With so much attention on facelifts, it's easy to underestimate how much a neck lift can change your overall appearance. The neck is as visible as the face — and it ages just as dramatically. Dr. Susan Tan is the only female fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon in Honolulu and a leading provider of natural-looking neck lifts in Oahu.
The neck ages visibly — often before the face. Sun damage, skin laxity, platysmal banding, and submental fullness can make a person look years older than they feel. A surgical neck lift (cervicoplasty) is among the most effective procedures Dr. Tan performs, and its results are frequently described by patients as life-changing in proportion to the recovery involved.
Dr. Tan is double board-certified and the only female fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon practicing in Honolulu. She has performed neck lifts as standalone procedures and in combination with facelifts throughout her 17 years of practice — exclusively in the face and neck. Every procedure is performed by Dr. Tan personally.
Understanding the distinction between a neck lift and neck liposuction is important for candidacy. A neck lift addresses the platysma muscle, excess skin, and structural laxity. Neck liposuction addresses subcutaneous fat deposits. Many patients benefit from one or both — Dr. Tan will assess your specific anatomy at consultation and recommend the approach that best addresses your concerns.
Why Choose Dr. TanThe purpose of all facial plastic surgery is to improve appearance and self-confidence — and the neck lift is among the most rewarding procedures for exactly this reason. Patients are often surprised by how much the neck affects the overall look of the face.
Loose, drooping skin along the neck and jawline — one of the most common aging concerns — is surgically corrected, tightened, and repositioned for a clean, natural contour.
Vertical bands running along the neck occur when the platysma muscle separates with age. A neck lift addresses the platysma directly — tightening and suturing the muscle from the inside for lasting improvement.
A blurred or soft jawline caused by skin descent and fat accumulation is restored — creating a more defined, elegant transition from jaw to neck.
Excess fat beneath the chin is addressed — often in combination with neck liposuction — for a slimmer, more refined neck profile.
Living in Honolulu's tropical sun accelerates skin aging. Dr. Tan addresses skin laxity and surface changes as part of every neck lift plan.
A neck lift and facelift performed together address the face and neck as a single aging system — Dr. Tan's most frequent surgical combination, and the most comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation.
Two distinct procedures address the neck — and understanding the difference is essential to getting the right result. Dr. Tan assesses each patient's anatomy at consultation and recommends the precise approach or combination.
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that tightens the platysma muscle, removes excess skin, and redistributes tissue for a more youthful, natural contour. It addresses the structural layer — muscle and skin — that determines the shape and definition of the neck.
A deep neck lift may also address subplatysmal fat (deep fat below the muscle), submandibular gland reduction when the glands contribute to neck fullness, and digastric muscle reduction — structural elements that cannot be addressed by liposuction alone.
Best for: Patients with visible skin laxity, platysmal banding, loose neck skin, or structural fullness that will not respond to liposuction alone. Most patients in their late 40s and beyond.
Neck liposuction removes subcutaneous fat deposits — the fat layer beneath the skin and above the platysma — through tiny incisions and a thin cannula. It is minimally invasive, performed under local anesthesia, and requires less recovery time than a full neck lift.
It works best when the primary concern is fat — not skin laxity or muscle banding. Patients with good skin elasticity will see the skin naturally tighten as fat is removed. Patients with insufficient elasticity may require a neck lift instead, or in combination.
Best for: Younger patients (typically 20s–40s) with isolated submental fat and good skin tone. Can be combined with a neck lift for comprehensive recontouring. Learn more about neck liposuction →
Most patients who see Dr. Tan for neck lift information are dealing with visibly droopy, sagging skin on the neck — the condition many refer to as "turkey neck." Most patients are in their late 40s through early 60s, but there is no exact age range. The determining factors are anatomy, health, and goals — not a number.
Good candidates are in good general health, are non-smokers or committed to stopping before surgery, and have realistic expectations. A neck lift produces long-lasting results — but it does not stop the natural aging process. Dr. Tan explains this honestly at every consultation.
The most accurate answer to your candidacy is one Dr. Tan can only give after examining your anatomy in person. Schedule a consultation and find out.
Request a ConsultationPreserved from our original FAQ schema — common questions about neck lift surgery with Dr. Tan.
Every neck lift consultation begins with an honest, unhurried conversation with Dr. Tan personally — examining your anatomy and telling you exactly what she recommends and why.