The neck lift seems to be a cosmetic surgery targeted, but anatomical reality reveals a different truth. No plastic surgeon can deal exclusively with neck area without impacting the oval of the face. This mechanical interconnection systematically transforms any surgical operation cervical in cervico-facial lift. The Dr. Jérémy Djian, plastic surgeon in Paris, will tell you in this article the truth about how to rejuvenate an unsightly «turkey neck», to tighten the skin on the neck and jowls, to combat the effects of skin aging and achieve a natural, harmonious result.
There's no such thing as a neck lift only: it's a myth. To access the neck surgically, the plastic surgeon must remove the tissues from the oval of the face. This anatomical constraint makes a strictly cervical facelift impossible.
When you manually pull up the skin of your face and neck in front of a mirror, you notice several phenomena simultaneously:
This fold contains the excess skin responsible for neck sagging and the appearance of wrinkles. To remove it, an incision must be made in front of the ear, confirming that a neck lift necessarily also involves an incision in front of the ear. face lifting for an overall improvement in appearance.
The neck lift refers specifically to a procedure involving the lifting of neck tissues and the removal of excess skin.
If you compare a photo of your face in profile, standing upright, with a photo of your face lying down in a slightly reclined position, you'll notice how gravity affects your face and neck. The neck and lower part of the face temporarily regain their «youthful» position. A cervico-facial lift makes it possible to reproduce this natural phenomenon over the long term by repositioning the tissues in their original position.
In concrete terms, this aesthetic neck surgery includes :
This process restores natural tension to the neck, without freezing the features, while ensuring a smooth transition from the face to the décolleté.
Neck transformations over the years are natural and progressive, and rely on two main mechanisms:
This process is perfectly normal and concerns everyone. It may be more pronounced in people who have undergone significant weight loss. However, he does not question the effectiveness of a facelift, but explains why the results, although long-lasting, cannot be completely permanent. The goal is to achieve a visible improvement, natural and satisfying, not an unrealistic promise to freeze time. Good follow-up, a healthy lifestyle and regular care help to prolong the benefits of the intervention over time.
Among the main external factors favouring sagging neck, we find :
The appearance of the neck is also influenced by internal factors, linked to the physiological functioning of the body:
Today, there is a full range of methods for treating the neck and lower face, adapted to different levels of loss of skin tone, excess fat or muscle ptosis. Some methods target fat or skin alone, while others intervene more deeply, notably on muscles such as the platysma. Some approaches also provide overall, long-lasting contouring of the face and neck. Here is a detailed comparative table of the main neck lift techniques currently in use, their specific features, indications and areas of action.
| Technical | Main indications | What is the intervention? | Treated areas | Depth | Invasiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep plane facelift | Severe sagging, very natural look, complete facial repositioning | Deep detachment of SMAS and muscles to reposition volumes | Neck, jowls, oval, full lower face | ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫ | Very high |
| Cervico-facial lift | Severe sagging of the neck and jowls | Wide detachment, reactivation of the SMAS, removal of excess skin | Neck, jowls, oval of the face | ⚫⚫⚫⚫ | High |
| Platysmaplasty (deep cervicoplasty) | Cervical dewlap, muscle collapse | Plication or sectioning of the platysma muscle, sometimes via ear or submentum | Neck muscles (platysma), baleen plates | ⚫⚫⚫ | High |
| Submentoplasty | Localized dewlap, central loosening | Incision under the chin, muscle suture + removal of localized fat or skin | Center of neck, dewlap, chin | ⚫⚫ | Average |
| Mini-lifting | Beginning of sagging, slightly drooping oval | Limited detachment, moderate skin tension | Lower face, oval | ⚫⚫ | Average |
| Neck liposuction alone | Localized fat, firm skin | Subcutaneous fat suction with cannula, without skin removal | Submental area, neck | ⚫ | Low |
| Tensor threads | Slight sagging, without excess skin | Placement of absorbable sutures under the skin to pull the tissues together | Oval face, light neck | ⚫ | Very low |
| Radiofrequency / HIFU / Laser | Moderate skin slackening, aesthetic maintenance | Skin stimulation with heat or ultrasound to produce collagen | Superficial skin on neck and chin | ⚫ | Very low |
A cervical lift necessarily involves strategically placed scars: in front of the ear (in the natural fold of the auricle) and behind the ear (in the retroauricular fold). Their length is proportional to the amount of excess skin removed. Contrary to some assertions, a scar in front of the ear is essential to evacuate excess skin. However, with the right technique and without excessive tension on the skin, the scars remain discreet and virtually invisible, guaranteeing a harmonious result.
During your consultation, the Dr Djian performs a balance sheet complete :
Clinical examination :
Medical assessment :
It's also the ideal time to ask any questions you may have. They're all legitimate, and Dr. Djian will be happy to answer them in an educational way.
Questions you might ask yourself include:
At the end of this consultation, the plastic surgeon will draw up a detailed estimate including his or her fees.. You will then legally have 15 days to mature your thoughts and validate the intervention.
The average neck lift lasts from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the extent of the procedure. It is performed under thorough local anaesthesia or general, in the presence of a anaesthetist. Hospitalisation can be outpatient or overnight, depending on the protocol chosen and the comfort required by the patient.
During the first 48 hours, the patient wears a pressure bandage to limit edema and support repositioned tissues. It is advisable to sleep in a semi-seated position and to follow the prescription for’analgesics. Many people ask: How long should I keep the press lift on? The response is usually for a minimum of 48 hours, sometimes 5 to 7 days depending on the level of swelling or the healing.
Week 1 :
Weeks 2 to 3 :
After 3 to 6 months :
Personalized follow-up with your plastic surgeon is organized throughout this period to analyze post-operative evolution and guarantee a natural, long-lasting results.
To maintain the benefits of a neck lift, certain habits are essential:
These simple gestures help preserve skin quality and slow the effects of aging.
In addition to good preventive habits, an appropriate routine helps maintain neck tone:
These treatments are an effective complement to a facelift, although they cannot prevent the return of laxity in the long term.
No, if your goal is harmonious rejuvenation of the face and neck. The lower facelift acts primarily on the oval, moderate jowls and lower cheek contours. Taken in isolation, however, this procedure can leave an aesthetic imbalance between a firmer neck and a face that retains certain signs of sagging or fatigue.
Rejuvenating the face as a whole: which complementary procedures?
To avoid a mismatch between a neck firmed and a still-marked face, several procedures can be combined as required:
The aim is to preserve global harmony by treating all areas of the face that show signs of ageing, not just the neck.
A cervico-facial lift well combined with these gestures, the result is a natural result, consistent and sustainable over time.
Le tarif dépend essentiellement de l’ampleur du geste et des interventions associées (paupières, lipofilling du visage, liposuccion du double menton, etc.) :
| Deep Plane Facelift - Deep cervicofacial lift | Cosmetic Surgery (All Taxes Included*)from €10,000 |
| Deep plane Facelift + 4 paupières | Cosmetic Surgery (All Taxes Included*)from €12,000 |
| Deep Plane Facelift + 4 eyelids + Lipofilling face | Cosmetic Surgery (All Taxes Included*)from €14,000 |
Le docteur Djian pratique le Deep Plane Facelift, une technique de lifting vertical profond réputée pour son résultat naturel et durable, notamment sur la zone du cou et des bajoues. C’est ce niveau d’exigence technique qui explique un positionnement tarifaire à partir de 10 000 euros, plutôt qu’une fourchette « basse » que l’on trouve parfois ailleurs à Paris pour des techniques moins abouties.
Chaque situation étant unique, ces montants restent indicatifs : un personalized quote, incluant l’intégralité des frais (hospitalisation, anesthésiste, suivi postopératoire…), vous est remis à l’issue de la consultation, après évaluation précise de votre morphologie et de vos attentes. Vous disposez ensuite d’un délai légal de réflexion de 15 jours before making any decisions.
Pour consulter l’ensemble des tarifs pratiqués par le docteur Djian, rendez-vous sur sa price list page.
Social security does not cover the cost of a facelift for the following purposes aesthetic. On the other hand, it can managing reconstructive surgery in very rare cases.
As with any intervention, the neck lift involves risks. They are rare when the procedure is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon and that the care protocol is followed. Specific complications described by specialists include
The most frequent side effects remain moderate and transitory:
To ensure optimal recovery and react quickly in the event of a problem, there are certain signs that should alert and motivate a immediate medical consultation :
These situations are rare, but early management can limit their consequences. By scrupulously following your practitioner's recommendations and respecting post-operative instructions, the risks are greatly minimized, and the post-operative period is generally free of major complications.
When there is marked sagging or a noticeable excess of skin, the answer is no : These signs of aging can only be effectively treated with surgery. Non-surgical methods, based on aesthetic medicine, can provide a temporary improvement, but they don't make it possible to tighten the skin or reposition sagging tissues in the long term. They do not correct hanging neck, nor baleen plates marked, nor the’excess skin. They remain transitional solutions.
Cervico-facial surgery will give you a lifetime visual gain of around 10 years. Conversely, with a medical procedure, you will only have this effect for a limited period of 6 to 12 months.
Non-surgical solutions may nevertheless be appropriate in certain specific cases:
Hyaluronic acid injections used to moisturize the skin's surface, smooth fine lines and redefine the oval of the face (jawline contouring). The improvement is noticeable but remains modest, with efficacy lasting from 6 to 12 months. Expect to pay between 300 and 500 euros per session.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) : It relaxes platysmal bands (vertical neck muscles) by reducing their contraction. Results last 4 to 6 months. Average cost: 200 to 400 euros per session.
Absorbable tensor threads : They offer a temporary lifting effect by slightly repositioning the tissues. The procedure is fast and minimally invasive, The result remains moderate (12 to 18 months) and depends on skin quality. Estimated price : 800 to 1,200 euros.
Dr. Jérémy Djian is qualified surgeon specializing in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, with a hospital-university curriculum of excellence. Former senior resident at the Paris 5 Faculty of Medicine René Descartes and former assistant at the Hôpitaux de Paris, he was a member of the face transplant led by Professor Laurent Lantieri at the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital. He practiced microsurgical connection grafting, a high-precision procedure reserved for highly specialized practitioners.
Holder of several university degrees in surgical anatomy of the face and neck, in general plastic surgery and in microsurgery, Dr. Djian combines rare technical expertise with a refined aesthetic approach.
Now based in Paris’s 16th arrondissement and operating in the Clinique des Princes in Boulogne-Billancourt, he offers his patients a facial plastic surgery high-level, perfectly executed, in a safe and comfortable environment. Her mastery of cervico-facial lift, Her in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the neck and face and her unique background make her a trusted partner for any patient wishing to restore a more harmonious, rested appearance, naturally and sustainably.
Make an appointment with Dr Jérémy Djian
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Between 8 and 12 years old, However, the duration of a facelift depends primarily on your skin’s initial elasticity. A facelift permanently removes excess skin and lifts sagging tissue, but it does not restore lost elasticity. Skin with low elasticity ages more quickly after the procedure. Smoking, sun exposure, and weight fluctuations accelerate this process; therefore, managing these factors is essential.
No, a surgical facelift necessarily leads to incisions, and therefore scars. On the other hand, well-made, they can become almost invisible. It all depends on the technique used. When you work deeply into the tissue without applying excessive tension to the surface, the closure is finer; this prevents scar tissue from forming. The design, the placement of the incisions, and careful attention to the tragus, the earlobe, and the hairline are all essential details. A skilled hand ensures a natural-looking result, without visible scars to the naked eye, even up close.
No, there isn't no absolute limit to perform a neck lift. The determining factor is not the date of birth, but skin quality and the degree of tissue laxity.
To find out, a simple test is performed during the consultation: assessment in the supine position. When lying down, gravity no longer affects the tissues. If the neck and lower face appear visibly rejuvenated in this position, it indicates that the tissues are still mobile and that the facelift will be effective. On the other hand, if no improvement is observed, this means that the skin has lost too much elasticity for surgery to be beneficial, making other approaches more appropriate. Thus, It’s not your chronological age that counts, but your skin’s age. A facelift can therefore be considered at age 40 or 80, depending on the individual case.
No, the pain after a neck lift is generally slight and well audited. Thanks to medical advances and precise surgical techniques, inflammation is minimal. Most patients are satisfied with the paracetamol, without severe pain. A skilled surgeon adapts their technique to minimize bleeding, swelling, and discomfort. The post-operative experience is mainly characterized by a feeling of tightness, or even slight swelling, which gradually subsides over the course of a few days to a few weeks.
To reduce swelling more quickly after a neck and lower face lift, sleep in a semi-upright position, apply cool compresses (never apply ice directly to the skin), avoid strenuous activity and carefully follow the post-operative instructions. Quitting smoking, staying well-hydrated, and attending regular follow-up appointments with your surgeon also help reduce post-operative discomfort and help you quickly regain a natural appearance.
Treatment depends on the cause: if it is a excess fat, a double chin liposuction When done well, it often yields excellent results. If the the skin is sagging, a neck and facelift may also be necessary.
In younger patients, the skin retracts well after liposuction, which often eliminates the need for additional surgery. In older patients, however, because skin quality is poorer, liposuction alone may leave excess skin. In such cases, a facelift is recommended to remove this excess skin and redefine the contours of the face. In all cases, the decision to proceed must be made following a clinical examination, based on the patient’s body type and skin elasticity.
Non-invasive methods (cryolipolysis, ultrasound) offer moderate and rarely long-lasting results. For noticeable, natural-looking, and long-lasting results, the solution is often surgical, tailored to each individual case.
Dr Jérémy Djian is a plastic surgeon based at 5 square Thiers, near the Victor Hugo roundabout, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
He trained in Paris and remains attached to the hospital in the prestigious department of Pr Laurent Lantieri.
