Liposuction & Botox Are Cosmetic Options for the Neck

Despite all the cosmetic procedures you may undergo to help keep your face looking young — from face lifts to BOTOX® — an aging neck can quickly detract from a youthful face.

While a neck lift remains the best bet for a lasting fix, according to a recent article in the New York Times, these days less-invasive options do exist to improve the appearance of the neck area.

If the neck has too much fat, for instance, neck liposuction may be an option, especially if the person has elastic skin that can bounce back afterwards.

For those with neck “bands”, BOTOX® injections in the neck muscle can make them less conspicuous in a patient with great skin tone, according to Dr. Rod Rohrich, chairman of the plastic surgery department at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. However, just like on the face, BOTOX® requires upkeep, as results last about three to four months.

For others, a neck lift remains the best option. It may involve one or both of the following procedures:

• Cervicoplasty to remove excess skin
• Platysmaplasty to remove or alter neck muscles

According to the article, surgeons say that men seem to get more isolated neck lifts than women. “Usually with women, they are getting a face- and neck lift,” said Dr. Felmont Eaves, the president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. “In men, we don’t have exact statistics, but it’s pretty common to see them come in just for the neck.”

“There’s no way a man’s neck, with all that tissue hanging down, can be graceful,” said Dr. Phil Haeck, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He reports having done two neck-only lifts for every three facelifts in his practice this year.

Learn more about neck lifts at the Cosmetic Surgery Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.