Why Patients Research Neck Lift with Dr Turner
The following information is provided to help patients evaluate whether Dr Turner’s practice fits what they are looking for. Neck lift outcomes vary between patients, and suitability for any procedure is determined in consultation rather than from a website.
- FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeon — Dr Turner is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in plastic and reconstructive surgery
- AHPRA registration — MED0001654827, current and verifiable on the AHPRA register
- Facial and cervical surgical focus — neck lift surgery, including platysmaplasty and deep neck lift, forms part of Dr Turner’s regular surgical caseload
- Accredited Sydney private hospitals — all surgery is performed at fully accredited private hospital facilities in Sydney, with a specialist anaesthetist and dedicated nursing team
- Local Brisbane follow-up — routine post-operative care is coordinated through Herstellen Clinic in Spring Hill by Dr Turner and the Herstellen team, so Queensland patients are not required to travel to Sydney for routine appointments
- Itemised quotes — written, itemised quotes are provided after consultation, with surgeon’s fees, hospital fees, anaesthetic fees and post-operative garments listed separately
- Minimum two consultations — a minimum of two consultations is required before any surgical decision, and the Queensland 7-day cooling-off period applies
- Before-and-after material available at consultation — compliant neck lift before-and-after material is available to view in person during consultation; the gallery is not displayed publicly online in line with AHPRA guidance
Understanding Neck Lift Surgery
Neck lift surgery is a broad term that covers several distinct techniques. What they share is a goal: addressing the structural causes of neck descent and laxity, not just the skin on top of them. Some patients require muscle work, some require fat removal, some require both. The technique chosen depends on which anatomical layer is driving the changes.
What Neck Lift Surgery May Address
- Platysmal banding — vertical cords visible at rest or with animation
- Submental fullness — fat accumulation beneath the chin contributing to under-chin heaviness or jawline blur
- Loss of cervicomental angle — the angle between the underside of the chin and the front of the neck, which sharpens with deep neck lift work
- Neck skin laxity — surface skin redundancy, addressed alongside the deeper work where present
- Jawline-to-neck transition — blurred boundary between jaw and neck that sharpens with structural repositioning
What it does not address: midface descent, jowls, or facial volume changes. These belong to facelift surgery and are sometimes addressed in the same surgical setting where anatomy and patient goals warrant a combined approach. Brow descent and eyelid hooding are addressed by brow lift Brisbane and blepharoplasty Brisbane respectively.
Types of Neck Lift Surgery
| Procedure | Main focus | Usually considered when |
|---|---|---|
| Platysmaplasty | Platysma muscle bands or central neck laxity | Visible vertical neck bands or midline platysma separation are present |
| Neck lift | Skin laxity, platysma, superficial fat and jawline-neck transition | Loose neck skin, neck bands or broader neck laxity are present |
| Deep neck lift Brisbane | Structures beneath the platysma | Subplatysmal fat, digastric muscle prominence or submandibular gland fullness contribute to neck contour |
| Direct neck lift Brisbane | Focused under-chin or central neck concern | Selected patients have localised central neck fullness and good skin quality |
| Neck liposuction | Superficial fat | Superficial fat is the main concern and skin quality is suitable |
| Facelift with neck lift | Lower face and neck together | Jowls, jawline laxity and neck ageing occur together |
The right approach depends entirely on anatomy. Two patients with similar surface appearances can have very different underlying contributors — for example, one with primary fat excess and good muscle position, another with platysmal separation and minimal fat. The surgical plan follows that assessment, not the patient’s preference for a particular technique label.
Platysmaplasty Brisbane
Platysmaplasty is a surgical technique used to tighten or reposition the platysma — the thin, broad sheet of muscle that runs from the collarbone up across the front of the neck and onto the lower face. With age, the muscle separates at the midline, allowing the paired edges to become visible as vertical cords. Platysmaplasty addresses this by accessing the muscle directly and reapproximating it.
Two main variations exist:
- Medial platysmaplasty — repairs the separated medial edges of the platysma in the midline through a small submental incision beneath the chin. This is the most common platysmaplasty technique and addresses central vertical bands and submental laxity.
- Lateral platysmaplasty — repositions the platysma more laterally toward the neck and lower face. This is generally performed as part of a broader neck lift or facelift plan rather than as an isolated procedure, and addresses lateral jawline-to-neck definition.
The technique used depends on the patient’s anatomy, the position of the platysmal banding, and whether neck lift is being performed alone or as part of a broader operation.
Neck Lift, Deep Neck Lift or Direct Neck Lift?
Not every neck concern requires the same procedure. With three Brisbane neck pages addressing related but distinct anatomical situations, it is worth being explicit about which page covers what:
- A general neck lift or platysmaplasty may be considered where the main issues are loose neck skin, vertical platysmal bands, superficial fat or loss of definition between the jawline and neck. This page covers that scenario.
- A deep neck lift Brisbane may be considered where deeper structures beneath the platysma are contributing to neck fullness — subplatysmal fat, digastric muscle prominence or submandibular gland fullness. The dedicated deep neck lift page covers the anatomy, technique and patient profile in detail.
- A direct neck lift Brisbane may be considered only in selected patients with a more localised under-chin or central neck concern and suitable skin quality. The dedicated direct neck lift page covers when this approach is appropriate and when it is not.
The appropriate option depends on examination findings. Patients commonly arrive having researched one option specifically and leave the consultation having decided on a different one, because the anatomy points elsewhere.
Are You a Suitable Candidate?
Neck lift surgery is generally considered for patients with structural neck changes — platysmal banding, submental fullness, deeper subplatysmal contributors, or skin laxity — that have not responded to lifestyle, weight management or non-surgical treatments. Age varies more than for facelift surgery: some patients present in their late thirties or forties with strong platysmal banding or genetic submental fullness, others not until their sixties or seventies.
You may be a suitable candidate if you have:
- Visible platysmal banding at rest or with animation
- Submental fullness disproportionate to your overall weight
- Loss of definition between your jawline and neck
- Realistic expectations about what neck surgery can and cannot change
- Good general health and non-smoker status — or willingness to stop at least 6 weeks before and after surgery
Final suitability is determined after physical assessment of the neck and jawline, examination of the platysma at rest and on contraction, and a review of medical history.
Procedures Commonly Considered Alongside Neck Lift Surgery
Neck lift can be a standalone procedure or one component of a combined operation. The following Brisbane procedures are most often discussed in the same consultation:
- Deep Neck Lift Brisbane — for deeper subplatysmal contributors that platysmaplasty alone cannot reach
- Direct Neck Lift Brisbane — for selected patients with focused under-chin concerns and suitable skin quality
- Deep Plane Facelift Brisbane — for combined lower face and neck ageing addressed as a single composite procedure
- SMAS Facelift Brisbane — for early-to-moderate facial ageing where neck work is added alongside
- Vertical Restore Facelift Brisbane — for multi-zone facial ageing involving midface, brow and neck together
- Short Scar Facelift Brisbane — for early lower-face changes with abbreviated facelift incisions
- Endoscopic Brow Lift Brisbane — for upper-third concerns, often combined with neck lift
- Blepharoplasty Brisbane — for upper or lower eyelid concerns, often combined with neck lift
- Revision Facelift Brisbane — for patients with neck-related concerns after a previous facelift
Your Consultation at Herstellen Clinic, Brisbane
Dr Scott Turner consults with patients at Herstellen Clinic, 490 Boundary Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000 — in the Spring Hill medical precinct, close to the Brisbane CBD. Paid street and undercover parking is available nearby; the clinic is also accessible by public transport from Central Station via local bus services and a short walk.
The initial consultation involves a detailed anatomical assessment. Dr Turner examines platysmal position and contraction patterns, the cervicomental angle, submental fat distribution, skin quality, jawline definition and lower-face contributors. He reviews your medical history, any previous cosmetic treatments, and what you are hoping the surgery will address. You will discuss whether platysmaplasty, deep neck lift, neck liposuction or a combined facelift-and-neck approach is the appropriate plan for your anatomy.
All neck lift and platysmaplasty surgery is performed at accredited private hospitals in Sydney where Dr Turner operates with his established anaesthetic and theatre team. Following surgery, all routine post-operative appointments are managed locally by Dr Turner and the Herstellen Clinic team in Brisbane — including wound care, suture removal and ongoing monitoring through recovery.
A minimum of two consultations is required before surgery is scheduled. Queensland regulations require a minimum 7-day cooling-off period between consultation and any elective cosmetic surgical procedure. This is a mandatory requirement, not an optional waiting period.
Surgical Technique
Neck lift surgery is performed under general anaesthesia at an accredited private hospital in Sydney. Operating time varies by technique: platysmaplasty alone typically 2 to 3 hours; deep neck lift 3 to 4 hours; combined with facelift, 5 to 8 hours. An overnight hospital stay is standard for combined and deep neck lift procedures.
Submental Incision and Platysmaplasty
The primary access point is a submental incision (beneath the chin, typically 3 to 4 cm, positioned in the natural crease beneath the chin). Through this incision Dr Turner accesses the platysma, addresses any submental fat, and performs platysmal repair where indicated — typically medial platysmaplasty to reapproximate the separated muscle edges in the midline.
Lateral Incisions for Skin Redraping
Where skin laxity or jawline-to-neck definition requires it, additional incisions are placed within the hairline above and behind the ear or in the crease behind the ear. These allow lateral platysmal work and skin redraping along the jawline. The decision to add lateral incisions depends on the degree of skin laxity present.
Neck Liposuction
Where superficial submental and submandibular fat is the primary concern and platysmal position is acceptable, neck liposuction can be performed through small puncture incisions beneath the chin and behind the earlobes. It is most often combined with platysmaplasty rather than performed in isolation, because isolated liposuction in patients with platysmal banding or deeper structural contributors does not address the underlying cause.
Combined Approaches
Where anatomy involves both face and neck — descent of the jowl, midface and neck together — Dr Turner may discuss deep plane facelift Brisbane with extended neck dissection as a single composite procedure rather than isolated neck lift surgery. The decision is made during consultation after assessment of both regions together. Where deeper subplatysmal contributors are part of the picture, the deep neck lift Brisbane page covers the additional technical detail.
Neck Lift Cost Brisbane
The cost of neck lift or platysmaplasty surgery depends on the surgical plan, operating time, accredited hospital fees, specialist anaesthetist fees, garments, whether deep neck work is required, and whether the procedure is performed alone or with facelift surgery.
Standalone anterior neck lift or platysmaplasty is listed on Dr Turner’s main procedure page at $18,000 to $26,000, with pricing including surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia and follow-up visits. Deep neck lift work that involves additional subplatysmal dissection, digastric muscle reduction or submandibular gland assessment sits at the higher end of the range. Combined neck lift with deep plane facelift is priced as a combined procedure rather than the sum of two separate operations.
A written itemised quote is provided after consultation once Dr Turner has assessed the patient’s anatomy and confirmed the recommended surgical plan. Cosmetic neck lift surgery is not eligible for Medicare or private health insurance rebates. Where neck procedures are part of a reconstructive plan with a recognised Medicare item number, rebate eligibility is discussed during consultation. For broader pricing context, see plastic surgery prices.
Recovery After Neck Lift Surgery
First 7–10 Days
The first week involves dedicated rest with head elevation, particularly when sleeping. Swelling and bruising typically peak around days 2 to 3. A chin strap or supportive garment is worn around the clock during the initial week to support the tissues and reduce swelling. Drains, if placed, are removed within 1 to 2 days. Sutures are removed at the first post-operative review. Tightness and altered sensation along the neck are normal in the early recovery period.
Weeks 2–6
Visible bruising largely resolves. Most patients feel comfortable being seen socially at around 2 to 3 weeks, though this varies individually. Light activity and desk work resume during this period. Strenuous exercise and any activity that significantly raises blood pressure or heart rate is generally restricted until approximately 6 weeks. The chin strap continues at night or part-time during the day per Dr Turner’s specific instructions.
3–6 Months and Beyond
Final settling continues over 3 to 6 months as deeper tissues reach their resting position. Sensation along the neck gradually returns, though some patients retain altered patches for longer. Scar maturation continues for up to 12 months. Brisbane’s UV environment makes consistent sun protection relevant for both scar quality and overall skin maintenance. Individual recovery varies.
Risks and Complications
All surgery carries inherent risks. Neck lift surgery is technically demanding and the risk profile is discussed in detail during consultation.
Common during recovery (expected and temporary): swelling, bruising, tightness, temporary numbness, and minor asymmetry as swelling settles.
Surgical risks specific to neck lift:
- Haematoma — collection of blood under the skin requiring drainage. More common in neck surgery than facelift surgery due to the rich vascular supply of the neck. Blood pressure management and avoiding blood-thinning medications reduces this risk.
- Nerve injury — the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, the great auricular nerve and the cervical nerves all run through the surgical field. Temporary weakness or altered sensation occurs in a small percentage of patients and usually resolves within weeks to months. Permanent injury is rare but possible and is discussed in detail at consultation.
- Skin necrosis — rare in non-smokers; significantly elevated in smokers, which is why cessation at least 6 weeks before and after surgery is mandatory.
- Infection — uncommon with appropriate technique and post-operative care.
- Scarring — submental and post-auricular scars are usually inconspicuous once mature, but individual healing varies and some patients develop more visible scarring.
- Asymmetry — minor asymmetry is common and usually settles; significant asymmetry requiring revision is uncommon.
- Salivary gland exposure — relevant specifically to deep neck lift work involving the submandibular glands; discussed at consultation if this component is planned.
- Results not meeting expectations — if anatomy or skin quality is not suited to the planned approach, results may not fully address all concerns.
Dr Turner discusses all relevant risks during consultation, including how they relate to your specific anatomy and health history. For broader information, see risks and complications of cosmetic surgery.
About Dr Scott J Turner — Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Scott J Turner is a Sydney Specialist Plastic Surgeon and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons — FRACS (Plas) — with a practice focused on cosmetic plastic surgery of the face, nose and body. He holds AHPRA registration MED0001654827.
Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a protected medical title in Australia. It requires a minimum of 12 years of medical and surgical training, including completion of an accredited surgical training programme in plastic and reconstructive surgery and Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. It is distinct from the broader term “cosmetic surgeon,” which in Australia does not require Specialist Plastic Surgery training. AHPRA’s public register allows patients to verify any practitioner’s specialist registration.
Dr Turner’s primary surgical practice is based in Sydney at Bondi Junction and Manly. He consults in Brisbane at Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill, with surgery performed at accredited private hospitals in Sydney and post-operative follow-up provided by Dr Turner and the Herstellen Clinic team in Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between neck lift and platysmaplasty?
Neck lift is the broader procedure category. Platysmaplasty is the muscle-repair component that addresses the platysma — the thin sheet of muscle running across the front of the neck — particularly where vertical neck bands or central neck laxity are visible. A neck lift may include platysmaplasty as part of a wider operation that also involves skin redraping, fat contouring and incisions around the ears or under the chin. In some patients, platysmaplasty alone is sufficient; in others it forms one component of a broader plan.
What is the difference between neck lift and deep neck lift?
A standard neck lift or platysmaplasty mainly addresses the platysma muscle, superficial fat and neck skin. A deep neck lift extends the dissection beneath the platysma to address structures the standard procedure cannot reach — subplatysmal fat, prominence of the anterior bellies of the digastric muscle, and in some patients submandibular gland positioning. Deep neck lift is appropriate where these deeper anatomical contributors are driving the patient’s neck profile, rather than the surface layers.
What is the difference between neck lift and direct neck lift?
A general neck lift usually addresses broader neck laxity through incisions placed around the ears and under the chin, with skin redraping along the jawline. A direct neck lift is a more focused procedure for selected patients with localised central under-chin concerns and good skin quality. It uses an incision directly on the front of the neck rather than around the ears, and is generally considered only in specific anatomical situations where the trade-off in scar visibility is acceptable.
How much does neck lift cost in Brisbane?
Standalone anterior neck lift or platysmaplasty is listed on Dr Turner’s main procedure page at $18,000 to $26,000, with pricing including surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia and follow-up visits. The exact cost depends on the surgical plan, operating time, whether deep neck work is required and whether the procedure is performed alone or with facelift surgery. A written itemised quote is provided after consultation. Neck lift surgery for cosmetic reasons is not eligible for Medicare or private health insurance rebates.
Can neck lift be combined with facelift?
Yes, and for many patients combined neck and face surgery produces a more balanced result than addressing one zone in isolation. Dr Turner most commonly combines neck lift work with deep plane facelift, which is designed as a single composite procedure rather than separate operations. Whether a combined approach is appropriate depends on the patient’s face and neck assessment together — patients with jowls, lower-face descent and neck laxity occurring together are most likely to be offered a combined surgical plan.
Is neck lift surgery suitable for men?
Yes. Neck lift surgery is appropriate for both men and women. The surgical planning differs in some respects — incision placement around male hair patterns, consideration of beard line position, the typically thicker skin and stronger platysma in male patients — but the procedure itself is the same. Some male patients present specifically for under-chin or thick-neck concerns where deep neck lift work is the relevant component, while others present primarily for jawline definition or platysmal banding.
What does recovery from neck lift surgery look like for Brisbane patients?
The first 7 to 10 days are spent resting with head elevation and a chin strap worn around the clock. Swelling and bruising typically peak around days 2 to 3. Sutures are removed at the first post-operative review. Most patients feel comfortable being seen socially at around 2 to 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise is generally restricted until approximately 6 weeks. Residual swelling and final settling continue over 3 to 6 months. Brisbane patients complete the initial post-operative review in Sydney and then return home for follow-up at Herstellen Clinic.
What should I look for in a neck lift surgeon in Queensland?
When researching neck lift surgeons in Queensland or elsewhere in Australia, patients should verify FRACS (Plas) accreditation, current AHPRA registration, the surgeon’s experience with both platysmaplasty and deep neck lift technique, the hospital where the surgery would be performed, the anaesthetic team, what follow-up arrangements are in place, and how complications would be managed if they occurred. The AHPRA public register confirms specialist registration. RACS, ASPS and ASAPS publish information patients can use to verify credentials.
Book a Consultation at the Brisbane Clinic
If you are based in Brisbane, Queensland, or elsewhere in Australia and would like to explore your options with Dr Turner, contact the practice to request a consultation at Herstellen Clinic in Spring Hill. For visual reference of surgical outcomes, the facelift before and after gallery is available (which includes patients who have undergone combined facelift and neck lift surgery). Patients travelling from regional Queensland or interstate may find the out-of-town patient information useful.
Herstellen Clinic 490 Boundary Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000 Phone: 1300 437 758 Email: [email protected] Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Request a Brisbane consultation
Consultations are with Dr Turner personally. A minimum of two consultations is required before surgery. Queensland’s 7-day cooling-off period applies to all cosmetic surgical procedures.
Brisbane Procedure Pages
- Endoscopic Ponytail Facelift — Brisbane
- Short Scar Facelift — Brisbane
- Deep Plane Facelift — Brisbane
- Vertical Restore Facelift — Brisbane
- SMAS Facelift — Brisbane
- Revision Facelift — Brisbane
- Neck Lift — Brisbane
- Deep Neck Lift — Brisbane
- Direct Neck Lift — Brisbane
- Endoscopic Brow Lift — Brisbane
- Blepharoplasty — Brisbane
