Neck Lift Vs. Facelift: Which is Right for You?

When it comes to growing older, one of the biggest concerns people have is the signs of aging on their faces.

Since the pandemic began, concerns about signs of aging on the face have soared, largely due to an influx of remote work and Zoom meetings that put a daily focus on ourselves from the shoulders up.

These insecurities have led to a rise in the popularity of both facelift and neck lift procedures. The facelift specifically was the third most popular type of cosmetic surgery performed in 2020.

Facelifts and neck lifts are two of the most popular types of cosmetic surgery, which can help minimize the effects of aging. These two procedures share many similarities but also some key differences. In today’s blog, we will break down these procedures, including their purposes and costs, the difference between a facelift and a neck lift, and whether Botox or a facelift might be right for you!

The Facelift

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is an umbrella term for several types of cosmetic surgery that help reduce signs of aging in the face, such as lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. This is typically done by tightening the muscles under the skin, redistributing fat and tissue where needed, and removing any loose and excess skin that is left over.

Our clinic offers multiple facelift procedures, each designed to address different aspects of the face.

Mini Facelift

The least invasive of the facelift surgeries is the mini facelift. The mini facelift treats minor concerns in the face, like preventing jowls and sagging cheeks. This method is recommended for patients in their 30s and 40s who do not yet exhibit more pronounced signs of aging, or for those looking to touch up a previous facelift. This is not recommended for those who show signs of excess aging in other areas of the face, such as the jaw and neck, as it may leave a disproportionate look in the treated area compared to the rest of the face.

Mid Facelift

The mid-facelift, as the name implies, treats the middle portion of the face. This is a popular treatment area on the face, as it is where most of your facial expressions take place and where many types of wrinkles often form, whether around the nose, eyes, or cheeks.

This can be an especially popular treatment to pair with other treatments such as blepharoplasty, which helps further reduce the signs of aging in the eyes, such as drooping eyelids and dark circles, or with fillers or fat transfers to help restore fullness to the cheeks.

Like the mini facelift, this surgery is not recommended to those with concerns of aging elsewhere on the face, such as the forehead or jawline, as this facelift does not treat these areas.

Lower Facelift

A lower facelift focuses solely on the lower third of the face, including the jawline, chin, and sometimes the cheeks. This can help treat issues such as marionette lines or jowls.

Full Facelift

A full facelift is for those who wish to treat the signs of aging across multiple areas of the face, whether along the chin and jaw, up in the brow region, or anywhere in between. When it comes to a full facelift, there are several options to choose from, such as the SMAS facelift and the deep-plane facelift.

An SMAS facelift focuses on the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), the layer of facial muscles underneath the skin. This procedure tightens the SMAS layer and can help improve areas such as the lower face and neck.

The deep plane facelift, meanwhile, uses deeper incisions in the face to allow for more powerful manipulation of the tissue, fat, and skin than other facelift methods. This method helps treat more extreme signs of aging, such as heavy jowls, deep folds and wrinkles, and sagging in the cheeks and jaw. While this method is extremely effective, it is also one of the most invasive facelifts and must be performed by expert surgeons, such as those at our clinic, because it leaves facial nerves exposed during the procedure, which can increase the risk of complications.

What Is the Cost of a Facelift?

As there are many types of facelifts, the cost of a facelift in Toronto can vary depending on your needs and how pronounced the signs of aging are. In general, the less invasive mini facelift may begin at around $9,999, while a full facelift may cost upwards of $18,999. Our clinic offers financing options; feel free to ask about them during your consultation!

The Neck Lift

While a facelift helps address signs of aging in the face, even a full facelift typically stops around the chin or jawline. For some, this can leave an unwanted disconnect between the face and neck, which may still show signs of aging, such as excess skin commonly known as “turkey neck.” This condition refers to excess skin that can drape along the neck and throat, sagging into folds.

Neck lifts are performed by making incisions, usually around or inside the ears and below the chin. This is done to keep any residual scarring discreet and hidden.

Cost of a Neck Lift

A facelift and neck lift cost roughly around the same ballpark figure. Like a facelift, a neck lift’s price can vary depending on the complexity of the treatment required and whether it is paired with other procedures, such as a facelift. There are also other considerations that may need to be made, such as a neck lift in men, which requires special care of the Adam’s apple. In general, a neck lift in Toronto may start at $14,999 and go up to $16,999. Like most of our procedures, financing options are available.

Neck Lift vs Facelift

While facelift and neck lift procedures are very similar, they do have some differences. The main difference between a neck lift and a facelift is the technique used during the procedures. For facelifts, the skin is typically pulled upward toward the hairline. A neck lift, however, takes the excess skin in the neck and pulls it towards the chin and jawline to correct and smooth out any draping skin around the throat and neck.

When it comes to a neck lift vs. a lower facelift specifically, there can be some confusion about their differences. A lower facelift focuses on sagging skin and wrinkles around the jawline, such as marionette lines and jowls, and can improve jawline and chin definition, but does not address issues beyond the jaw and chin. Neck lifts, by contrast, address laxity and tightness throughout the area below the jawline and chin. This can help define the jawline and face, giving you a more youthful, clean-cut appearance.

Because facelifts and neck lifts complement each other so well, many combine both procedures to achieve the best possible results.

We Provide Natural Results

The biggest concern many people have when considering cosmetic surgery is whether the results will look natural. This is especially true for facial cosmetic surgery, where results can be particularly evident.

The best sign of good cosmetic surgery is when there are little to no signs of it at all. Our dedicated team will work to ensure that while your post-surgical look will appear younger, tighter, and refreshed, taking up to a decade or more off the face, the results will still appear natural and not overdone.

Keeping this in mind, it is important to set realistic expectations when booking a facelift and neck lift consultation. For example, performing a full facelift when only minor signs of aging are present in certain areas of the face is unnecessary and can make future facelifts more difficult years down the road. Likewise, getting partial facelifts, such as a mid- or lower-facelift, when more pronounced signs of aging persist elsewhere on the face, can create a slightly disproportionate look.

If extreme folds, sagging, and wrinkles are present throughout the face and neck, it is possible that not all of these issues can be completely solved, lest a more dramatic and ‘artificial’ look result. It is good to discuss your goals with our surgeons during your consultation with Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre to see what procedure (or procedures) are right for you!

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Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md

Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.

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