Anesthesia
Only Faces offers neck lift procedures from a top facial plastic surgeon in Charlotte. Dr. Sean Freeman is a double-board-certified professional with decades of experience and excellent skills. In every neck lift, he aims to rejuvenate the appearance without making a patient’s skin look stretched or “operated on.” Dr. Freeman uses state-of-the-art techniques refined through many years of experience. As a renowned specialist in facial procedures, he achieves perfect results that look natural and beautiful.
A neck lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the neck area. It typically involves incisions under the chin and/or behind the ears to tighten loose skin and muscles. Excess fat may also be removed or repositioned during this surgery. Trimming redundant muscle is sometimes needed. Should a salivary gland, known as the submandibular gland, be visible in your upper neck, Dr. Freeman may recommend shaving part of the gland. He is one of the first facial plastic specialists in the country to publish this procedure. The average length of the procedure is two to four hours. After the incisions are closed, the neck will appear smoother, tighter, and more youthful.
This procedure tightens the neck muscles and trims them if needed, sculpts excess fat, addresses visible submandibular gland tissue and removes excess skin behind the ears. The procedure requires an incision mainly behind the ears and under the chin. The preservation deep plane neck lift is performed typically for older patients. This procedure allows Dr. Freeman to create a much more youthful appearance for patients with aging necks.
A direct neck lift is designed for younger patients who do not need a deep plane neck lift and present with mild or moderate fullness of the neck with minimal laxity of neck skin and muscle. This surgery involves making an incision under the chin and doing liposculpture neck fat and tightening of the neck muscle known as the medial platysma. Healing after surgery is not as involved as a deep plane neck lift.
Dr. Freeman will assess skin thickness, texture, and elasticity. He will also evaluate the severity of cosmetic issues and examine the hairline to determine which procedure is best for each patient. Dr. Freeman has decades of experience dedicated exclusively to aesthetic facial surgery. He customizes each procedure to achieve the best results he can for each individual.
The neck lift surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. This involves administering medication intravenously to put the patient into a sleep-like state so they do not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure.
Dr. Freeman makes incisions mainly behind the ears and/or under the chin. These openings allow him to access and remove excess skin, fat, and tissue in the neck. The incisions are placed, designed and closed to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
Excess fat deposits in the neck region are removed using open liposculpture. Liposuction of the neck is not advised since there is fat that needs to be removed and fat that needs to be preserved to get the best result and that can only be done effectively via an open approach with an incision under the chin.
Dr. Freeman accesses the platysma muscle as well as the anterior digastric muscle in the front of the neck. Depending on the degree of aging the platysma muscle will need to be tightened and sometimes trimmed in the medial neck for the direct neck lift. For the deep plane neck lift the lateral platysma will also need to be lifted. At times the anterior digastric muscle will also need trimming. Trimming this muscle does not affect facial animation. This procedure provides definition and structure, and addresses neck muscle banding.
A significant percentage of Dr. Freeman’s older patients have ptosis of the submandibular gland (SMG). When this occurs, it causes bulging of the neck just below the midpoint of the jaw. Dr. Freeman originally described this problem many years ago and demonstrated how to improve this using the SMG shave technique. There are many salivary glands in the head and neck and it has been Dr. Freeman’s experience that shaving a portion of the SMG doesn’t significantly affect salivary production. Shaving the SMG, when necessary, gives a more sculpted look to the neck after the neck lift.
After liposculpture and muscle tightening, Dr. Freeman removes excess skin when needed, mainly behind the ears. With the preservation technique, the lift is done using the deep tissue, leaving little pressure on the skin closure. This is why his patients look so natural, and it also helps the incisions to heal as well as possible. Dr. Freeman meticulously closes the openings with sutures.
Neck lifts are often performed in conjunction with a deep plane preservation. This additional procedure rejuvenates the face above the neck and below the eyes. With the deep plane preservation facelift patients heal faster, look naturally younger making for a smooth transition from the face to the neck
A brow lift aims to rejuvenate the appearance by repositioning eyebrows to their youthful position and smoothing forehead wrinkles. Dr. Freeman invented the Segmental Endoscopic Brow Lift which offers five different brow lifts depending on each patient’s needs, all with small incisions hidden in the hair, when possible.
Lower lid blepharoplasty using Dr. Freeman SOOF lift approach is his signature cosmetic procedure that helps rejuvenate the lower lid and midface. The procedure addresses the puffy/hollow look that occurs in the lower lid over time. The suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) beneath the lower lids descends with age, leading to a hollow or aged appearance. The SOOF lift blepharoplasty repositions this tissue back to its original location which rejuvenates the midface and fills in the hollow look. At the same time, the puffy lower lid is rejuvenated by tightening the orbital septum, another technique Dr. Freeman has championed. The procedure improves aging of the lower lid and midface all with minimal risk.
Bruising and swelling continue to subside during the second week. Discomfort is mild, and prescription pain medication generally is not needed. Depending on the procedure performed drains may or may not be needed and are typically removed on day one. Sutures will be removed on day six and if needed also one week later. Patients can usually return to non-strenuous work after one to two weeks, again depending on the procedure performed. Gentle activities like light walking and housework may also be resumed after several days
Swelling continues to improve and bruising either resolves or is easily covered with makeup. Any numbness in the skin typically gradually disappears. Patients are advised to use sun screen when exposed to the sun during the healing process. Normal activities can be resumed after two weeks, but strenuous exercise should wait at least four to six weeks following neck lift procedures. Patients usually see the final results after 3-6 months of recovery.
Neck lifts are designed for people with hanging neck skin, double chin, vertical bands, and other cosmetic issues. This surgery is usually performed for middle-aged women and men in their 40s to 60s. However, neck lifts can also benefit younger patients and older adults. Candidates should meet specific requirements to qualify for this procedure. Here are the main criteria:
Patients who choose Dr. Freeman at Only Faces are making the right choice because they will be treated by a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has specialized in facial cosmetic procedures for over 30 years. Our motto is “Only Faces, Only the Best Care.” Every neck lift performed by Dr. Freeman is treated like an artwork due to his passion for excellence and innovation. Our renowned doctor is the author of new techniques, such as SOOF lift blepharoplasty and the Segmental Endoscopic Brow Lift , that make cosmetic surgery safer and more natural-looking.
To learn how Dr. Freeman can provide high-quality care for his neck lift patients, request your appointment online to receive $25 off your consultation fee or call our office at (704) 543-1110.
