Quick answers
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does neck lift surgery treat? | Loose neck skin, platysma bands, submental fat, deep neck fullness, and poor jawline-neck balance. |
| Which procedure suits me? | Depends on skin laxity, fat distribution, muscle separation, deep structures, and chin projection. The comparison table below maps each concern to the relevant pathway. |
| Who performs the surgery? | Dr Scott J Turner, FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeon, AHPRA registration MED0001654827. |
| Where are consultations held? | Bondi Junction and Manly. |
| Where is surgery performed? | Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why. |
| Is a GP referral required? | Yes. A current referral from your usual GP or an independent medical practitioner is required before booking cosmetic surgery in Australia. |
What neck lift surgery addresses
The neck ages in layers, and a useful way to think about it is to separate the contour change from the cause. The skin can become loose. Fat can sit unevenly beneath the chin. The platysma, a thin sheet of muscle running down the front of the neck, can separate in the midline and form two vertical bands. Beneath that muscle, deeper structures (subplatysmal fat, the front edges of the digastric muscles, and sometimes the submandibular salivary glands) can contribute to fullness that a standard neck lift will not reach. Finally, the chin itself, or rather the bony projection of the chin, helps define where the neck visually starts.
A patient asking about “the turkey neck look” might actually be describing platysma bands. Someone unhappy about a “double chin” might have isolated submental fat, or might have a recessed chin pulling the soft tissue forward. The job of the consultation is to identify which of these is contributing, and in what proportion, before recommending a procedure.
Which neck procedure is right for you?
This table maps the most common patient concern to the procedure pathway most often used to address it. Many patients fall into more than one category, and combined approaches are common.
| Main concern | Most relevant pathway | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical bands running down the front of the neck | Platysmaplasty | Targets platysma separation and tightens the muscle in the midline. |
| Loose neck skin, “turkey neck” appearance | Platysmaplasty or direct neck lift | Choice depends on the pattern of laxity, scar tolerance, and whether lateral redraping through facelift incisions is appropriate. |
| Submental fullness with good skin elasticity | Neck liposuction | Removes superficial fat below the chin. Does not tighten muscle or skin. |
| Persistent fullness despite previous neck surgery or in patients with thick deep tissues | Deep neck lift | Addresses subplatysmal fat, anterior digastric muscles, and submandibular gland prominence where appropriate. |
| Weak or recessed chin contributing to poor jawline-neck balance | Chin implants | Improves bony projection at the front of the jaw, which often clarifies the neck contour even before soft-tissue surgery. |
| Lower face laxity (jowls) combined with neck ageing | Facelift with neck lift, or deep plane facelift | More balanced when changes to the lower face and neck are present together. |
Neck lift techniques
The five procedure pathways below are the building blocks. A single patient may need one of them, two of them combined, or a neck lift staged alongside facelift surgery. Each section links through to the dedicated page for that procedure.
Platysmaplasty
Platysmaplasty is what most patients picture when they think of a standard neck lift. The procedure is performed through a small incision under the chin, sometimes combined with discreet incisions behind the ears. The platysma muscle is identified, any midline separation is closed with sutures (a corset platysmaplasty), and excess fat is removed where present. When skin laxity sits laterally as well as in the midline, platysmaplasty is often combined with a facelift component so the skin can be redraped through incisions around the ears.
Platysmaplasty is the right starting point for patients with prominent vertical neck bands, modest to moderate skin laxity, and submental fullness that is partly muscular and partly fatty. Read more on the platysmaplasty Sydney page.
Deep neck lift
A deep neck lift is not a different operation so much as a more thorough one. Once the platysma muscle is opened in the midline, the surgeon can work on structures sitting beneath it: subplatysmal fat, the anterior bellies of the digastric muscles, and in some cases the submandibular glands. Patients who need a deep neck lift typically have persistent neck fullness even at a healthy weight, fullness that did not improve with previous neck surgery, or a thick, heavy neck where the depth of tissue is part of the problem.
This procedure carries different considerations than a surface neck lift, and patient selection matters. Read more on the deep neck lift Sydney page.
Direct neck lift
A direct neck lift is a less commonly performed procedure with a specific role. The technique addresses central neck laxity through an incision placed directly down the front of the neck, with the skin excised in a vertical pattern. It is most useful in older patients, often men, who have significant central neck skin excess but who are not candidates for, or do not want, a full facelift-style incision behind the ears. The trade-off is a visible vertical scar on the front of the neck, which fades over time but does not disappear.
Patient selection for direct neck lift is narrow, and the decision is made carefully in consultation. Read more on the direct neck lift Sydney page.
Neck liposuction
Neck liposuction removes superficial fat from the submental and submandibular areas through a small incision under the chin. It is the right procedure for patients with isolated fullness beneath the chin, good skin elasticity that can be expected to redrape after fat removal, and no significant platysma banding. Neck liposuction does not tighten skin or muscle, so when those layers are part of the concern, liposuction alone will not deliver the result.
Where appropriate, neck liposuction can be performed as a standalone procedure or as a component of a fuller neck lift. Read more on the neck liposuction Sydney page.
Chin implants and jawline-neck balance
The chin is part of the neck conversation more often than patients expect. When the bony chin sits behind the lower lip in profile, the neck visually starts further forward, and the angle between chin and neck looks shallower than it really is. A chin implant adds projection to the front of the jaw, which sharpens the jawline-neck transition and can reduce the appearance of submental fullness even without removing fat. In selected patients, a chin implant is performed alongside platysmaplasty or neck liposuction. In others, the chin implant is the primary procedure and changes the neck appearance on its own.
Read more on the chin implants Sydney page.
Can a neck lift be performed without a facelift?
Yes. Many patients are suitable for a standalone neck lift, particularly when the changes are confined to the neck and the cheeks and jowls have not yet started to descend. Platysmaplasty through a submental incision, neck liposuction, and in selected cases deep neck lift can all be performed without a facelift component.
The clinical question is whether standalone neck surgery can fully address the laxity. When neck skin needs to be redraped laterally as well as in the midline, facelift incisions provide the access to do that. When the lower face is also descending, treating the neck on its own can create a visible mismatch between a smoother neck and unchanged jowls. The consultation is the point at which this is assessed.
Combining neck lift with facelift
For patients with ageing changes across the lower face and neck, a combined facelift and neck lift is usually the more balanced procedure. The two operations work on different planes, and combining them allows the cheeks, jowls and neck to be addressed in one anaesthetic, with a single recovery period. The neck component is typically a platysmaplasty, with deep neck lift added when indicated, while the facelift component redrapes the skin and lifts the deeper tissues of the lower face.
Where the facial ageing changes are more substantial, a deep plane facelift may be combined with neck lift in the same surgical session.
Are you a suitable candidate?
Suitability for neck lift surgery is determined in consultation, but the broad pattern is consistent. Patients who do well are in stable general health, are non-smokers or have stopped smoking well before surgery, have realistic expectations about what surgery can and cannot change, and have specific concerns that match what the procedure is designed to address.
Neck lift surgery is not appropriate for patients seeking minor improvements that fall within the range of non-surgical treatments, for patients with significant uncontrolled medical conditions, or for patients whose expectations exceed what neck surgery can deliver. Body dysmorphic concerns are screened for during the consultation process. Where a psychological assessment is indicated under the Medical Board’s cosmetic surgery requirements, it forms part of the pre-operative pathway.
Recovery after neck lift surgery
Recovery from neck lift surgery varies with the procedure performed, the patient’s general health, and whether neck surgery was combined with a facelift. The general pattern is as follows.
In the first week, swelling and bruising are most noticeable. A neck support garment is worn for a defined period, and patients are reviewed in clinic within the first few days. Most patients take time away from work and social commitments during this period.
From the second week onward, swelling settles, bruising fades, and patients gradually return to lighter activities. Exercise, heavy lifting, and impact activities are reintroduced gradually over the following weeks under Dr Turner’s guidance.
Final contour continues to refine over several months as swelling fully resolves and scars mature. A full breakdown is set out in the facelift and neck lift recovery guide.
Neck lift cost in Sydney
The cost of neck lift surgery in Sydney depends on the specific procedure performed, whether it is combined with facelift surgery, the surgical and anaesthetic time required, and the hospital facility used. Standalone neck liposuction sits at the lower end of the range, platysmaplasty in the middle, and combined facelift and neck lift at the upper end.
A detailed breakdown of surgical fees, anaesthetic fees, hospital fees, and Medicare considerations is set out in the face and neck lift cost guide. A formal quote is provided after the consultation, once the specific procedure has been confirmed.
Risks and safety
Neck lift surgery is a safe procedure when performed by an appropriately qualified surgeon in an accredited hospital setting, but every surgical procedure carries risk. Risks specific to neck lift surgery include haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that may require return to theatre), temporary or, rarely, permanent injury to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, asymmetry, contour irregularity, scarring, infection, and seroma. Patient-specific risks, including those related to general anaesthesia, are discussed in detail at consultation.
The full risks and complications resource is available on the neck lift risks and complications page.
Medical Board and AHPRA requirements for cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery in Australia is regulated by the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Patients seeking cosmetic neck lift surgery must meet several requirements before surgery can proceed.
A current referral from your usual general practitioner, or from an independent medical practitioner, is required. Two consultations are conducted before booking surgery, with the first consultation held in person. A cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between consenting to surgery and the surgery date for adult patients. Patients under 18 are subject to a longer cooling-off period of three months and require psychological assessment. Adult patients are screened for body dysmorphic concerns, with referral for psychological assessment where indicated.
These requirements exist to ensure patients have time and information to make a considered decision. Dr Turner’s practice follows the Medical Board’s cosmetic surgery guidelines in full.
Before and after photos
Before and after photographs of neck lift and facelift patients are available to view in person during consultation, in accordance with the Medical Board’s restrictions on the public display of cosmetic surgery results. The consultation also includes a review of patient-specific factors that influence the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I better suited to platysmaplasty, deep neck lift, direct neck lift or neck liposuction?
The answer depends on which anatomical layer is driving the concern. Patients with prominent vertical neck bands and modest skin laxity typically benefit from platysmaplasty. Patients with isolated submental fat and good skin elasticity may be suitable for neck liposuction alone. Patients with persistent deep neck fullness, often after previous neck surgery or in the setting of thicker tissues, may require a deep neck lift. Direct neck lift is reserved for selected patients with significant central neck skin excess who are not candidates for a facelift-style approach. The procedure pathway is confirmed at consultation after physical examination.
Can neck liposuction fix loose neck skin?
No. Neck liposuction removes superficial fat but does not tighten the skin or the platysma muscle. When skin laxity is part of the concern, neck liposuction performed alone will not deliver the result. A procedure that addresses the skin envelope, often combined with platysmaplasty, is more appropriate in that situation.
Can a neck lift improve jowls?
A neck lift alone does not lift the jowls. The jowls sit in the lower face, and addressing them requires a facelift component that lifts the deeper tissues of the cheek and lower face. When jowls and neck ageing are present together, a combined facelift and neck lift is the more balanced procedure.
Is a chin implant sometimes combined with neck surgery?
Yes. When the chin sits posterior to the lower lip in profile, the jawline-neck transition can look shallow even when the neck itself is not particularly heavy. Adding a chin implant in the same surgical session improves the bony projection and can sharpen the neck contour. Whether a chin implant is appropriate is assessed in consultation, with attention to profile, dentition and bite.
Where are neck lift incisions placed?
Incision placement depends on the procedure. Platysmaplasty and neck liposuction use a small incision hidden in the natural crease beneath the chin. When skin redraping through the sides of the neck is required, additional incisions are placed around the ear, similar to a facelift pattern. Direct neck lift uses a vertical incision down the front of the neck, which fades over time but remains visible. Each pathway is discussed in detail at consultation before surgery is planned.
What are the risks of neck lift surgery?
The risks specific to neck lift surgery include haematoma, temporary or rarely permanent injury to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, asymmetry, contour irregularity, scarring, infection, seroma, and the general risks of anaesthesia. The full list of risks and the steps taken to reduce them are discussed at consultation and set out in the neck lift risks and complications resource.
When can I return to work after neck lift surgery?
Return to work varies with the procedure performed and the nature of your work. Patients in office-based or sedentary roles typically return earlier than patients in physically demanding roles. Specific timing is discussed at consultation and reviewed during follow-up appointments, with activity progression guided by individual healing.
Do I need a GP referral before cosmetic neck lift surgery in Australia?
Yes. Under the Medical Board’s cosmetic surgery guidelines, a current referral from your usual general practitioner, or from an independent medical practitioner, is required before booking cosmetic surgery. The referral is part of the broader patient safety framework, which also includes two consultations, a cooling-off period of at least seven days for adult patients, and screening for body dysmorphic concerns.
Related procedures and resources
For patients researching neck contouring, the following pages provide additional detail on related procedures and supporting topics:
Consultation with Dr Scott J Turner
Dr Scott J Turner consults from Bondi Junction (Suite 1, 39 Grosvenor Street) and Manly (Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade). For patients based interstate, consulting rooms in Brisbane (Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill) and Canberra (Campbell) are available, with surgery performed at Dr Turner’s Sydney hospitals.
Phone: (02) 9387 3900 Email: [email protected]
