Facial Surgery
Neck Lift Surgery in West Palm Beach, FL
A personalized approach to loose neck skin, muscle bands and fullness beneath the chin.
Albert Carlotti, MD, FAACS · Fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon
A neck lift addresses selected concerns involving loose skin, visible neck bands and fullness beneath the chin. At BellaNova Cosmetic Surgery in West Palm Beach, Dr. Albert Carlotti evaluates the skin, fat, muscle and underlying anatomy before recommending an operation.
Dr. Carlotti is a fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and over 30,000 procedures across facial, breast and body surgery. Consultations and surgery take place at our state-registered Level III surgical center, at 1261 S Congress Ave, West Palm Beach.
Explore neck lift, liposuction and Renuvion options, deep-plane submentoplasty, Dr. Carlotti’s 2007 AACS award, recovery planning, costs and patient photographs.
Who may benefit from neck lift surgery?
Concerns may include hanging neck skin, vertical bands, fullness under the chin or reduced definition between the jaw and neck. An examination helps establish which tissues contribute to the appearance. Skin quality, health, nicotine use, previous procedures and expectations all inform planning.
Some patients need a limited procedure; others benefit from treating the neck and lower face together. Dr. Carlotti explains the likely benefit and the limits imposed by your starting anatomy. See the ASPS neck lift overview.
Neck lift vs. neck liposuction vs. Renuvion
| Option | Role in a treatment plan |
|---|---|
| Neck lift | May combine skin redraping or removal, muscle repair and selected fat contouring. |
| Neck liposuction | Removes selected superficial fat beneath the chin. It does not repair muscle bands or remove hanging skin. |
| Renuvion | Treats tissue beneath the skin using radiofrequency energy and helium plasma. It may be considered for selected laxity concerns, including alongside liposuction. |
BellaNova offers Renuvion with the AYON Body Contouring System. The FDA cleared the Renuvion APR handpiece for improving loose skin in the neck and under-chin region. It involves treatment beneath the skin through incisions and is not a nonsurgical facial treatment. Read about Renuvion and liposuction at BellaNova and the FDA's Renuvion indications and precautions.
These procedures are not interchangeable. Your consultation determines whether fat removal, tissue contraction, muscle repair or skin removal is needed.
How Dr. Carlotti plans neck lift surgery
Fat and muscle. Assessment distinguishes superficial fullness from deeper structures and evaluates the platysma, the broad neck muscle that can form visible bands. Depending on the findings, treatment may include liposuction, direct contouring or platysma repair.
Skin and incisions. Skin redraping and removal may require incisions around or behind the ears; an incision under the chin can provide access for selected neck work. The incision plan is discussed before surgery. See the ASPS description of neck lift steps.
Chin and lower face. Chin projection and hyoid position influence the neck profile. A chin implant or genioplasty may be discussed when skeletal support contributes to the concern. If jowling and lower-face laxity also need treatment, review our 4D Facelift approach. Additional procedures are considered individually.
Deep-plane neck contouring: submentoplasty and the 4D Facelift
Submentoplasty addresses the tissues beneath the chin. In Dr. Carlotti’s technique, this includes work in the deep plane of the neck, beneath the platysma muscle, as well as reconstruction of the muscle itself. This submentoplasty step is part of every 4D Facelift he performs.
Dr. Carlotti removes weakened central platysma tissue and the submental fat pad to expose the underlying mylohyoid muscle. The healthy platysma edges are then brought back together at the midline and secured to the periosteum—the tissue covering the hyoid bone—to help define the angle between the neck and jaw.
The accompanying neck reconstruction includes lateral platysma support behind the ear and skin redraping toward the posterior hairline. The goal is to address deeper support as well as the overlying skin. The extent of contouring is planned around each patient’s anatomy.
Recognized by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 2007
At the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s Twenty-Third Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, January 25–28, 2007, Dr. Carlotti received the President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution of a Scientific Paper for The Aggressive Submentoplasty: Achieving Consistent Results at the Neck-Jaw Angle.
The presentation documented the core neck-reconstruction technique he continues to use today. It reflects a longstanding commitment to developing and teaching his approach to the neck–jaw angle, now incorporated into his 4D Facelift.
Neck lift recovery: work, exercise and healing
Your written recovery plan reflects the operation performed. Allow time for visible bruising and swelling, and discuss work, caregiving and travel before scheduling.
| Stage | Planning considerations |
|---|---|
| Early recovery | Follow instructions for head positioning, dressings and any drains or support garment. Arrange transport and assistance at home. |
| Follow-up visits | The team checks healing and determines suture removal and activity changes. Report unexpected symptoms promptly. |
| Return to routine | Timing depends on healing and your job. Exercise and lifting require clearance; appearance may still be changing. |
| Following months | Residual swelling settles and scars mature. Review progress at scheduled visits. |
Consult the ASPS recovery guidance for general questions to discuss. Patients traveling to West Palm Beach should coordinate their local stay and follow-up using our out-of-town patient guidance.
Neck lift risks and limitations
Risks include bleeding or hematoma, infection, poor wound healing, skin loss, unfavorable scars, altered sensation, asymmetry and nerve injury affecting lower-lip movement. Anesthesia complications, blood clots and the need for revision are also possible. Read the ASPS neck lift risk information.
Neck bands or laxity can recur as aging continues. Your starting anatomy limits the degree of change. If Renuvion is included, its device-specific risks and alternatives are discussed separately.
How much does a neck lift cost in West Palm Beach?
Cost depends on whether you need a limited under-chin procedure, a more extensive neck lift or combined face and neck surgery. Anesthesia, facility time and additional procedures also affect the quote.
Ask for an itemized plan identifying the procedures included, surgeon and anesthesia fees, facility charges and any separate recovery-related costs. Compare quotes for equivalent operations. Review cost and financing information or request a personalized consultation. BellaNova is a self-pay practice and does not accept insurance or file insurance claims.
Neck lift before-and-after photos
Before
After
Explore our face and neck surgery gallery. Check each case's procedure description: a combined facelift, neck procedure or chin treatment should not be interpreted as a neck lift alone. Photographs show individual outcomes, not a prediction of your result.
Your neck lift consultation at BellaNova
Meet one-to-one with Dr. Carlotti to discuss your profile, neck bands, skin concerns and goals. Bring your medication list and details of previous surgery or energy treatments. Ask which structures would be treated, where scars would sit, how recovery fits your schedule and what alternatives are available.
Request a neck lift consultation or call (561) 834-6682. Visit us at 1261 S Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5172.
Neck lift: questions patients ask
Do I need a neck lift or just liposuction?
Liposuction targets superficial fat beneath the chin. A neck lift may be considered when loose skin or muscle bands also need treatment. Your examination, rather than an age cutoff, determines the options.
Can Renuvion replace a neck lift?
Renuvion may improve loose skin in selected neck and under-chin treatments. It does not remove excess skin or perform a platysma repair. Dr. Carlotti evaluates whether it fits your anatomy and goals.
Should I combine a neck lift with a facelift?
Dr. Carlotti includes his submentoplasty neck-reconstruction step in every 4D Facelift. Whether you need the combined operation or a neck-focused procedure depends on your lower-face concerns, neck anatomy and goals.
What is a submentoplasty?
Submentoplasty addresses tissues beneath the chin. Dr. Carlotti’s technique includes deep-plane fat contouring beneath the platysma, repair of the healthy muscle edges at the midline and fixation to the hyoid periosteum. He includes this submentoplasty step in every 4D Facelift. The extent of contouring is individualized.
How long is neck lift recovery?
Recovery depends on the extent of surgery and any combined procedures. Plan time away from work and social commitments, and obtain clearance before exercise or lifting. Swelling and scar maturation continue beyond the early recovery period.
Where are neck lift scars?
Incisions may be placed beneath the chin and around or behind the ears, depending on the operation. Scars are permanent, and their visibility varies with incision placement and healing.
Can neck bands return after surgery?
Yes. Aging continues, and muscle bands or skin laxity can recur. Technique, anatomy and healing affect results; no operation guarantees permanent elimination of neck bands.
How much does a neck lift cost in West Palm Beach?
A personalized quote follows consultation. It depends on the surgical plan, anesthesia, facility time and any combined procedures. Ask for an itemized explanation of what is included.
Where does Dr. Carlotti perform neck lift surgery?
Consultation and surgery take place at BellaNova Cosmetic Surgery, 1261 S Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5172. Call (561) 834-6682 to arrange a consultation.
The ASPS and FDA resources linked above provide general procedure and device information. Consultation with Dr. Carlotti determines your individual treatment plan. Results vary.
Related
Often considered alongside
4D Facelift
Skeleton, muscle, skin, surface — planned as one operation.
Read moreFacial Skeletal SurgeryChin Augmentation & Genioplasty
Two very different operations for the same complaint — and a clear account of when each one is right.
Read moreBody ContouringLiposuction
Precision contouring of areas that resist diet and exercise — a shaping operation, not a weight-loss one.
Read moreFacial SurgeryNon-Surgical Skin Tightening
Energy-based firming for mild laxity — with an honest account of where its limits are.
Read moreDiscuss neck lift with Dr. Carlotti
Meet Dr. Carlotti at BellaNova’s state-registered Level III surgical center, 1261 S Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, to discuss your treatment options and recovery plan.