NECK LIFT IN NYC

Define Your Jawline and Reclaim a Smooth, Youthful Neck

The neck is one of the first places to show visible signs of aging. Sagging skin, horizontal creases, vertical banding, and excess fat under the chin can all contribute to a less defined, heavier-looking profile. Even if your face still looks youthful, a loose neck can create imbalance and give away your age. If you’ve found yourself wearing turtlenecks year-round or avoiding side-profile photos, it may be time to consider a neck lift in NYC with Dr. Robert Schwarcz.

A neck lift, medically referred to as platysmaplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to tighten and reshape the neck area by addressing muscle laxity, skin sagging, and excess fat. Dr. Schwarcz, a double board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, performs this procedure in his Upper East Side Manhattan surgical suite, offering his patients natural, refined results that restore harmony between the face and neck. Known for his artistic precision and conservative approach, Dr. Schwarcz designs each neck lift with your unique anatomy in mind—never too tight, never overdone, just you at your best.

What Is a Neck Lift?

A neck lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that redefines the jawline, removes loose or excess skin, corrects vertical neck bands, and eliminates unwanted fat deposits under the chin or along the neck. This procedure targets the lower face and neck, often focusing on the platysma muscle—a thin sheet of muscle that can separate and create visible vertical bands with age. By tightening this muscle, repositioning tissue, and trimming excess skin, a neck lift restores a smooth, youthful neckline that better reflects your energy and vitality.

The result is a sculpted profile, improved jaw definition, and a more elegant transition from face to neck. Many patients find that a neck lift also subtly enhances their facial appearance, making them look more refreshed and balanced even if no other procedures are done.

Why the Neck Ages Differently

While the face tends to receive the most attention, the neck often ages faster due to thinner skin, repeated motion, sun exposure, and less robust underlying support. Over time, the platysma muscle weakens, fat can accumulate beneath the chin (creating a double chin), and skin loses elasticity, leading to crepey texture, folds, and loose skin. For many, these changes are genetic—and no amount of skincare or diet can fix them.

Unfortunately, the neck is also one of the hardest areas to treat non-surgically once these structural changes have set in. While some devices and injectables may help temporarily, they do not tighten muscles or remove skin. That’s where a surgical neck lift becomes the most reliable and transformative solution.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Neck Lift?

You may be a strong candidate for a neck lift if you’ve noticed that your neck appears aged or out of proportion with your face. Whether you’re dealing with a turkey wattle, visible muscle bands, or sagging skin under the chin, a neck lift offers a powerful yet subtle fix. Ideal candidates are men and women typically in their 40s to 70s who are in good general health, do not smoke, and want long-lasting results.

During your consultation, Dr. Schwarcz will evaluate your skin tone, muscle laxity, fat distribution, and jawline structure. Some patients need only a neck lift to achieve their desired results, while others benefit from combining it with a facelift or facial fat transfer for total harmony. Dr. Schwarcz will create a customized plan tailored to your anatomy and aesthetic goals.

What to Expect from Your Surgical Plan

Dr. Schwarcz approaches every neck lift with the goal of achieving elegant, natural-looking improvement. He often uses old photographs of the patient to guide surgical planning, aiming to restore—not reinvent—your neck and jawline. This ensures that your results look like a more youthful version of you, not a dramatic or unfamiliar change.

Your surgical plan may include tightening the platysma muscle, removing excess fat through liposuction, and trimming or redraping loose skin. If necessary, a small incision beneath the chin allows access to the central platysma for precise re-approximation. Incisions behind the ears allow Dr. Schwarcz to remove redundant skin and re-drape the remaining tissue smoothly and discreetly.

All neck lifts are performed in our private, JCAHO-certified surgical suite on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, ensuring safety, discretion, and the highest standard of care.

Surgery Day: What Happens

Your neck lift is typically performed under general anesthesia or IV sedation, depending on the complexity of the procedure and your personal preference. After arrival at the surgical suite, you’ll review your plan with Dr. Schwarcz and be prepped for surgery.

Once you are sedated, incisions are made discreetly behind the ears and possibly under the chin. Dr. Schwarcz will then remove or sculpt fat, tighten the platysma, and lift the tissues to a more youthful position. Any excess skin is trimmed and re-draped to follow your natural contours. Sutures are placed carefully to promote fine, nearly invisible scars.

The procedure generally takes between two to three hours. Once complete, you’ll recover briefly in our post-op suite before being released to Elite Private Recovery, our trusted concierge nursing service, for your first night of healing.

The Neck Lift Recovery Process

Neck lift recovery is relatively quick and well-tolerated when performed by a meticulous surgeon like Dr. Schwarcz. Mild swelling, bruising, and tightness in the neck are common during the first few days. These symptoms typically improve quickly, and most patients feel comfortable returning to daily activities within 10 to 14 days.

The first 24 hours are overseen by Elite Private Recovery, a private nursing team specializing in post-surgical care. This ensures that your dressings, medications, and positioning are perfectly managed from the beginning, setting the stage for smooth healing and excellent results.

You’ll return to the office for follow-ups during the first week, and then periodically over the next several months. Swelling continues to resolve over the first six to eight weeks, with final results becoming fully visible by the three- to four-month mark.

How Long Do Results Last?

The improvements from a neck lift are long-lasting—often a decade or more—depending on your age, skin quality, and lifestyle. While your skin will continue to age, the foundational lift and muscle tightening will maintain a more youthful structure and contour than would be possible without surgery.

Patients who follow a healthy lifestyle, avoid smoking, wear sunscreen, and use high-quality skincare often see their results last even longer. Periodic touch-up treatments such as CO2 laser, Morpheus8, or light injectables can help maintain your refreshed look without requiring additional surgery.

Complementary Procedures

A neck lift pairs beautifully with the following procedures to complete your facial rejuvenation:

• Facelift

• Facial Fat Transfer

• Lower Blepharoplasty

• Upper Blepharoplasty

• CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Alternative Procedures

If you're not ready for surgery, or have mild to moderate laxity, you may consider:

• FaceTite

• Morpheus8

• Submental Liposuction

• Dermal Fillers along the jawline

These non-surgical options can offer improvement but are not substitutes for surgical neck tightening when significant laxity or banding is present.

Why Choose Dr. Robert Schwarcz?

Dr. Schwarcz brings over 20 years of experience in facial plastic surgery and is double board-certified in ophthalmology and oculofacial plastic surgery. His neck lift technique emphasizes precision, harmony, and subtlety—avoiding the pulled or over-corrected look. He personally performs every procedure in a JCAHO-certified surgical suite and oversees your care from start to finish.

You’ll receive a comprehensive consultation that looks at your aging pattern, facial balance, and desired outcome. Every surgical plan is tailored to create youthful, natural-looking results that enhance—not alter—your identity.

Reclaim Your Profile and Reveal a More Confident You

Click the Request an Appointment button below to schedule your consultation with Dr. Robert Schwarcz and find out if a neck lift is right for you.