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Bryan G. Forley, M.D., F.A.C.S. plastic surgeon practicing in New York City - Slide 12

My upper and lower abdomen were problem areas…I have fabulous results. I feel confident, I can fit into my clothes, and I am so happy I made the decision to have the procedure done.”

Vitals.com

Bryan G. Forley, M.D., F.A.C.S. plastic surgeon practicing in New York City - Slide 12

He is a perfectionist with the eye of an artist.”

Jenna S.
DocScores

Bryan G. Forley, M.D., F.A.C.S. plastic surgeon practicing in New York City - Slide 12

Dr. Forley is masterful. He is also extremely kind and compassionate.”

Samantha C.
DocScores

WHAT'S NEW?
212.861.3757

Neck Lift

Text, photos, and videos by Dr. Forley

Reduce the signs of aging in your neck

In some patients, the onset of aging is seen primarily in the sagging of the neck. It can precede some of the other aging changes that occur in the cheeks and in the folds around the mouth. Since the face will remain unchanged after a neck lift, it is important to consider if a neck lift alone is indicated. Award-winning NYC neck lift expert Dr. Forley, with expertise developed over more than 25 years in private practice, will perform a careful assessment during your consultation to determine if a balanced result is possible when surgery is limited only to the neck. His skill in both planning of the incisions and the attention to detail he places on the repair of the wound ensures the best possible healing of the surgical scars and the best results for New York neck lift patients.

A neck lift does not stop the clock. It simply “resets” it. How long a neck lift lasts depends on many factors including the characteristics of your tissues. You’ll notice some loosening with the passage of time following a NYC neck lift, but you may never regain the degree of your original concerns with the aging changes in your neck. Dr. Forley will recommend a maintenance program of skincare and minimally invasive procedures, such as FaceTite or Ultherapy, to prolong the duration of benefits you attain following surgery.

A neck lift is often combined with other procedures to simultaneously correct other areas of the face, such as the forehead or eyelids, to give you a more youthful appearance.

Before & After Photos
Videos
In the Media
Blogs

MORE PATIENT EXAMPLES

  • Woman's Face, before and after necklift treatment, neck, left side oblique view, female patient 1
the Guide to the Top 5% New York Physicians in more than 30 SpecialtiesCastle Connoly Top Doctor Dr. Bryan G. Forley Plastic Surgery, Fifteen YearsTatler Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery Guide 2008VogueBeauty drs.feelgood

New York Super Doctors

Annual guide to the top 5% of New York City Physicians.

Doctors are selected from ballots sent to over 18,000 New York City physicians.
The guide dentifies those doctors held in the highest regard by their peers. Dr. Forley has
been listed annually since 2008.

Castle Connolly Guide-Top Doctors: New York Metro Area

The authoritative guide to finding highly qualified physicians throughout the New
York region.
Doctors are selected based on nominations by their peers and reviewed by Castle
Connolly’s physician-directed research team.

TATLER

UK-based Tatler discussed Dr. Forley in its 2008 Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery
Guide as one of the “A-list of cosmetic surgeons”…”who are at the top of their
game”…and whose “innovations are shaping the art of cosmetic surgery around
the world.” It was noted that Dr. Forley’s “discreet Upper East Side clinic is
perfect for women and men in search of minimally invasive natural-looking
surgery.

Vogue

Julia Reed writes that Dr. Forley, “disarms me by asking what I might like to
have done. Nothing, I say, sure that I mean it. And then he shows me before and
after books of tiny little neck lifts, subtle browlifts involving tiny little
incisions well hidden within the hairline. In ten years, he assures me, I’ll be
thinking about it. I actually like him. And I fear he may be right.”

A PATIENT REVIEW OF NECKTITE AND DR. FORLEY

A patient review of her experience with Dr. Forley and the NeckTite procedure on Vitals.com:

April 27th, 2020

Read More

Publication of Aesthetic Rejuvenation of the Face and Neck

Dr. Forley is pleased to announce the release of Aesthetic Rejuvenation of the Face and Neck edited by Dr. Bruce F. Connell and D…

March 31st, 2016

Read More

MY SAGGING NECK: WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

There are several procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical, that can improve a sagging neck. The most common cause of the sagging a…

October 26th, 2011

Read More

Want to see the new you with 3D imaging?

Is This For Me? Is This For Me?

You should consider a neck lift if:

  • You have loose, sagging skin on your neck.
  • You feel the need to wear a turtleneck or a scarf to cover up loose skin.
  • You feel as if you look older than you really are because of your neck. Go back

Consultation Your NYC Neck Lift Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Forley will first ask about your medical history and describe what concerns you most about your appearance.

He will examine you to assess your skin quality and laxity, fat excess, and the presence of muscle bands or cords. Since the face will remain unchanged after a neck lift, it is important to consider if a neck lift alone is indicated.

Dr. Forley performs a careful assessment during your consultation to determine if a balanced result is possible when surgery is limited only to the neck. Go back

Preparation Preparation

Your pre-operative appointment will be scheduled 2 weeks prior to your surgery date. A complete review of the surgical plan as well as instructions for you to follow before and after surgery will be discussed. Medical clearance, including blood tests and cardiac testing as needed, will be obtained from your primary care doctor in preparation for your surgery.

A program of vitamins and supplements to optimize your healing and recovery will be provided to you during your pre-op visit. Dr. Forley advocates a customized skin care regimen prior to and following surgery for all his patients and this will also be discussed. Photographs will be taken and kept strictly confidential. Go back

The Procedure The Procedure

The contour and appearance of a youthful neck are restored with a neck lift by the removal of excess fat under the chin in addition to tightening of the muscle and loose skin that is present. Dr. Forley will carefully mark the incision sites and answer any last-minute questions. The anesthesiologist will then review with you the twilight/sedation technique that is utilized exclusively in our Joint Commission accredited office-based surgery facility. Incisions placed behind the ear are used to carefully mobilize the skin and deeper layers of the neck.

Prominent fat deposits are sculpted using very fine liposuction cannulas to precisely remove the desired amount of unwanted, bulging fat. The appearance of cords below the chin is due to the thickening of the platysma muscle that lines the neck and can become more evident with age. These cords are treated by the use of a row of stitches under the skin to create a supportive muscle sling that produces an optimal definition of the neck.

The excess skin that results from gravity, elasticity damage as a result of cumulative sun exposure, and weight fluctuation are redraped and removed via the incisions behind the ears. The incisions are then carefully closed with fine sutures to enable minimally apparent scars to form with healing. Go back

What to Expect After What to Expect After Your Neck Lift in New York

Although there may be some short term mild discomfort at first, pain is not usually a significant issue following a neck lift. A non-compressive dressing is applied overnight and a drain is placed for 24 hours to reduce bruising. Patients are instructed in the simple steps of daily hygiene and wound care. The sutures are removed at 8-10 days. The healing process continues over several months but bruising and visible swelling usually resolve within the first 2 weeks. Longer term healing includes a gradual return of skin sensation and an evolution in the visibility of the scars to a fine line appearance. Go back

The Stages of Recovery The Stages of Recovery

  • Day of surgery: May be performed as an outpatient procedure in our accredited office-based surgery facility. A nurse can be booked to monitor you overnight.
  • Bruising and swelling resolve: 5-10 days with continued softening of any firmness under the chin occurring for several months.
  • Return to work, social activity: Average is 2 weeks.
  • Aerobic or strenuous activity: 14-21 days.

We encourage a return to activity in the early postoperative period. Just don’t do any type of strenuous exercise that would push your pulse over 100 for about two to three weeks.

Any aerobic activity that increases your pulse over 100 also increases your blood pressure and could make you bleed. Go back

5 MYTHS ABOUT A NECKLIFT

01 A neck lift rejuvenates the entire face.

A sagging neck is often what bothers people the most about facial aging. However, the impact of the loss of a youthful neck contour should not be viewed in isolation when accompanied by changes in the face such as jowls and loss of cheek volume. Dr. Forley will discuss the benefits of a neck lift with you and also whether you would achieve greater improvement by including the face in the surgical plan.

02 A neck lift causes noticeable scars.

The scars are hidden behind the ear and in the scalp. Usually a 1 inch incision under the chin is used for additional fat contouring of the neck and to treat the muscle bands or cords by suturing the muscle edges together. Scars evolve over time but usually become minimally apparent at the conclusion of the healing process. Laser treatments can be utilized to blend the scars should they become raised or thickened in appearance.

03 A neck lift is permanent.

The benefits of a neck lift will always keep you looking better than if you never had it done. However, the surgery doesn’t stop the clock and the outcome of the surgery will change over time. In some cases a maintenance procedure in the future may be desired to keep your neck looking its best. A non-invasive tightening procedure such as FaceTite or Ultherapy is an excellent way to maintain the results of a neck lift without surgery.

04 A neck lift will get rid of the horizontal creases in my lower neck.

The etched lines that some people have in the skin of their neck have often been present from an early age. They develop from the interaction of underlying neck anatomy with thinning of the dermis and sun exposure. A neck lift does not change the quality of skin nor does it remove etched lines. However, it my make them less visible when they are accompanied by skin redundancy that will be treated by a neck lift. Techniques to smooth the lines using hyaluronic fillers such as BELOTERO BALANCE® have been very beneficial.

05 Anyone can get a neck lift and get great results.

In some cases, a more extensive degree of facial aging has occurred that is not limited to the neck. The risk of only treating the neck in such patients is that a lack of harmony between the neck and the face is created. Although the neck appears more youthful, the contrast with the untreated face can make the face appear even worse in comparison. Dr. Forley performs a careful assessment during your consultation to determine what options for facial rejuvenation would serve you best.

Potential Risks Potential Risks and Complications

Risks common to all surgical procedures such as bleeding, infection, and thickened scar tissue occur in a very small percentage of cases. There is a rarely occurring risk of affecting nerves that control facial movement. Dr. Forley will discuss the risks of neck lift surgery in more detail with you during your consultation.

We encourage you to discuss any concerns you may have during your consultation. If you have high blood pressure, it must be properly controlled prior to surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding. We will coordinate this with your primary care physician.

Neck lift procedures involve more risk in smokers. Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels that supply the skin, reducing blood flow, and increasing the risk of skin loss. If you are a smoker, Dr. Forley will make specific recommendations to you to reduce those risks. Go back

Non-Surgical Options Non-Surgical Options

During your consultation, Dr. Forley will discuss alternatives to neck lift surgery for you to consider should you desire a non-surgical approach. These include:

  • treatment of neck muscle bands with BOTOX® Cosmetic
  • non-invasive lifting and tightening with Ultherapy
  • minimally invasive lifting, tightening, and fat contouring with FaceTite™
  • lasers and energy devices to improve skin quality Go back

Dr. Forley was the invited author of the 'Facial Aging' chapter in Aesthetic Rejuvenation of the face and neck 2016

5 MYTHS ABOUT A NECKLIFT

01 A neck lift rejuvenates the entire face.

A sagging neck is often what bothers people the most about facial aging. However, the impact of the loss of a youthful neck contour should not be viewed in isolation when accompanied by changes in the face such as jowls and loss of cheek volume. Dr. Forley will discuss the benefits of a neck lift with you and also whether you would achieve greater improvement by including the face in the surgical plan.

02 A neck lift causes noticeable scars.

The scars are hidden behind the ear and in the scalp. Usually a 1 inch incision under the chin is used for additional fat contouring of the neck and to treat the muscle bands or cords by suturing the muscle edges together. Scars evolve over time but usually become minimally apparent at the conclusion of the healing process. Laser treatments can be utilized to blend the scars should they become raised or thickened in appearance.

03 A neck lift is permanent.

The benefits of a neck lift will always keep you looking better than if you never had it done. However, the surgery doesn’t stop the clock and the outcome of the surgery will change over time. In some cases a maintenance procedure in the future may be desired to keep your neck looking its best. A non-invasive tightening procedure such as FaceTite or Ultherapy is an excellent way to maintain the results of a neck lift without surgery.

04 A neck lift will get rid of the horizontal creases in my lower neck.

The etched lines that some people have in the skin of their neck have often been present from an early age. They develop from the interaction of underlying neck anatomy with thinning of the dermis and sun exposure. A neck lift does not change the quality of skin nor does it remove etched lines. However, it my make them less visible when they are accompanied by skin redundancy that will be treated by a neck lift. Techniques to smooth the lines using hyaluronic fillers such as BELOTERO BALANCE® have been very beneficial.

05 Anyone can get a neck lift and get great results.

In some cases, a more extensive degree of facial aging has occurred that is not limited to the neck. The risk of only treating the neck in such patients is that a lack of harmony between the neck and the face is created. Although the neck appears more youthful, the contrast with the untreated face can make the face appear even worse in comparison. Dr. Forley performs a careful assessment during your consultation to determine what options for facial rejuvenation would serve you best.

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BRYAN G. FORLEY, M.D. PC

BRYAN G. FORLEY, M.D. PC

Bryan G. Forley, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic facial, breast and body contouring surgery. He has been in private practice in Manhattan since 1994. Dr. Forley is affiliated with the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, and Mount Sinai West.

Learn more about Dr.Forley | Dr. Forley's Google Scholar

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