The area of the body where age begins to show first is typically the neck. With that being said, the neck is a common area for conducting plastic surgery. If you are someone who spends a lot of time in the sun, or previously lost a lot of weight, as you get older, your neck may look loose, and can start to sag. The neck lift surgery is beneficial to patients who have lost the elasticity in their skin, or have excess skin or fat they want removed.
The average cost of a neck lift is $4,389; this does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses. A surgeon’s neck lift price may be based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used and the geographic office location. Most health insurance does not cover neck lift surgery or its complications, but many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
Anesthesia – The neck lift is a reasonably straightforward procedure that commonly lasts between two and three hours. The type of anesthesia administered at the beginning of the procedure depends largely on the preferences of the patient and the surgeon. Many patients require only local anesthesia combined with a sedative; however, some choose to be unconscious during the surgery and opt for general anesthesia. Those patients are put to sleep to prevent them from feeling pain during the neck lift procedure. Depending on who administers your anesthesia the costs may vary. A registered nurse will cost about $300 per hour while an anesthesiologist will cost about $500 per hour. Typically, the choice of anesthesiologist is decided by the surgeon after consulting the patient.
Extent of Treatment – Factors that can make the procedure more complicated and take more time will increase the price of the surgery. The scope of the procedure varies according to the unique needs and goals of individual patients. Some patients achieve their desired results through a simple liposuction procedure, which involves the removal of excess deposits of fat from the neck, which will be less expensive. If the patient wants more dramatic results this can be achieved through the removal of excess skin and fat as well as the tightening and restructuring of the underlying muscles, but will be more expensive.
Neck Lift Cost
The type of procedures needed for the patient to achieve their desired result ultimately decides the cost of the total neck lift surgery. Neck lift techniques may include liposuction, the removal of excess skin, and/or the tightening of underlying neck muscles. You will note that most neck lifts include a cervicoplasty, a plastymaplasty as well as a lower rhytidectomy. It is unlikely that either of these procedure will be conducted on their own.
Liposuction: Patients who are good candidates for liposuction include those unhappy with excess fat in their neck or under the chin, but still have good elasticity in their skin. Liposuction of the neck and chin could cost from $1,000 to $4,000, depending on the amount of fat removed and the liposuction technique used.
Neck lift: A neck lift that includes work on the skin, the muscles underneath as well as the jowls and lower cheeks can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000.
Pre and Post Operative Cost – Depending on the patient there may be several pre and post operative appointments on top of the surgery itself. The consultations, preparatory appointments, and follow up appointments are all costs to consider.
Medication – Patients may need pain medication during recovery, which is not usually included in the overall surgery and is an additional cost.
Side Affects – Some patients may experience side affects after surgery that may pose additional costs. Examples of this include Hematoma which is the collection of blood beneath the skin, Seroma which is the collection of fluid under the skin, neck tightness, numbness at the incision site, lumpiness of the skin, and asymmetry of the neck.
Bed Rest – The indirect cost of undergoing a neck lift is the time the patient will have to be away from work. You should consider the amount of time you will need to take off work as well as possible additional time if there are complications after surgery. The typical amount of time you may need to be away from work is anywhere from one to two weeks.
