental fat, 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 which neck lift technique I need?

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 typically need platysma tightening. Patients with submental fat may benefit from liposuction. Patients with comprehensive aging often need a combined approach addressing all layers. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates skin quality, platysmal anatomy, fat distribution, and bony support during consultation to determine the right combination of techniques.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Neck Lift Surgery

• Vasconez UAB Co-Published Neck Lift Research: Co-author with Dr. Luis Vasconez of peer-reviewed academic work on facelift and neck lift under local anesthesia at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
• Royal Society of Medicine London Advanced Facelift and Neck Lift Lecturer: International peer-recognition with invited 2026 return as featured speaker.
• Beverly Hills Courier “Body Restoration Art Form” Feature: Profile reflecting refined aesthetic surgical reputation across the full facial rejuvenation spectrum.
• Two Decades of Beverly Hills Practice: Sustained experience in facial and neck rejuvenation since 2007.
• Trained Directly by Dr. Luis Vasconez at UAB: Foundational training under one of history’s foremost plastic surgeons and the inventor of the endoscopic brow lift.
• Board-Certified, FACS, ASPS, and ASAPS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and full membership in the specialty’s most respected peer societies.
• Full Spectrum of Neck Lift Techniques: Cervicoplasty, platysmaplasty, neck liposuction, combined facelift-necklift, deep plane with neck component, and local anesthesia approaches all available — allowing each plan to be matched precisely to the patient’s anatomy.
• Layer-by-Layer Surgical Philosophy: Coordinated correction of skin, platysma muscle, submental fat, and jawline support — rather than single-technique surgery that leaves some aging components unaddressed.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Schedule Your Neck Lift Consultation in Beverly Hills

If your neck has begun to age ahead of your face, or if loose skin, platysmal bands, submental fullness, or a softened jawline have become the feature that makes you look older than you feel, neck lift surgery offers comprehensive correction with results that last a decade or more. The right neck lift for you depends on which layers of your neck are aging — a determination Dr. Anastasatos makes during consultation through careful evaluation of skin quality, platysmal anatomy, fat distribution, and jawline support. Dr. Anastasatos welcomes patients to the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, for a private consultation covering your neck anatomy, the appropriate combination of techniques, and realistic outcomes. Contact our office in Beverly Hills to schedule your neck lift consultation with Dr. Anastasatos.