By plastic surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

The natural changes to our face and body as we age can have a negative impact on the way we feel about ourselves and it can really knock our confidence for six. We may enjoy feeling older and wiser mentally, but not many of us will appreciate the physical changes that we also have to endure.

There often comes a point in life where the person staring back at you in the mirror is noticeably not the one you remember. Whether you feel ready to embrace an older version of yourself or not, there’s no escaping the dreaded aging process.

Sometimes people happen to notice subtle changes taking place over a period of time, whereas other people experience a moment where they suddenly realise what’s happening, making it feel as though the changes have happened to them almost overnight. Or perhaps they were consciously ignoring the changes or refusing to accept that they were happening until it was too obvious to avoid.

The beauty industry offers a plethora of treatments and products that all claim to successfully battle the signs of aging, including special facials and expensive skincare creams or rituals that you’re advised to apply or carry out daily. Some may show some success with slowing down the aging process, but there will always come a point where these solutions no longer fight the process as effectively as you’d like.

At this point, many people begin considering surgical cosmetic procedures for the face. Procedures that can make a dramatic difference that’s fast and long-lasting.

Another area that typically suffers greatly from the aging process is the neck, so many turn to a necklift, technically known as platysmaplasty, to help turn back the clock and completely rejuvenate their appearance.

The necklift is one of the most popular procedures due to the incredible results that can be achieved, with over 160,000 necklifts being performed throughout 2020.

What are the benefits of a necklift?

The many benefits that a patient can experience from undergoing a necklift procedure with a reputable plastic surgeon include:

Treating several signs of aging issues with one procedure

Perhaps the greatest benefit of a necklift is the ability to simultaneously target several signs of aging around the neck during the one procedure.

We experience signs of aging in many ways, such as fine lines and wrinkles, or sagging jowls. Our entire face and neck appears to increasingly crease and drop as the years roll by. Our habits can also lend an unwanted helping hand to the aging process. Things like smoking, regular alcohol intake, sun exposure, dehydration and even stress can all assist with the development of signs of aging.

By reducing excess skin, minimising the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and tightening the underlying muscles, it makes the single necklift procedure a fantastic option for those seeking corrective or preventative work.

With that said, results can be further improved with the combination of both the necklift and facelift procedure, with the possibility of both being performed at the same time – thus allowing you to go through the ordeal of operation and recovery just the once. Speak with your cosmetic surgeon if this is something of interest to you.

Read: The Benefits of Facelift Surgery

No more “turkey neck”

Aside from the formation of lines and wrinkles, losing facial definition is another thing that many people notice. Excess skin and fat can often form around the jaw, chin, and neck area, driving everything south and making the lower face lose its definition in the process. Even active people with a healthy lifestyle can suffer from “turkey neck” syndrome or a drooping jawline as gravity simply plays its part in the aging process.

A necklift helps tackle a double chin by removing the excess skin and fat before gently raising everything upwards back to its former position - the way you no doubt remember your neck and face appearing many years prior.

Goodbye lines and wrinkles

Lines and wrinkles form as we age due to a decrease in the production of collagen and elastin, resulting in our skin gradually becoming less and less elastic over time. Fat underneath the skin that once kept things supple can also start drying up. This all equals the skin physically creasing, folding, wrinkling, and sagging - everything we don’t want!

A necklift will smooth out lines and winkles around the neck area as the skin is gently pulled taught. The key here is to choose a plastic surgeon with the necessary skills to carry out a necklift that achieves natural and subtle results, as opposed to the tightly pulled faces that the media often portrays facial plastic surgery to be.

Read: Facelift and Necklift Surgery - A Patient’s Story

Removal of unsightly jowls

We see jowls start to form when the skin around the mouth and cheek region begins to lose its elasticity. This forces those facial areas to droop down towards the jawline and chin. Jowls can be far more noticeable on some people compared to others but are often among the first signs of aging that can be spotted, sometimes within our 30’s, so they can be a particular cause of unhappiness for those who are most affected.

The necklift procedure can solve unsightly jowls as it removes excess skin and fat around the neck and jawline, creating a more youthful appearance and better-defined lower face and neck.

Are you keen to learn more about how a necklift can help you achieve the results you’re looking for? Perhaps you’d like to discuss any other alternative cosmetic procedures that may be suitable for you? If so, contact Harley Street Aesthetics today so that we can book you in for your initial consultation and begin that discussion. Call 0845 519 7232, e-mail info@harleystreetaesthetics.com or simply complete our online contact form.