Liposuction on the neck has always been an important part of my practice. But over the last few months, the demand for neck rejuvenation procedures has skyrocketed. Zoom and FaceTime may be great ways to conduct business, and stay connected and sane during these crazy times, but neither is kind to your neck. Add in poor lighting and the fact that you are staring at yourself all day, and it’s easy to understand why you may be feeling as if your neck has aged decades in only a year. Liposuction is a powerful tool to improve the contour of the neck when there is excess fat and get rid of the double chin, but the exciting thing about neck rejuvenation is that there are a lot of options. Unfortunately, that is also the confusing thing, especially when it comes to cost. So, the question remains: how much should neck liposuction cost?
Is Neck Liposuction Right for You?
First things first, is neck liposuction the right procedure for your neck issues? I love the internet, and the fact that patients are so well informed these days. The downside, however, is that a neck lift Boston patient will often hyper focus on a specific procedure as being THE ANSWER for his or her issues when, perhaps, it is not the best choice. This is why I am so adamant about scheduling an in-person before committing to anything surgical. Aging in the neck is multi-factorial so while excess fat may be a component, it also may not be the whole story. In general, younger patients with taut skin tend to be the best candidates for neck liposuction.
When I meet with someone to discuss neck rejuvenation, I conduct a thorough physical exam to assess:
- Areas and degree of excess fat, if any
- Skin tone
- Definition at the skin/neck juncture
- Texture of the skin
- Muscle tone
- Effects of previous procedures
The Costs of Neck Liposuction and Liposuction with RF
Liposuction is the ideal fat removal technique and has a short recovery period. I particularly like it for re-sculpting the chin/neck juncture to create a defined, crisp jawline. While this can be a problem area for both men and women, men who wear a tie find it to be particularly bothersome. The downside of neck liposuction is that it does not address loose, sagging skin. In fact, if we remove a lot of fat, it may make your skin look even looser so it is good to keep that in mind and have realistic expectations. This is why, in neck liposuction Boston patients who have both excess fat and a moderate amount of loose skin, I will combine neck liposuction with some sort of radiofrequency (RF) treatment to achieve a more youthful appearance. As a cosmetic surgeon, one of my favorite combinations is liposuction and Renuvion®. This 1-2 punch comes the closest that I’ve seen to delivering a non-surgical neck lift like result for my Boston area patients who exhibit a mild to moderate degree of skin laxity. The cost for Neck liposuction can be anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 when performed under local anesthesia. If we decide to add some sort of RF treatment, the total cost will range from $4,000 to $5,000. Sedation or general anesthesia will cost a bit more.
Are there risks associated with Liposuction?
Being a surgical procedure, Neck Liposuction bears certain risks such as bleeding, bruising, swelling, temporary or permanent nerve injury, and scarring, however, Neck liposuction is typically safe and well-tolerated with minimal adverse reactions or risks, with the same risks as those associated with Kybella injections.
Is Neck Liposuction painful?
Liposuction is safe and with numbing injections, you can stay awake while the cosmetic procedure is being done. These numbing shots may cause some discomfort, however they will make the neck area numb for the duration of the procedure.
The numbing effects of this medication last for a few hours, after which there is some minor discomfort. This discomfort can be alleviated with oral pain medications, usually just non-prescription acetaminophen. The soreness fades away in around three days.
Thread Lift on the Neck
For patients whose neck issues are due to a more severe amount of skin laxity or excess skin and who do not want a surgical neck lift, a thread lift can be a possible option. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses barbed suture material to lift the skin and tissues without excising skin. The benefit of a thread lift is that there are no incisions or significant downtime. The negative is that the results are nowhere as effective or nearly as long-lasting as a neck lift. However, I find this to be a really nice in-between procedure. Cost for a thread lift on the neck ranges from $1,500 to $2,200. If we decide to combine the thread lift with neck liposuction, the price will go up. But all of this will be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation.
Neck Rejuvenation Cost with Kybella®
While liposuction is my gold standard for removing excess fat, it is a surgical procedure. Some patients do not want surgery or maybe are not quite at a point where it’s necessary. Kybella® is an injectable that was specifically designed to melt and destroy the submental fat under your chin. It can be quite effective in the right patient as one of the alternatives to neck liposuction. The downside is that it will require multiple treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart, to achieve your ideal result. And each Kybella® treatment will cost $1,500 – $2,500 depending on the amount of fat that needs to be addressed. Though patients can carry on with their normal routine right after the procedure, you should anticipate a mild to moderate amount of swelling for a few days after each treatment.
Coolsculpting® and SculpSure® Cost for Neck Rejuvenation
Another non-surgical option for addressing excess fat in the neck is to either freeze the fat cells with Coolsculpting® or heat them with SculpSure®. Both will permanently destroy the fat cells in the treatment area. As with Kybella®, however, it will take multiple sessions, spaced 4-6 weeks apart, to deliver on your goals. I tend to prefer SculpSure® as I find the heating element to deliver some degree of skin tightening. The cost of Coolsculpting® or SculpSure® on the neck is $800 to $1,200 per treatment, and most patients will require at least two treatments.
So, if you are worried that your neck resembles more of a Shar-Pei than a swan, schedule an appointment to come in and discuss your neck rejuvenation options. It is one of those areas where a little bit of help delivers a big bang for your buck.
To find out more about neck liposuction, radiofrequency, a thread lift, Kybella®, Coolsculpting® or SculpSure® with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Chestnut Hill office, contact us today or call (617) 450.0070 to schedule a consultation.