A strong, defined jawline is often associated with a youthful, masculine appearance. However, aging and skin laxity can gradually soften facial contours, leading to sagging skin along the cheeks, jawline, and neck. As the skin loses firmness and support, even men with naturally strong bone structure may notice a heavier, less defined appearance over time.
These changes are often not isolated to the chin or neck alone but are part of overall facial aging that affects the lower face and jawline. Facial rejuvenation procedures can help restore sharper contours, improve definition, and create a more refreshed, masculine appearance while maintaining natural facial character.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ellen Mahony performs facelifts and neck lifts for men, helping them recapture a more sculpted appearance.
What is a Male Facelift and Neck Lift?
A facelift – called a rhytidectomy – performed alone or in tandem with a neck lift, provides significant improvement to the firmness of the face. Dr. Mahony is known for delivering natural-looking results that show improvement without being too tight or overdone. She tailors each patient’s Facelift and neck lift to his individual needs and facial contours, and offers a multi-layer lift to address both the skin and the underlying weakened muscle layer.
Why Choose Dr. Mahony for Your Facelift or Neck Lift
Dr. Mahony provides facelift and neck lift surgery to men in the Westport, CT, area, helping them restore their appearance with procedures tailored to their specific needs. She does this by combining her significant aesthetic and surgical experience with open, honest communication to ensure patients feel comfortable throughout the process and know that their results will be naturally appealing.
ASK DR. MAHONY
This is one of the most common questions I get asked. With plenty of negative images circulated in the media, it is not surprising that patients worry that a Facelift or neck lift will leave them looking too tight or unnatural. To achieve the most natural results possible, I perform at least a two-layer lift so that tightening occurs not only on the surface but also in the deeper layers of the face. Think of it as the difference between just pulling up the top sheet on a messy bed and straightening the bottom sheet first.
If your neck shows signs of loose skin that bother you, but your face does not, it may be tempting to consider a neck lift only. However, if you only address the neck, you will have a disjunction between the appearance of the lower face, which will look old, and the neck, which will look younger. You want continuity between the face and neck so that the area around the jaw blends in. In most cases, when a man complains about his neck, the cause has started much higher on his face.
This is a great question. It can be hard to know when it’s time for surgery. If you can point to your jowl or neck area and know that something is “wrong” but don’t know how to explain it, you could be a good candidate for a Facelift or neck lift. If you feel like you’ve lost definition between your face and neck, or that you no longer like the way you look when you button your shirt at the collar, you have probably developed loose skin that will respond well to a face and neck lift.
Most healthy men with a noticeable amount of loose skin on the face and/or neck are candidates for a facelift or neck lift. However, when patients inquire about these procedures too early, I typically steer them toward less invasive or non-invasive options.
During a Facelift, tiny incisions are made in the crease in front of your ear, around the earlobe, and/or at the hairline. Your facial skin and muscles are repositioned to achieve a more youthful appearance. Dr. Mahony performs a multi-layer lift so that more than just the top layer of your skin is stretched over still-loose lower layers. Instead, multiple layers are lifted, which creates a more thorough and natural-looking lift.
During a neck lift, tiny incisions are made in locations that are determined by the goals and extent of your procedure – these may be near the ear or below the chin. Your skin and the muscles around your neck are tightened, while loose skin is repositioned as needed.
Because a Facelift relies on incisions to tighten the skin and muscles, there can be effects on the hairline, particularly at the sideburns, temple, and the area behind the ear. Dr. Mahony pays special attention to the placement of incisions so that they will blend into the hairline as much as possible.
You will likely have tiny, hairline scars from the incisions made during a Facelift or neck lift. However, depending on your skin type and history of scarring, the goal is for these to heal as small as possible and be hidden within natural creases.
For some men, a loss of firmness in the neck and jawline is caused by increased fat beneath the chin or jaw. In these cases, liposuction pairs well with a face/neck lift because the excess fat is removed and the skin is then tightened. Other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as eyelid lifts and brow lifts, are often performed alongside a Facelift. We also recommend preparing for your surgery with a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment to stimulate collagen production, healing, and elastin fiber repair in the deep layers of your skin.
Following your surgery, you will have bruising and tightness and will need to wear a removable facial garment for about a week. If you have a drain placed during surgery, it will be removed the following day. You will be glad to know that showering and washing your hair are allowed the day after surgery. You should feel good in 2 weeks, but until then, avoid bending and lifting anything heavier than about 5 pounds.
A Facelift and neck lift offer a solution to skin laxity that comes with age. As your body continues to age, the natural processes will continue. You can expect to enjoy 8 to 10 years of benefits from your surgery, at which time you may decide to have another procedure.
