Face and Neck Lift Surgery Sydney | Dr Scott J Turner Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Q: Is a neck lift always included with a facelift?

Not always, but in most cases it is, because the lower face and neck age together. Treating the face without the neck often produces a result that looks imbalanced. For some patients with early facial changes and good neck skin quality, a short scar facelift can be performed without a formal neck lift. Whether the neck needs to be included is assessed at consultation based on individual anatomy.

Dr Scott J Turner | Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) | Sydney

Most patients seeking facelift surgery aren’t just concerned about their face. The neck ages alongside the lower face: jowling along the jawline, platysma banding, loose neck skin, and loss of the cervicomental angle. Addressing one without the other tends to produce a result that looks incomplete. For this reason, the vast majority of facelift procedures I perform include a neck lift component as part of the same operation, particularly when a deep plane facelift Sydney approach is used.

As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) practising from Bondi Junction and Manly in Sydney, I have specific training in deep plane facelift and neck lift surgery. Surgery is performed at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.

Do I Need a Facelift, a Neck Lift, or Both?

The answer depends on where the changes are most prominent.

Mostly lower face — jowling, midface descent, loss of jawline definition. The primary concern is facial. A facelift addressing the SMAS and midface structures is the appropriate starting point, with a neck component added where neck laxity is also present. See facelift surgery in Sydney.

Mostly neck — visible platysma banding, loose neck skin, submental fullness, loss of the cervicomental angle. Where facial changes are minimal, a standalone neck lift may adequately address the concern. See neck lift surgery Sydney.

Both face and neck together. The most common presentation. The lower face and neck age as a continuous unit, and treating both in the same operation produces a more coherent result than staging them separately. This is where a combined face and neck lift — the focus of this guide — is the appropriate approach.

If you’re unsure which category your concerns fall into, that question is exactly what a consultation is designed to answer.

Why the Face and Neck Are Addressed Together

The lower face and neck do not age independently. The same processes — ligament weakening, SMAS descent, platysma separation, skin laxity — affect both regions simultaneously. The jawline is where the two merge, and it is also the first place an imbalanced result becomes obvious.

A facelift that addresses jowling and midface descent without treating the neck leaves an incongruity at the jaw. The lower face looks corrected; the neck does not. In most patients, this is not the right outcome, and experienced surgeons plan for both from the outset.

Addressing both face and neck in a single operation also means one anaesthetic, one hospital stay, and one recovery period — rather than two separate procedures at separate times.

What a Combined Face and Neck Lift Involves

A face and neck lift combines the structural work of a facelift — SMAS repositioning and retaining ligament release — with the neck-specific work of a neck lift, which addresses the platysma muscle, neck skin, and where required, deeper neck structures.

The facial component lifts and repositions the descended soft tissue of the midface and lower face. Depending on the degree of change present, this may be a deep plane facelift, SMAS facelift, or vertical restore facelift. The approach is selected at consultation based on the individual anatomy and degree of change.

The neck component addresses the platysma muscle through platysmaplasty, removes excess neck skin, and may include liposuction of submental fat where present. For patients with deeper structural neck changes — prominent subplatysmal fat, submandibular gland prominence, or significant digastric muscle bulk — deep neck lift components are incorporated.

The two components are not separate procedures performed sequentially. They are integrated into a single surgical plan through the same incisions, producing a continuous result from midface to neck.

Technique Selection

Not every patient requires the same combination. The appropriate approach depends on where the changes are most significant and what each region requires.

Deep plane facelift with neck lift. The most common combination for patients with significant midface descent, prominent jowling, and neck laxity. The deep plane facelift releases the retaining ligaments and repositions the soft tissue composite; the neck lift component addresses the platysma and neck skin through the same incisions extended behind the ear. For patients where the concern is “everything from the cheek to the neck,” a deep plane facelift with platysmaplasty neck lift is often the most comprehensive single-operation approach. This is described in detail on the deep plane facelift page. Where deeper neck structures — subplatysmal fat, submandibular glands, digastric bulk — are also contributing to neck fullness, deep neck lift components are incorporated into the same procedure.

Vertical Restore Facelift. Where changes span the entire face from brow to neck, the Vertical Restore Facelift integrates deep plane techniques with brow correction, blepharoplasty where indicated, midface repositioning, and deep neck lift into a single comprehensive procedure.

SMAS facelift with neck lift. For patients with mild to moderate facial changes, where the degree of descent does not require deep plane dissection. The SMAS is tightened through plication or excision, with a neck lift performed through the same incisions.

Short scar facelift with limited neck work. For earlier-presenting patients — typically in their late 30s to early 50s — where the lower face shows early jowling but neck skin quality is good. The short scar facelift uses a limited incision and may be combined with neck liposuction, where submental fat is the primary neck concern.

The Procedure

Face and neck lift surgery is performed under general anaesthetic at a fully accredited Sydney private hospital, with a specialist anaesthetist managing care throughout. An overnight stay is standard.

Operating time varies with the scope of the procedure. A deep plane facelift with neck lift typically takes 3 to 5 hours. A vertical restore facelift with comprehensive neck work may take 5 to 7 hours.

Incisions are placed in the natural hairline and skin crease lines in front of and behind the ears, extending into the posterior hairline to allow skin redraping across the neck. A small submental incision beneath the chin is added where direct access to the platysma or deeper neck structures is required.

All surgery is performed personally by Dr Turner. He does not delegate surgical procedures to trainees or associates.

Recovery

Recovery from a combined face and neck lift is more involved than either procedure alone, reflecting the scope of the surgery.

Overnight hospital stay. Standard for all combined procedures. Most patients are discharged the following morning.

Days 2 to 3. Swelling and bruising peak. Head elevation essential. Drains are removed at the first post-operative visit.

Week 1 to 2. Sutures removed at one to two weeks. A compression garment is worn to support neck healing — continuously for the first week, then at night for a further three to four weeks.

Week 2 to 3. Most patients return to desk work and light social settings. Visible bruising has largely resolved.

Week 6 to 8. Exercise and more strenuous activity can resume.

Months 3 to 6. Final result is apparent as residual swelling fully resolves and tissues settle into their new position.

For a full week-by-week guide, see recovery after facelift surgery.

Cost

Procedure	All-inclusive cost
Short scar facelift with neck liposuction	Approximately $25,000
Deep plane facelift with neck lift	Approximately $35,000
Vertical Restore Facelift	Approximately $45,000
Consultation	$450

All-inclusive: surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all follow-up visits. A formal itemised quote is provided after consultation based on the specific surgical plan. For full pricing context, see the facelift cost guide.

AHPRA Regulatory Requirements

Under AHPRA cosmetic surgery guidelines (effective 1 July 2023), the following apply before face and neck lift surgery can proceed:

A referral from your GP or a specialist physician
A minimum of two consultations with Dr Turner before surgery is booked
A psychological evaluation to confirm suitability
A mandatory cooling-off period before formal consent is given

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a neck lift always included with a facelift?

Not always — but in most cases it is, because the lower face and neck age together. Treating the face without the neck often produces a result that looks imbalanced. For some patients with early facial changes and good neck skin quality, a short scar facelift can be performed without a formal neck lift. Whether the neck needs to be included is assessed at consultation based on individual anatomy.

What is the difference between a face and neck lift and a facelift?

A facelift addresses the midface and lower face. A face and neck lift combines facelift with a neck lift component — platysmaplasty, neck skin redraping, and where required, deeper neck work. Most comprehensive facelift procedures at Dr Turner’s practice include a neck lift component as standard. The distinction matters most where a patient is considering a short scar or mini facelift, which has limited ability to address the neck.

How long does face and neck lift surgery take?

Operating time varies with the technique and scope. A deep plane facelift with neck lift typically takes 3 to 5 hours. A vertical restore facelift with comprehensive neck work may take 5 to 7 hours. A short scar facelift with limited neck work is typically 2 to 3 hours.

How long does recovery take after a face and neck lift?

Most patients return to desk work and light social settings within two to three weeks. Exercise and strenuous activity resume at six to eight weeks. The final result is apparent at three to six months as residual swelling fully resolves and the tissues settle into their new position.

How much does a face and neck lift cost in Sydney?

Cost depends on the technique. A short scar facelift with neck liposuction costs approximately $25,000 all-inclusive. A deep plane facelift with neck lift costs approximately $35,000. A vertical restore facelift costs approximately $45,000. All figures include surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all follow-up visits. A consultation fee of $450 applies.

Related Procedures and Resources

Related procedures:

Helpful guides:

Consult with Dr Scott J Turner

If you are considering a face and neck lift in Sydney but are unsure which approach is right for you, a consultation with Dr Turner will focus on whether a facelift, a neck lift, or a combined face and neck lift is likely to best match your anatomy and the degree of change present. From an anatomical standpoint, most modern facelift procedures already include significant neck work — in Dr Turner’s practice, a “facelift” is usually a face and neck lift performed together.

Dr Turner consults in Sydney at Bondi Junction and Manly. He also sees patients in Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle — and patients regularly travel from interstate for deep plane and extended deep plane facelift surgery. Surgery is performed in Sydney at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.

You can also review facelift before and after photos and read more about deep plane facelift surgery before your first visit.

Contact the practice to arrange a consultation, or read more about Dr Turner’s background and training.

Face and Neck Lift Surgery Sydney — What to Expect