Question 1

What is a mini neck lift?

Accepted Answer

A mini neck lift is a surgical procedure that tightens and contours the neck and jawline. Sometimes called a micro or small incision neck lift, it's less invasive and comes with less recovery time than a traditional neck lift but can still address sagging skin, eliminate jowls, get rid of a double chin, and create a more sculpted, defined look.

Every surgeon has their own technique, and an experienced facial plastic surgeon will tailor the procedure to the individual patient's anatomy, concerns, and goals.

That said, a mini neck lift procedure typically requires one small submental incision, just beneath the chin, through which the surgeon performs liposuction (often paired with a radiofrequency energy, with a procedure called RFAL) to remove excess fat. Some surgeons also make a tiny incision behind the ear, which is well-hidden.

Mini neck lifts that focus primarily on the area under the chin are sometimes called a chin tuck, chin lift, or submentoplasty.

A more extensive procedure may include a platysmaplasty, which tightens the underlying platysma muscles via suturing to address neck banding.

While a traditional neck lift always removes excess skin, many mini neck lift procedures only redrape the skin, to create a smoother appearance.

During your consultation, make sure that your surgeon fully understands your aesthetic goals and you know what your procedure will (and won’t) entail.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of a mini neck lift?

Accepted Answer

Pros:

Mini neck lift procedures are less invasive than a full neck lift, with a single incision beneath the chin that leaves an inconspicuous scar.
It can eliminate a double chin, turkey wattle, jowls, and neck bands.
Mini neck lift recovery requires less downtime than a traditional neck lift, with less bruising, swelling, and discomfort.
It can be performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation.
This mini procedure usually costs about $2,000 less than a full neck lift.

Cons:

Because there’s no agreed-upon definition of a mini or micro neck lift, individual results vary widely. One thing you can be sure of: they won’t be as dramatic as what you’d get with a full neck lift procedure.
Some micro neck lift procedures don’t remove excess neck skin, so it’s not always a good option for people with moderate to severe sagging skin, significant muscle laxity, or poor skin elasticity.
If your surgeon removes too much fat, your platysma muscles may look too prominent, especially as you continue to age. You may also be left with more skin laxity after excess fat is removed, unless you have good enough skin elasticity that your skin will naturally retract.
Mini neck lift results are not as long-lasting as those of a full neck lift. You can expect results to last between 5 and 10 years (depending on the extent of your procedure) vs. 10 to 15 years for a traditional procedure.

RealSelf Tip: While a mini neck lift can create a more sculpted jawline, if you're concerned about sagging in your lower face and have significant jowling, you may have a better result from combining your procedure with a mini facelift. Both procedures can also be followed by other neck and facial rejuvenation treatments, like laser resurfacing or nonsurgical skin tightening.

Question 3

How much does a mini neck lift cost?

Accepted Answer

The price you pay for a mini neck lift will depend on:

your provider's credentials and level of experience, which will impact the surgeon's fee
their practice location; providers with more overhead have to charge more
the type of anesthesia you have
the credentials of your anesthesia provider
the extent of your procedure

During your initial consultation, a prospective surgeon should talk through the specifics of their recommended treatment plan. They may recommend combining the procedure with a mini facelift, which could give you a more seamless and comprehensive result but would add thousands of dollars to your final bill.

Ask for a detailed, personalized cost estimate, and make sure it includes all related costs—not just the surgeon's fee. It may be worth your time to consult with more than one qualified surgeon, so you can compare their recommendations and price quotes.

Cosmetic surgery isn't covered by insurance. To help make it more affordable, most plastic surgeons offer payment plans or accept a range of financing options, such as CareCredit.

Question 4

Mini neck lift before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

The mini neck lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Question 5

Who makes a good candidate for a mini neck lift?

Accepted Answer

The best candidate for a mini neck lift procedure is a younger patient, with mildly loose skin at the jaw and neckline, some neck banding, and early jowling.

It helps if the skin is still elastic, and if the patient has reasonable expectations for the outcome and wants relatively subtle results.

People with moderate to severe skin laxity and poor skin elasticity will be better candidates for a traditional neck lift.

Question 6

What does mini neck lift surgery involve?

Accepted Answer

First, you'll be given local anesthesia and IV sedation, a combination that's sometimes called twilight sedation.

The procedure begins with a small incision under the chin. Through that opening, the surgeon tightens the underlying neck muscles and performs liposuction to remove excess fat under the chin and along the neck.

Your provider may also redrape the skin (without removing any skin) to create a smoother neck and jawline, or they may make small incisions, one behind each ear, to lift and remove excess skin.

Question 7

How long does recovery take?

Accepted Answer

Mini neck lift recovery is easier and shorter than a full neck lift, so you can expect less pain, swelling, and bruising as you heal. Most patients can go back to work and resume regular activities after just one week, and over-the-counter pain medication is often enough to minimize the discomfort.

You may be asked to wear a pressure dressing that wraps around their head and under your chin for the first 24 hours after surgery, to help reduce swelling. Your surgeon will also likely recommend that you refrain from strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and bending over for at least two weeks post-procedure.

You can expect to see your surgeon for a follow-up within a few days of surgery, to make sure you're healing well. After a week, any non-dissolvable stitches will be removed.

After two weeks, your incision will be mostly healed; it should be fully healed within about three months.

Question 8

How long does a mini neck lift last?

Accepted Answer

Expect the results of your mini neck lift to last between 5 and 10 years, with longer-term benefits from the liposuction (once the fat cells are gone, they're gone).

Unfortunately, time stops for no neck, including your newly contoured one. Your skin will continue to sag over time, though you can prolong your results with nonsurgical skin tightening treatments.

Question 9

What are the risks of a mini neck lift?

Accepted Answer

Both full and mini neck lifts are a relatively safe type of plastic surgery. The most common complications of a mini neck lift procedure are bleeding and infection at the incision site. Talk with your provider about how to keep your incision clean, and reach out to their office if you have any concerns.

It's also possible for blood or fluid to collect under the skin (hematoma and seroma), though that's less common with this less invasive procedure.

Facial nerve injury is extremely rare, but it is possible and may result in temporary muscle weakness of one side of the lower face. Nerve injuries usually resolve own within three to six months.

Other risks are more cosmetic. You may be left with slight asymmetry, which your surgeon should be able to correct in a more minor procedure.

You might also notice your neck muscle, or platysma, more after your surgery because your provider will have removed excess fat from the area. Some patients can end up looking more gaunt, while others may notice more sagging skin.

Talk with your surgeon about whether this procedure will give you the result you're after, and make sure you're seeing a board-certified plastic or facial plastic surgeon.

MINI NECK LIFT

Emily Orofino

Emily Orofino

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Emily Orofino

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