The Facts About Neck Lift Recovery

The word ‘surgery’ creates images of lying in a hospital bed for weeks, missing out on life as you recover from your procedure. But is plastic surgery really that bad?

Truth is, recovering from a neck lift is nothing like your worst-case scenario. Let’s look at some of the common questions we get about recovering from neck lifts, and show you it’s not nearly as bad as you think.

How long does it take to recover from a neck lift?

First, the long answer:

Every patient and every procedure is different. Your age and health play a big role in how fast you’ll recover from your neck lift.

But the biggest factor is how skilled your surgeon is—his or her expertise can mean the difference between a botched surgery that takes a long time to heal, or a flawless procedure that heals incredibly fast.

Now, the short answer:

On average, recovery from a neck lift is very fast. You’ll be back to the same activities as before in just a few weeks, not months.

And don’t worry—your surgeon will make this process crystal clear well ahead of time.

How do you manage pain and scarring from a neck lift?

Pain is normal during the first few days after your recovery, and is usually managed with a prescription painkiller.

Your surgeon will make incisions where they aren’t easily visible (usually behind your ears and just below your chin), which will heal over the next year to become virtually invisible. Although the small incisions will be in hard-to-spot areas, it’s still important to avoid UV exposure at your incision sites in order to speed up the scars’ healing time.

Before your procedure, your surgeon will map out your recovery plan and tell you exactly what to expect, and how to deal with any pain or potential issues.

What’s a typical recovery period like for a neck lift?

Your recovery may vary, but here’s a general guideline for what to expect during a neck lift recovery:

• 1 Week: By the end of your first week, most visible bruising should be gone. During this week, you should restrict your shirts to those able to button up in the front, as shirts that need to be pulled over your head can interfere with healing.
• 2 Weeks: After two weeks, most patients are able to return to work and resume many normal activities.
• 3-4 Weeks: Tightness in your neck will continue up until the end of your first month before it goes away.
• 1 Month: By the end of your first month, you should be able to resume all normal activity, such as your regular exercise program.
• 3 Months: By now, most remaining minor swelling should be gone, and you’ll be able to see your full results.

Not so bad, is it? It’ll take a few weeks to feel 100% again, but a neck lift isn’t going to put your life on hold—not one bit.

When should you seek medical attention after a neck lift?

Complications caused by neck lift surgery are thankfully uncommon, but they can happen. As part of your recovery, keep an eye out for:

• Signs of infection, such as fever or pus at the incision site
• Extreme swelling, or large bumps
• Extreme pain not easily treated with pain medication, or pain that persists after the first week of your recovery

If you notice any of these signs—or if something just doesn’t look or feel quite right—contact your doctor immediately.

Still worried about your neck lift?

Remember, your plastic surgeon is here to help. That means building a customized plan for you and your body to make the entire process simple to understand.

Most surgeons can get you satisfactory results. But the best ones go the extra mile, making you feel great and stay as healthy as possible.