The risks of a neck lift are largely those of any operation: a reaction to the anaesthetic, and deep vein thrombosis. The two sides of the body are never identical, so symmetry after surgery cannot be perfect, although some natural asymmetry can be improved.
Every anaesthetic carries some risk, even for short operations, but serious problems are very rare.
Lying still under anaesthesia slows the circulation in the leg veins, which can occasionally lead to blood clots.
Compression stockings, calf pumps, sometimes medication, and walking soon after surgery all reduce this risk.
Every operation carries a risk of bleeding, which is higher in people taking blood-thinning medication. Please tell us about any such medication before surgery. Keeping blood pressure well controlled, and the use of ultrasonic instruments for a large part of the operation, help to reduce bleeding and bruising.
Some soreness and bruising are expected, particularly where more tissue has been reshaped. Most patients find the neck lift much less painful than they expected. Pain relief is provided when you leave hospital, and you can adjust it to your needs.
If bruising takes longer than usual to settle, treatments to speed it up can be started.
How visible the scars are depends on the type of procedure, the skin, healing, and infection. Careful planning of the incisions, surgical technique and aftercare keep the scars as discreet as possible, and most patients find that the scars do not affect their daily life.
Infection can make scars more noticeable, so it is important to follow the advice after surgery. The skin may also feel different for a while, with changes in colour, firmness or feel.
These changes are usually temporary and settle as healing progresses.
A neck lift involves a delicate area containing several nerves, including branches of the facial nerve that move the muscles of expression. Occasionally these can be bruised or injured, which would affect movement of the lower lip or other parts of the face.
Every care is taken to reduce this risk. Most commonly, the skin of the cheeks feels numb for a while, and the area under the chin for longer, because more work is done there. Sensation and movement are controlled by different nerves, so numbness does not mean that movement is affected.
Facial nerve injury, if it happens, causes some asymmetry at rest or when smiling. Temporary weakness occurs in about 2 to 3% of cases and usually recovers within 3 to 4 weeks. Lasting weakness occurs in less than 1%.
In the early weeks, while the swelling settles in the deeper and outer layers, some irregularities of the skin may be seen.
If they persist, they can usually be corrected easily, with fat transfer or with injections that reduce swelling and scar tissue.
In some people the lower part of the submandibular glands sits below the jawline and spoils the contour of the neck. During a deep neck lift, the lower part of the glands can be reduced to give a smooth contour.
It has been suggested that reducing the glands could cause some dryness of the mouth, but in practice patients have not reported this as a concern. If you already have a dry mouth or dry eyes, please mention it at consultation, so that the plan and advice can be adjusted for you.
A collection of clear fluid under the skin is called a seroma, and it can occur after a neck lift. Quilting sutures, where used, reduce the chance of it forming.
If a seroma does occur, the fluid is drawn off with a fine needle at the practice. This may need to be repeated a few times until it settles.
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