Neck Lift in Paris

Plastic surgery Pr Meningaud

Pour Aristote, il existe trois critères objectifs de la beauté : la symétrie, l’harmonie dans les proportions et la précision. Pour Charles Auguste Baud [1], la fonction est un critère intrinsèque de la beauté.

Un visage beau implique une orthognathie (une bonne congruence des arcades dentaires, une bonne perméabilité des voies aéro-digestives supérieures, un appareil occulo-moteur fonctionnel (la beauté du regard), une bonne motricité (un viage beau est souriant), etc.

What is a neck lift and who is it for?

Necklift in Paris 16

What is a cervical lift or neck lift?

A cervical lift, also known as a neck lift, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to correct skin and muscle laxity in the neck area.
Over time, the neck may develop excess skin, loss of definition of the cervico-mental angle, visible platysmal bands, or a double chin, all of which can disrupt overall facial harmony.

A neck lift tightens the skin of the neck, repositions the deeper muscles (platysma), and redefines the jawline, providing a natural and long-lasting result.

Who is a neck lift for?

A neck lift is suitable for both women and men, generally from the age of 40–45, though it may be indicated earlier in cases of constitutional laxity or following significant weight loss.

It is recommended in cases of:

  • neck skin laxity
  • loss of jawline definition
  • blunting of the neck–chin angle
  • presence of jowls or cervical folds
  • vertical muscle bands (platysmal bands)
  • excess submental fat

Neck Lift in Paris

Professor Jean-Paul Meningaud Plastic Surgery

Deep surgical neck lift

This is the reference technique. It combines:

  • tightening of the platysma muscle (platysmaplasty),

  • harmonious skin redraping,

  • and sometimes complementary cervical liposuction.

This approach provides deep and effective neck rejuvenation, far superior to non-surgical treatments.

Combined cervico-facial lift

A neck lift is very often performed in combination with a facelift in order to achieve global face–neck harmony, without aesthetic discontinuity.

  • Anesthesia: general or sometimes advanced local anesthesia

  • Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on associated procedures

  • Scars: concealed behind the ears and sometimes under the chin

  • Hospital stay: outpatient or short hospitalization

Scars are designed to be as discreet as possible and integrated into natural skin folds.

After a neck lift, it is common to experience:

  • moderate swelling,

  • some bruising,

  • a temporary sensation of tightness.

Wearing a compression dressing or cervical support is generally recommended for a few days.
Return to social activities is usually possible after 10 to 15 days.

The results are:

  • natural, without a “frozen” appearance,

  • progressive, becoming visible as swelling subsides,

  • long-lasting, often between 10 and 15 years depending on skin quality and lifestyle.

The neck regains:

  • smoother skin,

  • a clearly defined cervico-mental angle,

  • harmonious continuity with the face.

During a cervical lift (neck lift), in-depth knowledge of cervical anatomy is essential in order to tailor the surgical strategy to each patient’s individual diagnosis. Several anatomical structures of the neck may be involved in cervical aging and must be carefully analyzed. The platysma muscle plays a central role: its laxity, thinning, or midline separation is responsible for the appearance of platysmal bands and may justify a platysmaplasty with tightening or midline suturing. Cervical fat compartments, particularly pre- and subplatysmal submental fat, may require cervical liposuction or selective excision to restore a sharp cervico-mental angle.

In some cases, diagnosis reveals hypertrophy or ptosis of the submandibular salivary glands, responsible for persistent bulging beneath the jaw angle despite adequate skin tightening. When these glands significantly contribute to alteration of the cervical contour, they may— in carefully selected patients—be addressed through gland suspension or, more rarely, partial reduction, with a strictly morphological goal and full respect for function. This management must be carried out with extreme caution, taking into account adjacent neurovascular structures, particularly the marginal mandibular nerve, cervical sensory nerves, and deeper elements of the sub-hyoid region, in order to ensure optimal safety and a natural, durable aesthetic result.

My interest in the cervical region did not develop secondarily through aesthetic surgery, but from the very beginning of my career as a maxillofacial surgeon. This specialty exposed me early on to the deep anatomy of the neck, its subtle balances, and the close proximity between aesthetic, functional, and vital structures. Surgery of the salivary glands, cervico-facial tumors, lymph node dissections, reconstructions, and submandibular approaches taught me to view the neck not as a simple area of skin to be tightened, but as a complex, three-dimensional, living anatomical region. This surgical culture, acquired long before performing neck lifts, continues to influence my approach today: with particular attention to deep planes, respect for volumes, salivary gland positioning, and overall harmony between the face, jawline, and neck. It is this continuity between functional and aesthetic surgery that allows for natural, durable, and anatomically coherent results, far from standardized approaches.

The Deep Neck Lift, or deep cervical lift, is an advanced surgical approach intended for patients with significant cervical aging, when superficial techniques are no longer sufficient to restore a sharp and lasting contour. This technique is based on precise work on the deep anatomical planes of the neck, beyond simple skin tightening. Depending on the diagnosis, it combines an advanced platysmaplasty, refined management of pre- and subplatysmal fat, reshaping of the submental region, and sometimes targeted management of the submandibular salivary glands when they contribute to cervical fullness. The Deep Neck Lift allows for very natural redefinition of the cervico-mental angle, refinement of the jawline, and neck rejuvenation that is structural, stable, and harmonious, while respecting the functional and neurovascular balance of this complex region. This demanding surgery follows a three-dimensional vision of the neck, where every gesture is guided by anatomy rather than standards, ensuring elegant and long-lasting results.

I have always been particularly drawn to so-called “difficult” necks—those that do not fit classical patterns and for which simple solutions quickly show their limitations. These are necks marked by singular anatomy, deep laxity, asymmetrical thick or thin skin, advanced muscle ptosis, sometimes associated with glandular hypertrophy or previous surgery. Such situations require careful anatomical reading, fine understanding of volumes, and the ability to adapt each surgical gesture to every detail. Far from being an obstacle, this complexity is a true intellectual and surgical driver for me. It requires slowing down, observing, planning, and finding the right balance between aesthetic correction, functional respect, and natural results. Operating on these difficult necks is never a standardized act; it is precision work—almost artisanal—where experience, mastery of deep planes, and intimate knowledge of cervical anatomy allow for discreet yet profound transformations, faithful to the patient’s identity. It is in these demanding situations that neck surgery, in my view, reveals its full nobility.

Non-surgical techniques (radiofrequency, ultrasound, thread lifts) may slightly improve skin quality, but they do not replace surgical neck lifting in cases of significant laxity.

The neck lift remains the most effective and durable solution for correcting advanced cervical aging.

Is a neck lift painful?

Pain is generally moderate and well controlled with analgesic treatment.

Are the scars visible?

They are carefully concealed and gradually fade over time.

At what age can a neck lift be performed?

There is no strict age limit; the indication is purely anatomical.

Can a neck lift be combined with other procedures?

Yes, very frequently with a facelift, blepharoplasty, or chin liposuction.

A specialized consultation allows for:

  • precise analysis of cervical aging,

  • selection of the most appropriate technique,

  • clear information regarding expected results and recovery.

Every neck is unique, and a neck lift must be customized, respecting the patient’s identity and morphology.