Facelift and Neck Lift

Three main attributes are commonly associated with a youthful face: high cheekbones, full cheeks, and a well-defined jawline.

Intrinsic aging, ultraviolet radiation damage, and harm from other environmental sources all contribute to a loss of muscle tone and thinning skin, often resulting in jowls, a drooping appearance, and a poorly defined jawline. There is also typically a loss of bone mass in the jaw that can cause the face shape to change.

Starting from as early as your 30s, you may notice volume loss in the cheeks and chin, which gives your face a more angular look. The skin becomes thinner, while the cheeks can develop a flattened appearance.

All of these changes can be addressed with a facelift—and particularly the innovative and patient-focused Dual Plane Facelift developed by Dr. Jacob Unger.

At Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute, we regularly hear some common questions: “What is the purpose of a facelift?” and “How does a facelift change your face?”

A facelift—technically known as a “rhytidectomy”—is designed to counteract the effects of time and gravity on the face. The surgery lifts and firms sagging facial tissues, specifically in the lower face, so if you want to restore more youthful facial contours, a facelift can be ideal. Additionally, younger patients may decide to have a facelift to address early signs of aging before the changes become more pronounced.

A neck lift, also known as a “lower rhytidectomy,” is a surgical procedure that can address signs of aging that develop specifically on the jawline and neck. The neck lift procedure is intended to treat jowls that are linked to excess fat and skin relaxation on the lower face, unwanted fat below the chin (a “double chin”), and loose skin and muscle banding on the neck.

A neck lift can be performed as a standalone procedure for the right patient, but it is most often paired with a facelift in order to achieve holistic results.

Overall, neck lift surgery and facelift surgery are excellent ways to:

Dr. Jacob Unger focuses on exceptional patient care. This core belief for every surgery is built on his extensive training with Dr. Sam Hamra and Dr. Fritz Barton, two Dallas-based plastic surgeons who helped to develop the high SMAS facelift, or the original Deep Plane Facelift.

Dr. Unger applied his training with those legendary plastic surgeons and years of personal research to develop and perfect his own Dual Plane Facelift, an industry-recognized technique that works on two different levels to create an especially natural look. Not only does he elevate deep plane tissues that are shifting downward, but he also re-drapes the surface skin at the most appropriate angle so that there is no pulling or tension. He will further add volume to deep tissue fat compartments as necessary via fat grafting. The fat grafting is the body’s natural filler to help restore lost volume throughout the face in a more permanent and elegant way.

The extremely customized Dual Plane Facelift technique results in an incredibly natural look with virtually imperceptible scarring and an ideal shape for each patient’s unique face.

There are several variations of facelift surgery that are designed to address a range of unique skin needs and desired results. Dr. Unger will assess your skin, perform a thorough examination of your facial tissues, and discuss your goals with you personally. He will then recommend a customized plan for the facelift or neck lift technique that offers the results you want.

The most commonly chosen techniques are:

Since facial sagging results from a variety of causes, each facelift and neck lift patient requires a unique assessment and surgical plan. You may need to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, adjust how you’re taking certain medications, and stop taking blood thinners before moving forward with this procedure.

For most patients choosing a facelift at Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute, Dr. Unger combines volume enhancement (where the “fullness of youth” has been lost) with appropriate tissue suspension and tightening (never a “pulled look”) and minimal-scar techniques.

Before your procedure, Dr. Unger and the highly trained Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute staff will meet with you to ensure that you thoroughly understand your procedure and recovery, as well as to answer any questions you may have.

Your facelift will be performed at Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute’s modern OR suite. Safety, privacy, respect, a caring approach, and excellent care—in addition to the highest standard for surgical outcomes—will be the hallmarks of your experience.

Most patients will have general anesthesia for their facelift, which is performed as an outpatient procedure. Private duty aftercare is available to return home with you to help monitor your initial recovery and handle your needs throughout the first night, which is highly recommended for the most restful and relaxed post operative experience.

The surgery itself generally takes several hours. Expect to spend extra time in the operating room if your procedure will focus on multiple areas.

Dr. Unger pursues the highest aesthetic and surgical standards for each facelift and will gladly discuss the measures he takes to minimize scarring and ensure that your results harmonize beautifully—and naturally—with your other features.

For examples of the beautiful and natural-looking results possible with Dr. Unger’s highly technical work and artistic approach, please view his gallery of facelift before and after photos.

Following a neck lift or facelift at Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute, you will return to your home—or, for our out-of-town guests, to one of the welcoming hotels conveniently located a short distance from our surgical center.

Many patients ask us: How long does it take to “look normal” after a facelift? Some patients heal more quickly than others, but it’s common for patients to feel better within just a few days of recovery. Be prepared for some swelling and bruising—but know that these side effects don’t always happen. If they do, they commonly last for about two weeks. Dr. Unger likes to say that after two weeks you are “public and restaurant ready” and after six weeks, you are “camera ready!”

Many of the sutures Dr. Unger uses will dissolve on their own, but some will need to be removed at the one-week mark.

Most patients feel more like themselves within one week, but the exact timeline for recovery varies depending on the state of your health and your surgery specifics. We recommend engaging only in light exercise for at least two weeks, moving to heavier cardio after four weeks, and lifting any activity restrictions after six weeks.

Our goal is to maximize the experience as well as the outcome for facelift and neck lift patients.

If you want to improve the contours of your cheeks and reduce sagging skin on the lower face area to achieve a more youthful appearance, you may be an ideal candidate for facelift surgery.

For both a facelift and neck lift, patients who are healthy, who don’t have any medical conditions that could impair healing, who are non-smokers, and who maintain a positive outlook and realistic expectations are the best candidates.

Facelifts and neck lifts are highly individualized, with procedure details tailored to the patient, their anatomy, and their goals. For example, if you are generally satisfied with the appearance of your upper face and are not ready for a facelift—but your neck isn’t matching your upper facial appearance—a neck lift could be a good choice.

In addition to neck lift and facelift surgery, the Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute team also provides other facial plastic surgery procedures to help give you a younger, more rejuvenated appearance. Many patients consider brow lift surgery, eyelid surgery, a surgical lip lift, or facial fat grafting.

Patients may also wish to consider non-surgical options to reduce wrinkles and revitalize the face, such as dermal fillers and BOTOX^®. These minimally invasive treatments are effective for addressing fine lines and wrinkles that can’t be corrected with a facelift. Injectables can even be combined with a mini lift for some patients.