COVID-19 UPDATE: As of May 11, 2020, we have re-opened our office to regular in-person appointments. We are operating at a lower-than-normal capacity in order to respect social distancing advisories and best protect the health of our patients. We are still offering telemedicine as an option. For more information please call us at (314) 996-8800.

Neck Lipo and Lift

Get a Better-Defined Jawline in St. Louis

What is neck lipo? St. Louis' West County Plastic Surgeons uses neck liposuction to remove extra fat below the jaw while providing a modest tightening effect to the neck skin. Excess sagging skin can also be removed in a neck lift surgery. The result is a more defined profile.

The fat-removal procedure can be performed in the office using one or two tiny, well-hidden incisions under the chin. It is occasionally combined with energy sources such as ultrasound to help with more fibrous tissue or to improve skin tightening, since heat and sound waves can both break up unwanted fat cells and encourage collagen production.

See how tumescent liposuction works at St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons.
Discover what happens during each step of a liposuction procedure at St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons, from firming the targeted tissue, to disrupting and removing the unwanted fat cells, to the ultimate look of the treated area.

While liposuction is often associated with removing fat from larger areas, such as the abdomen, neck lipo is an effective technique for removing small amounts of fat under the jaw. This method deploys energy to make the fat cells easier to remove via suction.

A neck lift, while effective, is often incorporated into a facelift, since that procedure focuses on jowls and other signs of aging and skin laxity on the lower portions.

Comprehensive facial rejuvenation surgery can include neck lipo and lift at St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons
Our plastic surgeons may occasionally perform an isolated neck lipo and lift at St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons, but the surgery is most commonly incorporated into a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation effort. Surgical contouring performed on just the neck may actually create a condition that makes the face above appear proportionally more aged.

Plan to discuss your face as a whole at your neck lipo or lift consultation. Isolating and contouring just one feature may be sufficient to create the desired change, but it may also actually draw attention to the area if the rest of the face is similarly aged and sagging, but untouched. The West County Plastic Surgeons team's goal is to create beautiful, natural-looking results.

Dr. Terry Myckatyn, MD and Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, MD

Dr. Terry Myckatyn and
Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum:

Trusted. Experienced. Committed.

Procedures Associated with Neck Lipo

Mini-facelift or short-scar facelift. Patients choosing one of these procedures may go under general anesthesia or may be awake, with localized anesthetics. The focus is on the face's lower two-thirds, where the cheeks can sag and flatten and the jawline can soften as tissues loosen with age. When paired with neck lipo, the mini-or short-scar facelift can provide an overall rejuvenated look.

Fractionated laser resurfacing. While neck lipo alters facial contours, patients who want to address agerelated wrinkles and pigmentation irregularities need a separate solution. Fractionated laser resurfacing stimulates collagen production to make the skin smoother, with healing processes evening out pigmentation, tone, and texture.

Kybella®. Not everyone is ready for surgery—even procedures that are as minimal as neck lipo. Kybella® represents an option for anyone seeking a nonsurgical treatment to slim down a double chin. The injections are administered quickly, and the results gradually appear as fat cells are broken down by the body.

Neck Lipo: What You Should Know

Anesthesia: Neck lipo is usually performed with the patient under local anesthesia in the office.

Length of procedure: 45 to 60 minutes.

Estimated recovery time: You can return to work after 1 to 3 days, but should avoid engaging in vigorous activities for 5 to 7 days. Visible bruising or swelling should clear up within 7 days. The St. Louis West County Plastic Surgery team recommends that you wear a compressive dressing on your neck as much as possible for a few weeks to reduce swelling and help contour any loose skin. To learn how to prepare for neck lipo, as well as what to expect afterward, click here to download our patient instructions.

Side effects: Common side effects include bruising, swelling, scars camouflaged in natural contours of the face, and some residual numbness on the undersurface of the jaw. Click here to download a detailed consent form from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that lists the risks and benefits of liposuction.

To view before-and-after photos of neck lipo results, click here.


If you have questions or would like to book a consultation with one of the surgeons at West County Plastic Surgery, please call (314) 996-8800.

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