Neck Lift

Neck lift — cervicoplasty — is the operation that redefines the jawline by tightening loose neck skin, eliminating the vertical platysmal bands and removing excess fat under the chin. It is the right operation for those with a still-toned face but a neck that tells their age — a situation that describes most anglosphere patients between 45 and 60 who contact us.

The neck ages on its own timeline, separate from the face. The skin slackens, the platysma (the subcutaneous muscle running from clavicle to mandible) loses tone and forms two visible vertical bands when the patient speaks or purses the lips, and fat accumulates under the chin creating the so-called "turkey neck" or double chin even in lean patients. Liposuction alone cannot correct all of this: once skin has lost elasticity, removing only the fat leaves a crepey look. Neck lift addresses the problem in its entirety — skin, muscle and fat in a single operation.

Who the neck lift is suitable for

The patients our partner surgeons operate on typically present loose neck skin or visible platysmal bands, with a still-toned face; a double chin — submental fat accumulation — that liposuction alone cannot correct because of skin laxity; a jawline that has lost definition while cheeks and midface are still in good position; realistic expectations of a rejuvenated neck — not an entirely transformed face; and are non-smokers at the time of surgery — smoking compromises skin healing and increases complication risk in the neck area.

Neck lift or full facelift?

It is the question we address at first consultation. The answer is not "more surgery = better result": it depends on what is ageing you. If the problem is limited to the neck and jawline — bands, double chin, sagging neck skin — isolated neck lift is the right choice. More hidden incision, shorter recovery, lower cost.

If, on the other hand, you also have deflated cheeks, deep nasolabial folds and sagging skin along the upper mandible, neck lift alone will produce an unbalanced result: a rejuvenated neck under a face that looks the same as before. In that case, full facelift (with or without deep-plane technique) is the correct choice. At consultation we assess the face as a whole — we do not sell you the bigger operation to upsell, but we do not sell you the smaller one if your case requires more.

The male "turkey neck"

Male patients form a significant and growing share of our neck lift patients. The anglosphere male — 50+, often executive or professional, often someone who has maintained his weight well — is frustrated by the one feature that most reliably gives his age away on a Zoom call or in a photograph: the neck. Neck lift on men requires a specific approach, because the male skin is thicker, the beard growth zone limits incision options, and the typical male aesthetic goal is "I don't want anyone to know". Our partner surgeons operate on men weekly and the approach differs from female technique.

The surgery, step by step

The neck lift is performed under general anaesthesia in a JCI-accredited hospital, with a dedicated anaesthesiologist present throughout. Duration is typically two to three hours. One overnight stay in hospital is standard.

Incisions are hidden around the ears and, when central platysmal correction is also required, a small incision hidden under the chin. Through these access points, the surgeon tightens the platysma muscle at the midline (platysmaplasty — the step that eliminates the vertical bands), removes excess fat under the chin via targeted liposuction or direct excision, and repositions neck skin by lifting toward the ears. Excess skin is removed and incisions closed with fine sutures that mature into practically invisible scars hidden in the post-auricular fold.

Recovery

Weeks 1–2

Compression band under the chin worn twenty-four hours a day for the first week, then night-only for another week. Moderate bruising and swelling, concentrated under the chin and along the jawline. Sutures removed between day seven and ten. Return to desk work is realistic from week two — with a high collar or a scarf to cover the band in the first days.

Weeks 3–6

Swelling resolves progressively. Shape begins to define and the jawline becomes visible again. By week six most patients are back to fully normal life, including full physical exercise.

Months 3–6

Final shape settles. Scar maturation around the ears continues for twelve to eighteen months, until fine practically-invisible lines.

Risks and realistic expectations

Honest risks: haematoma (blood collection under the skin that may require a small drainage), temporary weakness of the marginal mandibular nerve that can alter lower lip movement (almost always temporary, resolves within weeks or months), residual scar visibility (minimised by careful post-auricular placement), and — rarely — asymmetries requiring a small touch-up.

Results typically last ten to fifteen years. The neck then ages at the natural rate of the rest of the face, but from a better starting position than it would have had without surgery. Many patients describe the result not as "looking younger" but as "looking rested" — which is the right language: a neck lift done well should not shout "surgery", it should return a clean jawline that friends do not identify as "operated".

Why Istanbul versus other destinations

Neck lift is a precision operation where the difference between a natural result and a "giveaway" one is measured in millimetres. Skin tension must be exactly right — too much, and the patient looks pulled; too little, and the result lasts a year. The marginal mandibular nerve runs through the operative field and must be respected with detailed anatomical knowledge. Platysmal correction requires a technique only weekly repetition teaches. Our partner surgeons perform operations on the lower and middle face every week, in JCI-accredited hospitals.

Dr. Mustafa Ekrem Güleş approves every patient clinically before surgery.

Why not the €1,500 neck lift

On the neck, the rock-bottom price is paid in permanent nerve weaknesses, visible asymmetries and hypertrophic scars in front of the ears. A clinic quoting neck lift at €1,500 often performs only liposuction and calls it a "lift" — which on the right patient can work, but on loose skin produces a result worse than the starting point. Or they skip the central platysmaplasty and the vertical bands remain even after the operation, forcing the patient into a revision.

What you pay for with us is verifiable: honest assessment of whether you actually need a lift or whether liposuction alone is enough, central platysmaplasty when indicated, plastic surgeon specialised in the lower third of the face, dedicated anaesthesiologist, JCI-accredited hospital, compression band included, follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months via WhatsApp in English.

Threads, radiofrequency, Ultherapy — when they suffice and when they don't

Many anglosphere patients arrive after trying PDO threads, HIFU/Ultherapy, radiofrequency (Morpheus8, Thermage) or laser for the neck — and have realised none of these resolved the platysmal bands or truly loose skin. We owe you honesty: if you have skin still reasonably toned and only early laxity, a non-surgical treatment can be the right choice. But if platysmal bands are visible when you speak and neck skin folds when you drop your chin, no energy-based technology will resolve the problem. We tell you so at consultation before you book a flight.

English-speaking team — from first message to six-month follow-up

Our team replies in English on WhatsApp, phone and email. We understand that the decision to operate on your face requires discretion and trust with whoever follows you, and we provide that in English from the first quote through the six-month check-up. Questions about recovery times, the compression band, when to be seen again — all in English, with same-day response.

Request your free quote — our team replies in UK/IE business hours and in a second window covering US Eastern through Australian morning. Photo-based pre-assessment.

Separate the neck concern into clear priorities

Before choosing a neck lift, describe what you want to improve when looking straight ahead, in profile and while speaking. Loose skin, fullness beneath the chin, visible bands and a less distinct jawline may appear together, but they should not be treated as one vague problem. Ask the surgeon to identify the parts they propose to address.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons' neck-lift overview describes treatment of visible ageing in the neck and lower jaw. Use that as a starting point, then ask what the specific plan would mean for your own appearance.

Take photographs with your head in a neutral position rather than stretching the neck or lifting the chin to hide the concern. Include ordinary front and side views. Explain whether your goal is a softer improvement, a sharper profile or less loose skin. None of these descriptions should become a promise of a particular angle or a fixed number of years younger.

Discuss the border between the face and the neck

Ask where the proposed correction begins and ends. If the surgeon recommends an isolated neck lift, what should you expect at the jawline? If a facelift is proposed as well, what concern would the additional operation address? A diagram or marked photograph can help make the explanation concrete.

The right decision does not come from choosing the largest package you can afford. Ask whether each added procedure addresses one of your stated priorities. If it does not, request an explanation before including it in the booking.

You may also want to discuss the relationship between neck fullness and chin projection. This is a question for assessment, not a reason to assume you need an implant. If another specialty is required, ask for the appropriate referral rather than expecting one operation to answer every profile concern.

Ask about scars in the context of your hairstyle and beard

“Hidden scars” is an incomplete explanation. Ask the surgeon to show the expected incision locations and how these relate to the ears, hairline and under-chin area. Tell them if you usually wear short hair, tie your hair back or shave daily. Your preferences matter when discussing what you may see during healing.

For patients with a beard, ask whether the proposed plan may affect the position of hair-bearing skin. Do not accept a promise that scars will disappear or become impossible to see in every situation.

Ask to see consent-based examples with comparable hairstyles and similar starting concerns, including side views. Find out when the photographs were taken and whether a facelift, liposuction or other procedure was also performed. This makes the comparison more useful and prevents crediting the neck operation with every change in a combined result.

Make your recovery plan practical

List the activities that cannot easily be postponed: caring for children, commuting, driving, lifting, physical work or business travel. Ask for instructions for each activity. Do not translate “back to work” into permission to do every part of your job.

The published package includes six hotel nights. Ask how those nights are counted, where any hospital stay fits and which reviews are planned during your visit. A six-night package does not establish a universal flight date.

Prepare for the possibility that the surgeon recommends an additional review or a longer stay. Ask in advance how accommodation and travel changes would be handled. Obtain written instructions before leaving, with the medical contact route and what to do if you cannot reach the team.

Understand the starting price and the extra costs

Neck lift is advertised from €3,620 all-inclusive, flights excluded, as of October 2026. The final price should identify the exact operation and any additional treatment. It should not be inferred from a facelift floor, a liposuction-only quotation or a price from an older blog article.

Ask the quote to list the clinical fees, anaesthesia, accommodation, transfers and postoperative items that actually apply. Flights are excluded; extra Deniz nights are €70 each and the Antwell upgrade adds €40 per night.

Massage and drainage are optional paid extras where offered, at €100 for one session or €250 for three. Ask the clinician whether either belongs in your plan before paying for it. Revision surgery, care for a complication and treatment after returning home need separate written terms; do not treat them as automatic inclusions.

FAQ before booking

Can I have a neck consultation without agreeing to a facelift?

Yes. Explain your neck concerns and ask for the reasoning behind each option. A recommendation can include alternatives, but you should understand their purpose before deciding.

Does a neck lift guarantee a sharp jawline?

No exact contour should be guaranteed. Ask what influences the expected result in your case and what the proposed operation cannot change.

Should I book flights before the assessment?

Obtain the proposed schedule first and discuss travel flexibility. The surgeon's clinical recommendation and the package dates need to fit together.

Begin with the consultation form, ordinary photographs and your medical history. Estetica Istanbul coordinates assessment and provides a written quote for the recommended plan.