What Is a Mini Neck Lift and How Does It Differ from a Traditional Lift?

Have you been thinking about getting a neck lift but have concerns about plastic surgery? Are you unsure about the different cosmetic surgery or facelift offerings and find the list a bit intimidating? Read on to learn more about what a mini neck lift is and how it differs from a traditional neck lift.

Dr. Fredric Barr, MD, FACS, of Palm Beach Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, can offer you a free consultation when you call our Patient Counselor Carla Pisani at our West Palm Beach, FL, office at (561) 833-4122.

What Is a Traditional Neck Lift?

Also called a lower rhytidectomy, a neck lift is a surgery that minimizes the jowl line and excess skin on the neck. These folds often result from aging, losing a large amount of weight, stress, or the storage of excess fat under the chin and in the jowls.

For patients who want to look younger without enduring a complete facelift, a neck lift can remove or reduce the appearance of wrinkled neck skin. Dr. Barr can combine other plastic surgeries with a neck lift to move the fatty tissue from the neck to the face to reduce the appearance of other wrinkles.

The Neck Lift Process

In a traditional neck lift, Dr. Barr will give you general anesthesia and completely sedate you for the procedure. He will make a thin incision that starts around the top of your ear and continues down to the bottom of your hairline. The incisions are thin, so scarring is often minimal, and the hairline hides it.

The doctor will redistribute or remove fatty tissue, trim away excess skin, and reposition the remaining skin. Depending on your desired look, Dr. Barr may also make another incision under your chin to accommodate liposuction.

The Recovery Period

Depending on the amount of work the procedure involves and your body’s natural recovery process, recovery time may vary. You’ll begin with a bandage covering the incisions. Dr. Barr will give you instructions about how to care for your healing incisions and any medications required.

Some traditional neck lifts will require the use of a drain to remove excess liquid from your neck while it is healing. The doctor will explain how to use the tube and the number of days you need to keep it in before it is safe to remove.

Many doctors recommend not twisting your head in any direction to avoid straining the healing neck muscles. Additionally, we recommend that you not use an ice pack to numb the area. However, be sure to talk to Dr. Barr about his recommendations for your particular case and follow his medical advice.

What Is a Mini Neck Lift?

A mini neck lift provides many of the same benefits as a traditional neck lift but at a fraction of the cost. The mini neck lift consists of a single procedure performed in our office, allowing you to get in and out as quickly as possible.

We apply a local anesthetic to numb the area, leaving minimal bruising and swelling. You can resume most normal activities the next day. In a mini neck lift, Dr. Barr makes an incision directly under the chin and, oftentimes, hidden in the back of the hairline.

A mini neck lift redistributes or removes fatty tissue and skin, and drapes the skin to minimize signs of aging. However, just because the procedure and recovery time is fast doesn’t mean you will not have long-lasting results.

Why Should You Choose Dr. Fredric Barr, MD, FACS?

Dr. Fredric Barr, MD, FACS, has been performing plastic surgery for over 30 years. Before opening his own practice, he worked as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital. He has served as President of the Palm Beach County Plastic Surgery Society.

He is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has a fantastic reputation among his clients. At Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Barr performs all of our procedures himself.

Are You Ready to Stop Googling “Plastic Surgery Near Me”?

Contact the West Palm Beach, FL, office of Dr. Fredric Barr at Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery at (561) 833-4122. Schedule your appointment for a free consultation, or learn more about our plastic surgery options.