Neck Lift in Pittsburgh
Conveniently located in Southwestern PA, south of Pittsburgh, and easily accessible from central PA, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio
Understanding Neck Lift Surgery: The Solution for a Sagging Neckline
For some individuals, the neck starts to show signs of age sooner than the rest of the face. The skin hangs and wobbles a bit under your face, and a “flabby neck” appears. Sometimes it isn’t age that determines the need for a neck lift (also called a cervicoplasty), but rather having lost considerable weight. It may even be an inherited feature you’d like to change.
Dr. Pautler offers neck lift procedures in Pittsburgh to enhance facial balance. She personalizes each surgery to address individual concerns, whether you want to tighten loose skin or remove excess fat and tissues.
Is a Neck Lift right for me?
A neck lift may be right for you if you have good skin quality, some fullness or sagging in the neck, and little to no jowling. The procedure is especially suited for younger patients, individuals not ready for a full facelift, or those with aging limited to the neck area.
It improves loose skin and muscle banding in the neck and can sometimes soften mild jowls. However, it will not correct significant jowls, sagging cheeks, or a neck with large amounts of loose skin and fat.
Why Choose Dr. Pautler for a Neck Lift in Pittsburgh?
The neck is one of the most complex areas to rejuvenate. It requires a deep understanding of anatomy to maintain a delicate balance between skin and fat and to safely locate the muscles, submandibular glands, and nerves. This means the procedure involves more than simply tightening the skin. Your surgeon must have surgical precision and an artistic eye.
With over 25 years of practice and countless neck lift procedures, Dr. Pautler understands how to create smooth neck contours. She also knows that every neck is different, so she customizes all her facial plastic surgery procedures to meet the needs of her patients. For instance, she may choose to preserve or remove fat. Certain muscles may need to be tightened, while others may need to be trimmed. And since the neck skin is naturally prone to sagging again, Dr. Pautler uses advanced techniques, such as the hemostatic net, to achieve long-lasting results.
The best part is that Dr. Pautler will take the time to address the underlying neck structures and design the most effective treatment plan. Even the most conservative neck lifts take careful planning and at least two hours in the operating room. Patients appreciate her honesty and trust her guidance. She only recommends what will truly provide the best outcome rather than what simply sounds appealing.
What Happens During a Neck Lift Consultation
All consultations occur at Dr. Pautler’s office in Pittsburgh, on Washington Road, across from South Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT.
During your visit, she will take time to understand your goals and concerns. Thereafter, she will examine skin quality, muscle tone, and areas of fullness to create the most effective treatment plan. She’ll also ask about your medical history and show you before and after photos so you can visualize the final results.
Dr. Pautler is always straightforward about the procedure and will not sugarcoat anything. She ensures patients leave the consultation with realistic expectations and understand what can and cannot be achieved. Her goal is to prepare you so you feel confident moving forward with your treatment plan.
What Happens During a Neck Lift Surgery
Dr. Pautler performs neck lift procedures at the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, which is located near St. Clair Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. The facility is well-equipped to offer advanced surgical procedures and ensure patient comfort and safety.
Dr. Pautler will make a small incision under the chin to remove deeper fat beneath the platysma muscle. In most older patients, she avoids aggressive liposuction in the neck, since preserving a natural layer of fat helps maintain a youthful look.
Thereafter, she’ll tighten the platysma muscle. For thin-skinned patients, this tightening may extend down to the sternal notch, while for those with thicker skin, she may perform a myotomy (division) of the distal portion of the platysma. If needed, she can also remove portions of the submandibular gland or digastric muscles to smooth the neck contours.
Finally, she will place 24-hour drains to help with healing. If additional skin tightening is required, incisions are discreetly made around the ear and into the hairline. But if you have jowls or sagging facial skin, we may combine the procedure with a facelift to achieve a more balanced outcome.
The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, most often under intravenous sedation rather than general anesthesia. Patients return home the same day.
What Happens After the Neck Lift Surgery Procedure
Patients wear a compression garment continuously for the first week to support healing and minimize swelling. After that, the garment is worn at night for another 10 days. We’ll also remove sutures about 7 to 10 days after the procedure.
Bruising is common in the first days after surgery, and the lower part of the face may feel numb, swollen, or “puffy.” These sensations are temporary and gradually improve as the tissues heal.
Dr. Pautler will provide aftercare instructions and follow each patient throughout recovery to ensure the best possible outcome.
How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost in Pittsburgh?
The cost of a neck lift in Pittsburgh can vary from patient to patient, since every procedure is customized to individual needs. Several factors influence the final price, including the extent of correction, the technique used, surgeons’ fees, hospital charges, post-surgery garments, and the total time needed in the operating room.
During your consultation, Dr. Pautler and her staff will provide a cost estimate once your treatment plan is determined.
Neck Lift Before & After Photos
See our Neck Lift results for yourself
Pittsburgh Neck Lift FAQs
Have a specific question? Contact us!
A neck lift procedure is generally not painful. Dr. Pautler performs the procedure under anesthesia, and once the anesthesia wears off, most patients only experience mild to moderate soreness and tightness in the treated area. Thereafter, she will prescribe pain medication to manage discomfort.
A neck lift in Pittsburgh can improve the appearance of the lower face, but only to a certain extent. The procedure is designed to enhance the jawline and neck area. However, since the neck and lower face are closely connected, patients often notice that their jawline looks sharper and the lower face appears more youthful after surgery.
That said, a neck lift surgery alone does not directly address facial aging. If you are mainly concerned about jowls or drooping in the lower face, we recommend combining a neck lift with a facelift.
No. A neck lift is relatively safe. But like any surgery, it does carry risks, including bruising, swelling, numbness, and scarring. This depends on factors such as your overall health and the complexity of the procedure.
Other risks (although rare) may involve infection, bleeding, fluid accumulation, asymmetry, or nerve injury.
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