Over the years, you might notice the skin on your neck aging more rapidly than other areas of the body. Due to constant movement, sun exposure, and gravity, it’s no wonder it breaks down at a faster rate.
What’s more, it can be easy to forget to apply your skincare and SPF to your neck, especially when much of the popular discourse around maturing skin focuses on the face.
But without attentive care, the skin, muscles, and fat around your jawline can begin to sag, aging you beyond your years. With targeted neck fat removal in Washington, DC, Dr. Faulkner can artfully sculpt your profile to reveal a refined, swanlike silhouette.
Keep reading to learn about our neck contouring procedures, or take the first step towards a smoothed aesthetic with a consultation at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics.
Why Does the Neck Skin Droop?
The delicate tissue covering your neck naturally contains less collagen and elastin than your facial skin. With age comes structural deterioration, causing the skin of the neck to become more lax and fall into folds.
A lifetime of sun exposure exacerbates skin photoaging, breaking down already low quantities of collagen and elastin. And without sebum secretion, or replenishing oils, to keep the skin moist, it’s even more prone to wrinkling.
The muscles in your neck also lack the bony support we find in the face, so these muscles sag as we age. For some patients, this manifests as platysmal banding, or protruding vertical lines extending from the chin to the collar.
Many patients also struggle with shifting fat pads as their hormone production diminishes, the fatty tissue migrating from the temples, undereyes, and cheeks to settle around the chin. When the skin lacks the strength to hold up these fat deposits, we might notice a drooping appearance.
How Can Dr. Faulkner Treat the Neck?
At Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, your board-certified surgeon, Dr. Faulkner, listens to your concerns, medical history, and treatment expectations before advising a method of neck fat removal. In Washington, DC, Dr. Faulkner can use FaceTite, liposuction, or a neck lift to subtly lift and sculpt your features.
Together with Dr. Faulkner, you can create a treatment plan that works for you.
FaceTite
If you hope to target mild skin laxity and small deposits of fat around the lower face and neck, Dr. Faulkner might recommend a FaceTite procedure. This treatment uses radiofrequency-assisted liposuction (RFAL).
During the procedure, Dr. Faulkner inserts a tiny probe beneath the skin that emits thermal RF energy. This RF heat gently melts the fat cells and triggers collagen and elastin production in the skin. Dr. Faulkner then suctions the liquified fat cells from the treated area. The fortified collagen and elastin framework gradually tightens and firms the tissue to hug your contours.
A FaceTite treatment is less invasive than surgery, using tiny incisions and precisely targeted technology for optimal control. Many patients resume their usual routines within 1 to 3 weeks of FaceTite.
Liposuction
If you are in good health and only interested in addressing excess fat around the jaw and neck, Dr. Faulkner might advise treatment with liposuction. Along with RFAL, as used in a FaceTite procedure, Dr. Faulkner also performs neck fat removal in Washington, DC, with:
- Suction-Assisted Liposuction: Dr. Faulkner removes the fatty tissue with suction.
- Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: Ultrasound energy breaks down the fat cells before Dr. Faulkner gently vacuums them from the area.
- Power-Assisted Liposuction: A vibrating cannula streamlines the fat removal process.
Dr. Faulkner strategically places your liposuction incisions for minimal visible scarring. Many patients need just 2 to 5 days of downtime before resuming light activity.
Neck Lift
For patients hoping to target the musculature, skin laxity, and fat pads of the neck, Dr. Faulkner can expertly tailor a neck lift.
Ideal for comprehensive lifting and tightening in a single procedure, this surgery is most effective when you observe the proper pre- and post-care instructions.
How to Prepare for Treatment
Before your neck fat removal in Washington, DC, Dr. Faulkner reviews the steps you can take to prepare for surgery. These guidelines include:
- Stop using tobacco products at least 6 weeks prior to your procedure.
- Avoid alcohol consumption for 7 days leading up to surgery.
- Cease use of anti-inflammatory medications 7 to 10 days before a neck lift.
- Fast from food and water at least 6 to 8 hours prior to your appointment.
- Wear comfortable clothing to surgery—ideally, a shirt that doesn’t need to be pulled over your head after treatment.
- Arrange for transportation home from surgery and supervision on your first night.
Your Surgical Procedure
In alignment with your treatment plan, anatomy, and aesthetic vision, Dr. Faulkner can perform one or a combination of the following procedures during your neck lift:
- Cervicoplasty: Removes excess skin around the chin and neck
- Platysmaplasty: Tightens the neck muscles (platysma)
- Liposuction: Removes unwanted fat deposits under the chin and along the jawline
Post-Surgical Care
After your neck lift, Dr. Faulkner reviews your post-surgery instructions once again. By supporting your body during this time of healing, you can foster a smooth recovery and lasting results.
- Use pillows to keep your head elevated when resting and sleeping.
- Limit movements that turn or bend your neck.
- Apply ice packs covered in a washcloth or towel to manage swelling.
- Wear a compression garment as recommended by Dr. Faulkner..
- Take pain medications as prescribed by Dr. Faulkner.
- Eat soft foods for the first few days if chewing causes discomfort.
- Keep your incision sites clean and dry.
- Wear high-SPF sunscreen or wear a scarf, hat, or high-neck shirt to protect the healing tissue from UV rays.
- Continue avoiding alcohol consumption and smoking as your body heals.
- Resume activities gradually as directed by Dr. Faulkner, often anticipated around the 2- or 4-week mark after surgery.
As with any procedure, Dr. Faulkner will continue to check in after your surgery to monitor your healing and guide any additional healthy habits to speed your recovery.
Age at Your Own Pace
If you start noticing signs of aging around the neck, visit Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. With personalized neck fat removal in Washington, DC, a youthful, elegant profile is within reach.
Explore other localized fat removal procedures like tummy tucks.
