Neck Lift Surgery
NECK LIFT
Improves vertical neck lines caused by aging and sagging.
The causes of neck wrinkles vary from person to person.
Some have horizontal lines that deepen with age, while others develop vertical lines over time.
The most suitable type of neck lift also differs depending on age and condition.
More satisfying results can be achieved when combined with a facelift.
Face lift 01.
Understanding the cause is essential for wrinkle improvement
Vertical Wrinkles
Unlike horizontal lines, vertical neck wrinkles occur as the skin and underlying muscles lose elasticity with age. If muscle laxity is present, it should be corrected together, often with platysma tightening.
These concerns are difficult to improve with Botox or fillers alone.
Submental Sagging
Sagging under the chin, which may resemble a double chin,
occurs when both the skin and muscles lose elasticity and fat accumulates.
From the front, this appears as loose skin under the chin, and it is not easily improved
with liposuction or fat-dissolving injections alone.
General Neck Sagging
General neck sagging caused by skin laxity often creates
both horizontal and vertical lines.
When caused by skin laxity, improvement is achieved through a face and neck lift
depending on the degree of sagging, and in cases of more severe muscle
and skin laxity, platysma tightening can be combined to better define the jawline.
Face lift 02.
Neck lift procedure
2-1. Face and neck lift procedure
To improve neck wrinkles caused by aging along with a facelift, incisions and dissection are performed from behind the ear to the posterior hairline, correcting sagging skin and underlying tissues together.
2-2. Double chin muscle tightening procedure
Through a small incision under the chin, unnecessary fat is removed and the lax platysma muscle is tightened.
This procedure reduces excess fullness under the chin and brings separated neck muscles together, creating a more defined jawline.
Face lift 03.
Recovery expertise, why PLANET recovery is faster
Most facelifts involve dissection through the mid-subcutaneous layer to reduce surgery time.
In such cases, blood vessels in the subcutaneous layer may be damaged, and if the dissection is too close to the skin, it can cause unevenness or skin damage.
Director Shin Dong-woo at PLANET performs precise and even dissection just above the SMAS layer, with immediate hemostasis when bleeding occurs, allowing for faster recovery.
Face lift 04.
Concerns about scars, PLANET is with you
Director Shin Dong-woo preserves the natural ear shape by carefully considering skin tension.
Reducing skin tension is essential to minimizing visible scars.
An incision is made behind the tragal cartilage, leaving only the minimum amount of skin necessary without restricting movement, followed by skin excision to maintain the original ear shape.
Director Shin Dong-woo combines the strong and long-lasting effects of the deep plane technique with the precise control of the dual plane approach, providing customized and natural-looking facelift results tailored to each patient’s condition.
Face lift 05.
Neck lift is recommended
in these cases:
Face lift 06.
Expected benefits of face and neck lift?
Face lift 07.
Recovery timeline for face and neck lift
Face lift 8.
Postoperative care after face and neck lift
Planet provides aftercare throughout this entire
schedule, with our dedicated team accompanying
you through all processes that occur during
recovery.
In addition to basic care, Planet helps rapid
recovery through the Golden Plan aftercare program.
The Golden Plan aftercare program is a
personalized program that provides various
aftercare for up to 3 months according to recovery
status.
Golden Plan
Aftercare Program Schedule
Every neck lift at Planet is performed by Dr. Dong-woo Shin, a board-certified plastic surgeon with 17 years of surgical experience who has focused his practice exclusively on facial lifting procedures.
Planet does not rotate patients between surgeons: the doctor you meet at consultation is the doctor who operates and the doctor who sees you at every follow-up.
The neck is where a lift most often disappoints, because loose skin, a lax platysma muscle and fat under the chin each need a different correction and most necks have more than one. Dr. Shin treats the neck as part of the face rather than an add-on: the platysma is tightened, fat is removed where it sits, and the skin is redraped from behind the ear so that the jawline is defined from the front and from the side.
Which neck treatment do you need?
Necks age in three ways loose skin, a lax platysma muscle, and fat under the chin and most people have two of the three. The right procedure depends on which ones you have.
| Submental platysmaplasty (chin incision) | Face and neck lift (Planet) | Neck liposuction alone | Non-surgical (Botox, Ultherapy, injections) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Double chin fullness and vertical bands with good skin elasticity; often 40s–50s | Loose neck skin with jowls, bands and an undefined jawline; usually 50s–70s | Fat under the chin with tight skin; usually under 40 | Very early laxity or mild bands; maintenance between surgeries |
| What is corrected | Fat removed, platysma muscle tightened and joined at the midline | Skin, SMAS and platysma lifted together from behind the ear; fat removed; neck redraped | Fat only — skin and muscle untouched | Muscle relaxed (Botox) or skin heated (Ultherapy); fat partly dissolved |
| Incision | 2–3 cm hidden under the chin | Behind the ear into the posterior hairline, plus under the chin if needed | 2–3 small punctures | None |
| Surgery time | 1.5–2 hours | About 4 hours | 1 hour | 30–60 minutes |
| Anesthesia | IV sedation | IV sedation | Local or sedation | None or topical |
| Stitches removed | Day 7 | Day 7 and Day 10 | Day 5–7 | None |
| Back to daily life | From Day 5–7 | From Day 7; no overnight stay | 2–3 days | Same day |
| How long results last | 5–10 years | 10 years or more | Permanent for fat; skin may loosen later | 4–12 months |
| Performed at Planet | Yes | Yes — our standard approach for the aging neck | Only as part of a lift, not alone | No |
Durations are typical ranges and vary by individual.
Why liposuction alone usually disappoints after 40
Removing fat from a neck whose skin has already loosened leaves the same loose skin with less underneath it, and the bands become more visible, not less. After about 40, the question is almost never “how much fat” but “how much skin and muscle”. That is why Planet performs neck liposuction only as part of a lift, and why we will say so if the photos you send show a neck that needs more than fat removal.
Link : face and neck lift
The first thing that decides a neck lift quote is whether the neck is treated on its own or together with a facelift. Submental platysmaplasty on its own is a shorter surgery and is priced accordingly. A face and neck lift is one operation, not two, and is quoted as one figure it costs less than a facelift and a neck lift booked separately, because the neck is reached through the same dissection. Dr. Shin prepares your quote after reviewing your photos.
Three things decide the final figure:
Every quote we send is all-inclusive. It covers:
Not included: flights, accommodation, and travel insurance.
There are no added fees after the quote. The figure you receive is the figure you pay.
See our full guide to facelift costs in Korea.
Recovery varies by individual. Patients combining a neck lift or flying more than 10 hours may be advised to stay 12–14 days.
Traveling to Korea for a neck lift
Yes, if the problem is under the chin — fullness and vertical bands with skin that still has elasticity. That is treated with submental platysmaplasty through a small incision under the chin. If the skin along the jawline is loose and there are jowls, a neck lift alone leaves the lower face behind and the result looks unbalanced; in that case a face and neck lift is the right operation. Dr. Shin will tell you which one from your photos.
The platysma is the thin sheet of muscle under the skin of the neck. With age it loosens and separates in the middle, which shows as two vertical bands. Platysmaplasty tightens the muscle and brings the two edges together at the midline, which flattens the bands and sharpens the angle under the chin.
Only if your skin is still tight, which usually means under 40. After that, removing fat without tightening the muscle and skin tends to make the neck look looser, not better. Planet performs neck liposuction only as part of a lift.
They help with very early changes: Botox can soften mild bands for a few months, and energy devices can tighten skin slightly. None of them repositions loose skin or joins a separated platysma. If you have tried them and the neck came back, that is the point at which surgery is the honest answer.
For a face and neck lift, behind the ear and into the hairline at the back of the ear, where it is hidden. For platysmaplasty, 2–3 cm in the natural crease under the chin. Neither is visible from the front once healed.
A face and neck lift takes about 4 hours under IV sedation; platysmaplasty alone takes 1.5–2 hours. You go home the same day in both cases.
Expect tightness under the chin and some numbness in the neck for the first weeks; both are normal and fade. Stitches come out on Day 7 and Day 10, most patients are back to desk work from Day 7, and the neck contour is clearly visible from the side at about 1 month. Firmness under the chin can take 2–3 months to settle fully.
10 days for a face and neck lift: one day before surgery for consultation and tests, surgery, and recovery including stitch removal on Day 7 and Day 10. For platysmaplasty alone, 7–8 days is usually enough.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Dong-woo Shin, Plastic Surgeon · Last updated October 2026
Neck Lift Surgery
Improves vertical neck lines caused by aging and sagging.
The causes of neck wrinkles vary from person to person.
Some have horizontal lines that deepen with age,
while others develop vertical lines over time.
The most suitable type of neck lift also differs depending on age and condition.
More satisfying results can be achieved when combined with a facelift.
Face Lift 01.
Understanding the cause is essential for wrinkle improvement
Vertical Wrinkles
Unlike horizontal lines, vertical neck wrinkles occur as the skin and
underlying muscles lose elasticity with age.
If muscle laxity is present, it should be corrected together, often with platysma tightening.
These concerns are difficult to improve with Botox or fillers alone.
Submental Sagging
Sagging under the chin, which may resemble a double chin,
occurs when both the skin and muscles lose elasticity and fat accumulates.
From the front, this appears as loose skin under the chin, and it is not easily improved
with liposuction or fat-dissolving injections alone.
General Neck Sagging
General neck sagging caused by skin laxity often creates both horizontal and vertical lines.
When caused by skin laxity, improvement is achieved through a face and neck lift
depending on the degree of sagging, and in cases of more severe muscle
and skin laxity, platysma tightening can be combined to better define the jawline.
Face Lift 02.
Neck lift procedure
2-1. Face and neck lift procedure
To improve neck wrinkles caused by aging along with a facelift,
incisions and dissection are performed from behind the ear to the posterior hairline,
correcting sagging skin and underlying tissues together.
2-2. Double chin muscle tightening procedure
Through a small incision under the chin, unnecessary fat is removed
and the lax platysma muscle is tightened.
This procedure reduces excess fullness under the chin
and brings separated neck muscles together, creating a more defined jawline.
Face Lift 03.
Recovery expertise, why PLANET recovery is faster
Most facelifts involve dissection through the mid-subcutaneous layer to reduce surgery time.
In such cases, blood vessels in the subcutaneous layer may be damaged, and if the dissection is too close to the skin, it can cause unevenness or skin damage.
Director Shin Dong-woo at PLANET performs precise and even dissection
just above the SMAS layer, with immediate hemostasis
when bleeding occurs, allowing for faster recovery.
Face Lift 04.
Concerns about scars, PLANET is with you
Director Shin Dong-woo preserves the natural ear shape by carefully considering skin tension.
Reducing skin tension is essential to minimizing visible scars.
An incision is made behind the tragal cartilage, leaving only the minimum amount of skin necessary without restricting movement, followed by skin excision to maintain the original ear shape.
Director Shin Dong-woo combines the strong and long-lasting effects
of the deep plane technique with the precise control of the dual plane approach,
providing customized and natural-looking facelift results tailored to each patient’s condition.
Face Lift 05.
Neck lift is recommended in these cases:
Face Lift 06.
Expected benefits of face and neck lift
Face Lift 07.
Face-neck lift recovery process guide
Face Lift 08.
Postoperative care after face and neck lift
Planet provides aftercare throughout this entire schedule,
with our dedicated team accompanying you through all processes
that occur during recovery.
In addition to basic care, Planet helps rapid recovery through the
Golden Plan aftercare program. The Golden Plan aftercare program
is a personalized program that provides various aftercare for up to
3 months according to recovery status.
Golden Plan Aftercare Program Schedule
Every neck lift at Planet is performed by Dr. Dong-woo Shin, a board-certified plastic surgeon with 17 years of surgical experience who has focused his practice exclusively on facial lifting procedures.
Planet does not rotate patients between surgeons: the doctor you meet at consultation is the doctor who operates and the doctor who sees you at every follow-up.
The neck is where a lift most often disappoints, because loose skin, a lax platysma muscle and fat under the chin each need a different correction and most necks have more than one. Dr. Shin treats the neck as part of the face rather than an add-on: the platysma is tightened, fat is removed where it sits, and the skin is redraped from behind the ear so that the jawline is defined from the front and from the side.
Which neck treatment do you need?
Necks age in three ways loose skin, a lax platysma muscle, and fat under the chin and most people have two of the three. The right procedure depends on which ones you have.
| Submental platysmaplasty (chin incision) | Face and neck lift (Planet) | Neck liposuction alone | Non-surgical (Botox, Ultherapy, injections) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Double chin fullness and vertical bands with good skin elasticity; often 40s–50s | Loose neck skin with jowls, bands and an undefined jawline; usually 50s–70s | Fat under the chin with tight skin; usually under 40 | Very early laxity or mild bands; maintenance between surgeries |
| What is corrected | Fat removed, platysma muscle tightened and joined at the midline | Skin, SMAS and platysma lifted together from behind the ear; fat removed; neck redraped | Fat only — skin and muscle untouched | Muscle relaxed (Botox) or skin heated (Ultherapy); fat partly dissolved |
| Incision | 2–3 cm hidden under the chin | Behind the ear into the posterior hairline, plus under the chin if needed | 2–3 small punctures | None |
| Surgery time | 1.5–2 hours | About 4 hours | 1 hour | 30–60 minutes |
| Anesthesia | IV sedation | IV sedation | Local or sedation | None or topical |
| Stitches removed | Day 7 | Day 7 and Day 10 | Day 5–7 | None |
| Back to daily life | From Day 5–7 | From Day 7; no overnight stay | 2–3 days | Same day |
| How long results last | 5–10 years | 10 years or more | Permanent for fat; skin may loosen later | 4–12 months |
| Performed at Planet | Yes | Yes — our standard approach for the aging neck | Only as part of a lift, not alone | No |
Durations are typical ranges and vary by individual.
Why liposuction alone usually disappoints after 40
Removing fat from a neck whose skin has already loosened leaves the same loose skin with less underneath it, and the bands become more visible, not less. After about 40, the question is almost never “how much fat” but “how much skin and muscle”. That is why Planet performs neck liposuction only as part of a lift, and why we will say so if the photos you send show a neck that needs more than fat removal.
Link : face and neck lift
The first thing that decides a neck lift quote is whether the neck is treated on its own or together with a facelift. Submental platysmaplasty on its own is a shorter surgery and is priced accordingly. A face and neck lift is one operation, not two, and is quoted as one figure it costs less than a facelift and a neck lift booked separately, because the neck is reached through the same dissection. Dr. Shin prepares your quote after reviewing your photos.
Three things decide the final figure:
Every quote we send is all-inclusive. It covers:
Not included: flights, accommodation, and travel insurance.
There are no added fees after the quote. The figure you receive is the figure you pay.
See our full guide to facelift costs in Korea.
Recovery varies by individual. International patients can return home after stitch removal on Day 10; follow-up from 1 month onwards is done by photo.
Traveling to Korea for a neck lift
Yes, if the problem is under the chin — fullness and vertical bands with skin that still has elasticity. That is treated with submental platysmaplasty through a small incision under the chin. If the skin along the jawline is loose and there are jowls, a neck lift alone leaves the lower face behind and the result looks unbalanced; in that case a face and neck lift is the right operation. Dr. Shin will tell you which one from your photos.
The platysma is the thin sheet of muscle under the skin of the neck. With age it loosens and separates in the middle, which shows as two vertical bands. Platysmaplasty tightens the muscle and brings the two edges together at the midline, which flattens the bands and sharpens the angle under the chin.
Only if your skin is still tight, which usually means under 40. After that, removing fat without tightening the muscle and skin tends to make the neck look looser, not better. Planet performs neck liposuction only as part of a lift.
They help with very early changes: Botox can soften mild bands for a few months, and energy devices can tighten skin slightly. None of them repositions loose skin or joins a separated platysma. If you have tried them and the neck came back, that is the point at which surgery is the honest answer.
For a face and neck lift, behind the ear and into the hairline at the back of the ear, where it is hidden. For platysmaplasty, 2–3 cm in the natural crease under the chin. Neither is visible from the front once healed.
A face and neck lift takes about 4 hours under IV sedation; platysmaplasty alone takes 1.5–2 hours. You go home the same day in both cases.
Expect tightness under the chin and some numbness in the neck for the first weeks; both are normal and fade. Stitches come out on Day 7 and Day 10, most patients are back to desk work from Day 7, and the neck contour is clearly visible from the side at about 1 month. Firmness under the chin can take 2–3 months to settle fully.
10 days for a face and neck lift: one day before surgery for consultation and tests, surgery, and recovery including stitch removal on Day 7 and Day 10. For platysmaplasty alone, 7–8 days is usually enough.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Dong-woo Shin, Plastic Surgeon · Last updated October 2026