Cheek and neck lifts can deliver the results of a total facelift — without the “wind tunnel” look. Dr. Richard Rand discusses the procedure, video plays below. Read the full story

Considered one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, neck liposuction or neck lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that eliminates fat from under the chin. Neck liposuction tightens up the skin in the neck and face areas to sharpen the angle between the jaw line and the neck, thus reducing the “double chin” effect on some individuals.

Many women between the ages of 30 and 50 undergo neck liposuction as an alternative to having a facelift. Neck liposuction can be a standalone procedure or carried out alongside other cosmetic procedures.  Many surgeons combine neck liposuction with a lower eye surgery for what is known as a “mini lift.”

How Is Neck Liposuction Done?

Neck liposuction, like most cosmetic procedures, is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is put under general or local anesthesia, and a sedative may be administered to help the patient relax if local anesthesia is used.

Specific areas of the neck and face where fat will be extracted is determined by the patient and surgeon prior to surgery.  During the surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision either behind the patient’s earlobes or in the fold under the chin to make way for the insertion of the canulla, a narrow tube used to extract the fat from the desired area.

Post-surgical effects of Liposuction
After the procedure, patients will experience swelling and bruising for up to three weeks. Patients can also experience a sore neck, crusting and bleeding of the area, and sensations of numbness and burning.  Following the surgery, patients must wear a compression band for many weeks to ensure that the neck is held in place.

Expected Results
By removing excess fatty tissue in the neck area, neck liposuction gives the face and neck a more aesthetically pleasing shape for those who have it. Initial results of neck liposuction that are directly observable can be expected in less than a month. However, it may take 6 months to a full year before full effects of neck liposuction become evident.