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(501) 224-1044
LOWER RHYTIDECTOMY · LITTLE ROCK, AR
Neck Lift
Sagging and wrinkling in the neck can rob you of definition and make you look older than you are. A neck lift is not often a stand alone procedure but rather part of a lower facelift. The combination removes excess skin and tightens the tissue, restoring taut contours in the neck and jawline. It is especially popular with people who are happy with their upper face and only want the neck and jawline addressed.
1–2 hrs
Outpatient procedure, home the same day
1–2 wks
Back to work for most patients
1 year
Full results apparent
What a neck lift corrects
A neck lift or lower facelift tightens both skin and muscle, and pairs with liposuction when fat is part of the problem. It is a highly sought-after solution in Arkansas for a loose neck and for the double chin that will not budge.
SKIN
The turkey wattle
Loose, hanging skin under the chin appears naturally with age. Removing the excess and tightening what remains restores a defined line from chin to neck.
MUSCLE
Vertical neck bands
Bands appear when the platysma muscle loses tone and definition. Lifting and repositioning the muscle is what fixes them; tightening skin alone will not.
FAT
The double chin
Excess fat blurs the jawline regardless of how tight the skin is. Liposuction removes it, and can be done as part of the same procedure.
Types of neck lift
There are several neck lift methods, and they are not really competing options; each one addresses a different tissue. Dr. Yee may use one technique or combine aspects of all three, depending on your goals and how much lift you need.
LIPOSUCTION
The most minimally invasive method. Excess fat cells are removed through a small tube called a cannula. Dr. Yee uses advanced techniques such as LipoSelection, which has less impact on the surrounding tissue.
- Treats: fat
- Approach: most minimally invasive
- Technique: LipoSelection
CERVICOPLASTY
Removes sagging or excess skin through small incisions near the ears or just under the chin. A popular choice after major weight loss, where the surplus skin left behind is the last thing standing between you and the result.
- Treats: skin
- Incision: near the ears or under the chin
- Often after: major weight loss
PLATYSMAPLASTY
A banded appearance in the neck comes from muscle losing tone and definition. Dr. Yee lifts and repositions the platysma muscle, which is what delivers long-lasting rejuvenation rather than a temporary tightening.
- Treats: muscle
- Addresses: vertical bands
- Result: long-lasting
A COMBINED APPROACH
Most necks are not a single problem. Dr. Yee frequently combines aspects of all three techniques, matching the method to what your neck actually needs rather than to a fixed procedure.
- Treats: fat, skin, and muscle
- Approach: tailored
- Based on: your goals and the lift needed
Are you a candidate?
A neck lift is generally a good option for any adult in good overall physical health. Dr. Yee has been performing them since the 1990s, and that experience is mostly what lets her tell you honestly whether this will get you where you want to go.
None of the factors she assesses automatically rules you out. The only way to know for certain is an in-person evaluation. And if a neck lift turns out to be a poor recommendation for you, she will talk you through the other options rather than sell you the surgery anyway.
What Dr. Yee assesses
- Skin elasticity
Whether your skin has enough elasticity to reasonably expect the neck lift to reach your goals. - Medical conditions
Certain conditions raise the typically rare risk of complications, and some skin conditions slow healing. - Behavioral habits
Smoking is the main one. Nicotine inhibits the body’s ability to recover after surgery.
What to expect on procedure day
Neck lift surgery is outpatient and typically takes just one to two hours. Dr. Yee marks your neck and lower face to guide the incisions. A board-certified anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist handle your anesthesia; you may only need a local anesthetic with a mild sedative, though general anesthesia is available if that suits you better.
The incisions go behind your ears, where the scars stay hidden in the hairline, with a second beneath the chin if the extent of treatment calls for it. Dr. Yee lifts the muscular structure beneath the skin of your neck and jaw to bring out the natural contours, trims excess tissue, and sutures the rest into place; performing liposuction at this point if it is part of your plan. She closes with traditional or dissolvable stitches, lifting and smoothing the skin as she goes to avoid a stretched appearance.
- Stop smoking at least six weeks beforehand. It reduces surgical risk and improves the aesthetic result.
- Stock up ahead of time: healthy, easy-to-prepare food, compression bandages, medications, and button-down clothing.
- Arrange a driver, and if possible someone who can stay with you for a few days to help around the house.
- Book at least a week off work so you can actually recover rather than push through it.
Recovery and results
Once your neck lift is complete you rest in the office for a period before a friend or loved one takes you home. Dr. Yee provides written instructions covering medication dosages and everything else you need to know.
- DAY OF SURGERY
Rest in the office, then home with a friend or loved one driving. - FIRST FEW DAYS
Minimal activity, and take care not to strain the incisions as they heal. Some swelling, bruising, and inflammation is normal, and how much depends on the type and extent of your neck lift. Medications and compression bandages ease the discomfort. If Dr. Yee placed surgical drains, they come out after one to two days. - WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK
A follow-up visit, where Dr. Yee checks that your incisions are healing properly and that there is no risk of infection. She will tell you when you can return to work. - WEEKS 1 TO 2
Bruising and the other minor annoyances disappear for most patients. Most people go back to work in this window, though you will want extra rest if your job is physically demanding. - WEEKS 3 TO 4
Normal exercise resumes for most patients, depending on your fitness routine. Discomfort fades over these few weeks, and the full results of your neck lift are usually apparent within a year.
Why choose a board-certified surgeon
The neck is unforgiving territory. Skin, muscle, and fat all contribute to the problem in different proportions, and the nerves controlling the lower face run right through the surgical field. Reading which tissue is actually driving your concern, and then working around that anatomy safely, is what separates a defined result from a tightened one that still looks heavy.
Dr. Yee’s triple board certification, her decades performing this procedure in Little Rock, and her conservative approach to anesthesia all work together to protect your outcome. She reviews what applies to your anatomy at consultation so you can decide with full, honest information.
WHAT SETS DR YEE APART?
- Triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon
- Specialized training in facial anatomy and the deeper support layers
- Refreshed, never pulled or overdone results
- Conservative, safety-first approach to anesthesia
Combining with other procedures
A neck lift is often one part of a larger plan. Because the neck and the lower face age together, many patients pair it with a facelift or a brow lift so the result reads evenly across the whole face rather than stopping at the jaw. Liposuction is frequently built into the same procedure when fat is part of the problem, facial implants can restore definition the neck lift alone cannot reach, and BOTOX handles the lines that surgery does not treat.
- Facelift
- Brow Lift
- Facial Implants
- Liposuction
- BOTOX
WHY CHOOSE DR. YEE
Dr. Suzanne Yee, MD, FACS
- Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon
- ★★★★★
- 4.8 · 387 Google reviews
Dr. Suzanne Yee has been performing neck lift surgery for more than two decades, helping patients across Arkansas to natural, long-lasting results. Her approach is built on artistry and precision; outcomes that look like a refreshed version of you, never overdone.
She operates at her own onsite surgical center, fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, with a board-certified anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, operating room technician, and registered nurses on her team. Personalized care, in a safe and private setting.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
CONTACT US
Request our neck lift consultation
Choosing a qualified facial plastic surgeon is the biggest factor in determining a good outcome. Dr. Yee’s years of experience, specialized training, and artistic sense of balance are the reason patients across Arkansas choose her for this one.
Frequently asked questions
Neck lift surgery is outpatient and typically takes just one to two hours.
You may only need a local anesthetic with a mild sedative. General anesthesia is available if you would rather be completely at ease. A board-certified anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist handle it either way.
Behind your ears, where the scars stay hidden in the hairline. Dr. Yee may also make an incision beneath the chin, depending on the extent of treatment needed.
Dr. Yee may place surgical drains. If so, they come out after one to two days.
Usually three to four weeks, depending on your fitness regimen. Discomfort fades over the same period.
The full results of a neck lift are usually apparent within a year of surgery.
A neck lift is especially popular with people who are happy with how their upper face looks and only want their neck skin, fat, or jaw area corrected. A facelift addresses the mid- and lower face. Dr. Yee can combine the two if that is what your goals call for.
