Neck Lift Surgery (Platysmaplasty) in Sydney & Central Coast

Last updated: 2 October 2026

Neck lift surgery can be a powerful tool in correcting the signs of ageing and achieving a well-contoured neck.

Understanding the Neck Lift Procedure

A neck lift (platysmaplasty) is surgery to improve the contour of the neck and the area under the chin. It can address loose skin, the platysma muscle and, where needed, fat and other structures beneath the muscle.

The two most common approaches to correcting the neck involve either liposuction or neck lift surgery. Your surgeon will help you decide on the best option, but the principle deciding factor relates to the quality of your skin tone. Generally, if you have good skin tone, then liposuction alone can achieve improved neck contour by removing unwanted fatty deposits. Liposuction procedures, however, rely on the skin’s ability to retract back (after the fat has been sucked out) to ensure that you are not left with loose hanging skin. If skin tone is limited, then a neck lift procedure is generally required to improve neck contour.

The vast majority of age-related changes that occur in the neck region are related to poor skin tone and neck muscle tone. Neck lift surgery can therefore be used to address these changes. As we age, skin tone reduces, leading to laxity and descent of the skin. When significant, this can lead to a large flap of loose neck skin that is sometimes described as a ‘Turkey neck’.

It is important to understand that the neck also contains a thin muscle that is attached to the skin – this is known as the platysma muscle.

Over time, changes in the platysma muscle can lead to many of the unwanted signs of ageing in the neck. Neck lift surgery frequently entails tightening, dividing, or re-suspending the platysma muscle.

Furthermore, if one is to comprehensively correct poor neck contour the unwanted changes seen in an ageing neck it is important that the causative factors are first identified and then corrected. Contributing factors include fatty tissue deposits, salivary glands, and muscles that form the floor of the neck. If the individual factors are left untreated, the results are likely to be short term and limited. It is therefore important that you see a surgeon that is competent in identifying and correcting the specific factors that are responsible for these changes.

Because every neck is different, the surgical techniques are tailored to the factors identified during your assessment rather than following a single standard approach. This tailoring can also affect the cost and the length of the procedure.

Operating time varies with the techniques required. Where several structures need to be addressed, a comprehensive neck lift can take 4 to 6 hours or more. Dr Reddy will explain the expected length of your procedure during your consultation.

“It is always my desire to produce a neck that is beautifully contoured and proportioned. This means understanding the fine little nuances and modifying techniques that ensure the neck is tailored in a highly aesthetic manner.”
Dr Chaithan Reddy, FRACS (Plast), Specialist Plastic Surgeon

The 6 Factors Dr Reddy Assesses Before a Neck Lift

A neck lift consultation involves more than checking for loose skin. Dr Reddy assesses six factors that can each contribute to the shape of your neck, because a factor that is not identified and addressed can limit the result:

1. Platysma muscle activity: separation of the muscle in the midline and visible vertical bands at the front of the neck.
2. Submental (under chin) fat: fat that sits above or beneath the platysma muscle.
3. Chin position: a less prominent chin can make the neck and jawline appear less defined. Learn more about chin implant and genioplasty.
4. Submandibular (salivary) glands: prominent glands can create fullness below the jawline.
5. Thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple): its prominence affects the contour at the front of the neck.
6. Digastric muscles: fullness of these muscles under the chin can affect neck shape.

Skin quality is also assessed, as it influences whether liposuction, a neck lift or a combination may be appropriate.

A range of surgical techniques may be used during a neck lift operation to address the skin, fat and/or muscle. Certain cases may require additional procedures to address prominent neck muscles or glands.

A neck lift procedure may also be performed to correct other age-related changes, including removal of unwanted fat deposits surrounding the neck region, correcting a “double chin” and jowling. Some individuals suffer from prominent banding along the front of the neck due to a separation of the normal neck musculature from the midline. This can usually be addressed with a submentoplasty (a type of neck lift procedure) and a platysmoplasty procedure via a small hidden incision under the chin.

Dr Reddy will formulate a treatment plan that is suitable for your specific neck shape and one that best addresses your needs and concerns.

Types of Neck Lift

There is no single neck lift operation. The approach depends on which structures are contributing to your neck shape, such as skin, fat, the platysma muscle, the salivary glands or the muscles under the chin. Dr Reddy will assess these during your consultation and explain which option may be appropriate for you.

• Neck liposuction: may be considered when the main concern is fat under the chin and the skin has good tone. It relies on the skin retracting after fat is removed, so it is not suitable for everyone. Learn more about liposuction.
• Submentoplasty: performed through a small incision under the chin to address fat and tighten or repair the platysma muscle, which can help with vertical neck bands.
• Deep neck lift: addresses structures that sit beneath the platysma muscle, which may include fat below the muscle, prominent submandibular (salivary) glands and full digastric muscles. It is more involved than a skin and muscle tightening procedure and is only recommended where these structures contribute to the neck shape.
• Limited-incision (mini or partial) neck lift: uses shorter incisions and treats less tissue. It may be discussed for mild changes, but it cannot address the deeper structures described above.
• Neck lift with facelift: where jowling and changes in the lower face are also present, a neck lift may be combined with a face lift, often described as a face and neck lift. Chin position can also influence neck contour, and in some cases a chin implant or genioplasty may be discussed.

Neck Liposuction vs Neck Lift

Neck liposuction and neck lift surgery treat different causes of a full or loose neck, and the right option depends on your anatomy.

• Neck liposuction removes fat from under the chin and along the jawline through small incisions. It may suit people whose main concern is fat and whose skin has good elasticity, because the skin needs to retract after the fat is removed.
• Neck lift surgery can address loose skin, platysma muscle bands and, where needed, structures beneath the muscle. It is generally considered when skin laxity or muscle changes are present.
• Combined approach: liposuction is sometimes performed as part of a neck lift to refine contour.

Dr Reddy will assess your skin quality, fat distribution and muscle tone during your consultation and explain which option may be appropriate for you. Learn more about liposuction.

Neck Lift Recovery

Recovery varies from person to person and depends on the type and extent of surgery. Dr Reddy will give you specific instructions before and after your procedure.

• The first days: swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness in the neck are expected. Some discomfort is common and can be managed with prescribed medication.
• Dressings and garments: you may be asked to wear a compression garment or chin support for a period after surgery to help control swelling.
• The first weeks: bruising and most visible swelling settle gradually. You will need time away from work and social activities, and you will be advised to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until cleared at your follow-up appointments.
• The following months: residual swelling and firmness under the skin can take several months to resolve, and scars continue to mature over 12 months or more. The final result is assessed once healing is complete.

Neck lift surgery does not stop the ageing process, and the neck will continue to age over time.

Risks and Complications of Neck Lift Surgery

All surgery carries risks. Before you decide to proceed, Dr Reddy will discuss the risks that apply to you so you can make an informed decision. Possible risks of neck lift surgery include:

• bleeding or a collection of blood under the skin (haematoma), which may require a return to theatre
• infection and delayed wound healing
• visible, raised or widened scars
• numbness or altered sensation of the skin, which may be temporary or, rarely, permanent
• injury to nerves, including the nerve that controls movement of the lower lip
• fluid collection (seroma), contour irregularities or asymmetry
• skin loss, particularly in people who smoke
• blood clots and risks associated with general anaesthesia
• a result that does not meet your expectations, which may require further surgery

Smoking and some medical conditions increase the risk of complications. You will be asked about your medical history, medications and smoking status during your consultation.

Neck Lift Cost in Sydney

The cost of a neck lift depends on the techniques required, whether it is combined with other procedures such as a face lift, the length of surgery and the hospital where it is performed. The total cost usually includes:

• the surgeon’s fee
• the anaesthetist’s fee
• the hospital or day surgery fee
• compression garments and post-operative care

After your consultation, you will receive an itemised quote so you understand the costs before you decide to proceed.

Does Medicare cover neck lift surgery? Neck lift surgery performed for cosmetic reasons is not covered by Medicare, and private health insurance does not generally cover cosmetic surgery.

Before your surgery: in Australia, a referral from your GP or another medical practitioner is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery. Australian guidelines also require at least two consultations before cosmetic surgery and a cooling-off period before you proceed. More information is available on our GP referral page.