Facelift & anti-aging
Neck lift in Korea
A neck lift tightens the loosened neck muscle (platysma) and removes extra skin through incisions around the ears, for a firmer jawline and smoother neck. It suits loose neck skin, neck bands or sagging under the chin. The clinic lists about 1 to 2 hours under general anesthesia with no hospital stay; plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for a neck lift?
- The skin of your neck has loosened and gathers in folds or lines when you look down
- Vertical bands show at the front of your neck, or the line between jaw and neck has softened
- Fullness under the chin comes with loose skin, not only fat
- Your face itself has held up fairly well, and the neck is what bothers you most
When it may not be the right choice
- The fullness under your chin is mostly fat and your skin is still firm. Double chin surgery may be enough
- Your cheeks and jowls have dropped as much as your neck. An SMAS facelift treats the face and neck together
- You smoke and cannot stop for several weeks around the operation, or take blood thinners you cannot pause, since smoking slows healing and blood thinners raise the risk of bleeding
- You expect fine horizontal neck lines to disappear completely. A lift tightens skin but can leave some lines
Which method fits you?
Neck aging comes from more than the skin: the platysma, the thin muscle sheet at the front of the neck, loosens and the tissue under the chin drops. Which operation fits depends on whether the problem is mostly fat, loose skin and muscle, or sagging that also involves the face.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck lift | Through incisions in front of the ear, following its natural fold, and along the ear and hairline, the surgeon frees, lifts and fixes the platysma, then draws the skin back and removes the extra. | Loose neck skin and muscle, neck bands, a soft jaw-to-neck line | About 1 week to daily life, stitches out at about 1 week |
| SMAS facelift with the neck | The same lift continues into the cheeks and jaw through a longer incision, treating the face and neck in one operation. | Cheeks, jowls and neck that have all dropped, so the neck cannot be treated alone | 1 to 2 weeks to daily life |
| Double chin surgery | Fat under the chin is removed, and the neck muscle can be stitched together through a short cut under the chin. | Mostly fat under the chin with skin that is still firm | Depends on the method |
What happens on the day of a neck lift?
- Consultation. The surgeon checks your neck skin, the platysma, fat under the chin and how your jawline has changed, then plans the incisions.
- General anesthesia. The clinic states that an anesthesiologist stays with you to monitor you throughout.
- The surgeon frees the platysma and the dropped tissue beneath the skin, lifts the muscle upward and draws the skin back at a slant, then removes extra skin. It takes about 1 to 2 hours.
- The incisions are closed carefully around the ear and a dressing goes on. Ask whether a small drain is used and when it comes out. The clinic lists no hospital stay, so ask where you will rest that night and who will check on you.
What is recovery like after a neck lift?
- Days 1 to 3
- The neck and jaw feel tight and swollen, with bruising. Rest with your head raised and avoid bending or turning your neck sharply.
- Days 7 to 8
- Stitches come out at about one week. Most people are back to daily routines then, though the neck still feels tight.
- Weeks 2 to 6
- Swelling keeps easing. The skin under the chin and around the ears can feel numb, firm or lumpy for some weeks.
- Months 3 to 6
- The neckline settles and the scars around the ears fade.
How long should you stay in Seoul after a neck lift?
Plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul. The neck moves with every turn of the head, so the first week is mostly about keeping it still and checking the swelling. The stitches come out at about one week, and that visit is the one to have before you fly, so most people leave around day 8. The neck is still swollen and stiff on the plane, so pack loose, open-collared tops and keep your head raised. A neck lift combined with a facelift usually means a longer stay. If one side of your neck swells suddenly or you find it hard to breathe, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic.
What are the risks of a neck lift?
- A collection of blood under the skin (hematoma), which can need draining quickly. Swelling that grows fast on one side is a warning sign
- Numbness or changes in skin sensation, and, rarely, nerve injury that weakens the lower lip
- Visible or widened scars around the ears, a change in the shape of the earlobe, or hair loss near the incisions
- Uneven contours, bands that remain, or a result you are unhappy with, which may need another operation
- Infection, fluid collection, poor healing, prolonged swelling or skin loss
- Clots in the leg veins or lungs, a risk a long flight in the first days adds to, and the risks that come with general anesthesia. If you become breathless, have chest pain, or one leg becomes painful and swollen, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic, and do not fly until a doctor says it is safe
What affects the cost of a neck lift in Korea?
A neck lift quote depends on how far the lift extends, whether the face is lifted at the same time, and anything added such as liposuction under the chin. Pricing is not published here yet; you get a figure once the surgeon has looked at photos of your neck and jaw. Get the quote in writing: it should name both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist and list the follow-up visits and stitch removal.
More questions
What is the difference between a neck lift and a facelift?
A neck lift treats the neck and the line under the jaw: loose skin, neck bands and the platysma muscle. A facelift lifts the cheeks and jowls. An SMAS facelift can include the neck, so if both areas have dropped, the surgeon may suggest doing them together.
Can a neck lift fix a turkey neck?
A turkey neck, with loose skin and bands hanging under the chin, is one of the main reasons for a neck lift. Tightening the platysma and removing extra skin is how it is treated. How much changes depends on your skin and tissue, so ask the surgeon what to expect.
Will the neck lift scars show?
The incisions run in front of the ear along its natural fold, then around the ear and into the hairline, so hair and the ear hide much of them. They are red at first and fade over months, but they can widen or stay visible, especially if you wear your hair up.
Do I need a neck lift or just liposuction under the chin?
If the fullness is mostly fat and your skin is firm, liposuction or double chin surgery may be enough. If the skin hangs, folds or shows bands, removing fat alone can leave it looser, and a neck lift usually suits better.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Neck Lift Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Neck Lift Recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Cervicofacial Rhytidectomy. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.