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Do you have a ‘turkey neck’ or ‘double chin’ — or both? Loose or sagging skin in the neck can result from a number of factors: aging, genetics, significant weight loss, or cumulative sun exposure. When these changes occur, no amount of diet or exercise can reverse them.
If you have loose neck skin, visible muscle banding, or excess fat beneath the chin, a Neck Lift may be the right solution. Neck Lift surgery removes excess fat, tightens the underlying neck muscles, and lifts and re-drapes the skin to restore a smoother, slimmer, more defined neckline. Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong has extensive experience performing Neck Lifts, and his goal is always a result that looks natural — never tight, pulled, or overdone.
Benefits of a Neck Lift
A Neck Lift makes the neck slimmer, tighter, and more youthful-looking. Specifically, the procedure:
- Lifts loose or sagging neck skin
- Removes excess skin and fat that contribute to a ‘jowly’ or ‘turkey neck’ appearance
- Eliminates or significantly reduces vertical neck bands caused by muscle laxity
- Removes subcutaneous (under the skin) fat and reduces the appearance of a double chin
- Removes subplatysmal (under the muscle) fat to further reduce bulk under the chin and neck
- Improves definition of the jawline and chin angle1
Dr. Tong is committed to recommending the least amount of surgery necessary to accomplish your goals. Not every neck concern requires the same approach. A patient with only excess fat in the subcutaneous plane (under the skin) may be best served by Neck Liposuction. A patient with fat and some muscle banding and/or subplatysmal (under the muscle) fat may be a candidate for a Mini Neck Lift. But when loose, sagging, or inelastic skin is present — with or without excess fat or muscle laxity — a full Neck Lift is needed.
There is also a variation called an Extended Neck Lift, which addresses the neck in the same fashion but additionally improves the jowls and marionette lines. This is a good option for patients who want neck improvement plus lower face rejuvenation, but do not feel they need a full Facelift.
What Techniques Are Used?
Depending on your specific concerns and anatomy, Dr. Tong may use one or more of the following approaches:
Cervicoplasty addresses excess, sagging skin. Incisions are placed behind the ears and, when needed, beneath the chin, allowing the skin to be lifted and re-draped for a tighter, smoother contour.
Platysmaplasty targets the platysma — the thin sheet of muscle running along the front of the neck. When this muscle weakens or separates with age, it creates visible vertical bands. During platysmaplasty, Dr. Tong tightens and sutures the muscle edges along the midline, eliminating banding and deepening the chin-neck angle.
Neck Liposuction removes excess fat from beneath the chin and along the jawline, either on its own or in combination with cervicoplasty or platysmaplasty. It is the least invasive of the three and carries the quickest recovery.
Deep (sub-platysmal) Fat removal addresses a second layer of fat that is not addressed by liposuction. This mass of fat sits beneath the (platysma) muscle layer and makes the neck look bulky. Instead of having a sharp, defined L-shape where the jaw meets the neck, the area looks rounded or sloped when the deep fat is present. Removal of this fat can make the neck look slimmer, provide a sharper jawline, and restore the L-shaped contour to the angle where the chin and neck meet.
At your consultation, Dr. Tong will evaluate your skin quality, muscle tone, fat distribution, and overall facial anatomy to determine which combination of techniques is right for you.
Who Is a Candidate for a Neck Lift?
A Neck Lift is designed for men and women who are bothered by loose or stretched skin in the neck, with or without associated fat or muscle laxity. Unlike a facelift, Neck Lift patients can be relatively young. Common candidates include:
- Patients with moderate to advanced signs of aging in the neck
- Patients of any age with significant neck fat and excess skin
- Patients of any age who have lost a significant amount of weight and have substantial neck skin sagging
Patients who smoke must quit at least 2 weeks prior to surgery and not resume for at least 4 weeks afterward. You should be in good general health overall; Dr. Tong will evaluate your health status at your consultation to confirm you are a suitable candidate.2
Before & After: Neck Lift Results
The best way to understand what a Neck Lift can achieve is to see it for yourself. Dr. Tong’s gallery includes a range of patients with different ages, skin types, and concerns — including loose neck skin, platysmal banding, double chin, and post-weight-loss sagging.
Incisions for a Neck Lift
Any surgical procedure leaves some type of scar. Dr. Tong specializes in placing incisions where they are least visible and will heal most discreetly.
The Neck Lift incision:
- Starts at the bottom of the earlobe and travels along the back of the ear
- Continues backward and along the hairline
- Includes a small incision beneath the chin, placed in the natural crease
The Extended Neck Lift uses the same incisions but also continues in front of the ear, following the natural curves and creases up to the top of the ear.
These scars blend into the natural lines of the head and neck. Once fully healed, most patients — including those who wear their hair up — find their scars are not a concern.
The Neck Lift Procedure
Dr. Tong performs Neck Lift surgery at St. Thomas Surgery Centre, located at 7 St. Thomas Street, Toronto, under general anesthesia or IV sedation. The procedure typically takes 2.5 to 3 hours, and longer when combined with other procedures.
Dr. Tong begins by making the incisions behind the ear and elevates the neck skin, exposing the underlying muscle and fat layer. The same elevation is performed centrally via the submental incision. He then enters the subplatysmal layer and removes the bulky fat that sits underneath the muscle, thus improving the L shape angle of the chin and neck. Dr. Tong then uses stitches to plicate (tighten) the platysma muscle along the midline to eliminate vertical banding and deepen the chin-neck angle. Fat is removed from under the skin either directly or with liposuction. For patients having an Extended Neck Lift, an incision in front of the ear is also made; the skin and fat layer along the lower face and jawline is elevated, jowl fat is removed as needed, and the marionette lines are surgically released.
Finally, the skin is carefully re-draped and elevated to achieve a natural, non-operated look. Excess skin is removed in front of and behind the ear, the incisions are closed with plastic surgical techniques, and a compression dressing is applied before you are gently awakened from anesthesia.
Combining a Neck Lift with Other Procedures
For patients seeking more comprehensive facial rejuvenation, Dr. Tong frequently combines Neck Lift surgery with other procedures, such as:
- Facelift (rhytidectomy): Addresses sagging in the mid and lower face, jowls, and nasolabial folds simultaneously with the neck
- Brow lift: Restores a lifted, refreshed brow position
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty): Corrects excess skin or puffiness in the upper or lower eyelids
- Chin augmentation: Improves the chin-to-neck angle and overall facial balance
- Fat grafting: Restores lost facial volume for a more complete result
Combining procedures can reduce your overall recovery time and deliver more harmonious results than treating each area at a separate time.
Recovery After a Neck Lift
After your Neck Lift, you are taken to the post-anesthesia recovery area, where you are monitored by nursing staff. You may go home after the effects of anesthesia have largely worn off, accompanied by a friend or family member.
At home, rest and light activity (reading, watching television, making meals) are encouraged. Sleeping in a reclining chair or with your head elevated on several pillows will help reduce swelling.
Pain is typically mild, and medication will be prescribed. You may have some bruising in the first one to two weeks. Here is what a general recovery looks like:
- Day 1: You will see Dr. Tong to have your dressing and drain removed
- Week 1: Sutures are removed at Dr. Tong’s 7 St. Thomas Street office. Most patients feel comfortable moving around the home
- Week 2: Light exercise (e.g. walking) is typically permitted. Many patients return to desk work
- Weeks 3–4: Bruising resolves for most patients. Social activities can typically resume
- Weeks 4–6: Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting may be resumed with Dr. Tong’s clearance
- Month 3 and beyond: Final results become visible as residual swelling resolves and tissues settle
Follow-up appointments with Dr. Tong are scheduled at 6 weeks, 6 months, and one year after surgery. Post-operative photos are taken at each visit.
As with any surgery, there are risks involved with a Neck Lift. Dr. Tong will review the potential complications associated with the procedure thoroughly at your consultation.
Neck Lift FAQ
What type of anesthesia is used for a Neck Lift?
Dr. Tong performs Neck Lift surgery under general anesthesia or IV sedation. Under general anesthesia, you are completely unaware of your surroundings. With IV sedation, you may have some awareness from time to time but should not feel discomfort.
How long does a Neck Lift take?
The procedure typically takes 2.5 to 3 hours. When combined with a facelift or other procedures, the total surgical time may be longer.
Will I have visible scars?
Incisions are placed behind the ears, along the hairline, and beneath the chin in natural skin creases, where they heal discreetly. Scars typically fade significantly over the first six to twelve months.
How long do Neck Lift results last?
Results typically last 7–10 years. The natural aging process continues over time, and factors such as weight changes, sun exposure, and smoking can affect how long your results are maintained.
When can I return to work?
Most patients return to desk work or work-from-home at 7–10 days. Strenuous activity should be avoided for 4–6 weeks. Dr. Tong will provide personalized guidance based on your specific procedure.
What is an Extended Neck Lift, and is it the same as a Facelift?
The Extended Neck Lift addresses the neck as a standard Neck Lift does, but also improves the jowls and marionette lines. It is a good middle ground for patients who want lower face improvement without a full Facelift. Dr. Tong will discuss which option is appropriate for your anatomy and goals at your consultation.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Results matter — but so does the experience of getting there. Here is what some of Dr. Tong’s patients have shared about their care at Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery.
Neck Lift at a Glance
- ‘Operated-on’ look (too tight)
- Overly defatted neck (skeletonized appearance)
- Poorly place or visible scars
Your Neck Lift Consultation
Patients deserve to be fully informed before making a decision about surgery. The initial Neck Lift consultation with Dr. Tong may take 45 minutes or more, and he will ensure you understand all of the information presented. Our first goal is to have you become an educated patient — because we know that informed patients make better choices about their surgery and their surgeon.
To learn more about how Toronto Neck Lift surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong can help you, contact us to schedule a consultation by calling (416) 972-0999. Alternatively, fill out our contact form and we will call you on the same or next business day. No physician’s referral is required.
A consultation fee of $200 + HST is charged at the time of booking and is applied toward any procedure or service Dr. Tong performs for you.
See Dr. Tong’s work in our Neck Lift Before and After Photos.
1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Neck Lift. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift/recovery. Accessed April 20, 2026.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Who is a good candidate for a neck lift? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/neck-lift/candidates. Accessed April 20, 2026.
Dr. Lawrence Tong has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.