Neck Lift Procedure in South Africa

At Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, every neck lift procedure begins with a thorough consultation where Dr. Wilkinson examines your neck, reviews your medical history and listens closely to your goals for surgery.

Dr. Nerina Wilkinson draws on over 20 years of experience in facial and neck rejuvenation to design a surgical plan around your individual neck structure and skin quality. You will receive comprehensive documentation to prepare you for surgery and support you through recovery.

Book your consultation to discuss your neck lift goals with Dr. Wilkinson.

You may be a good fit for a neck lift procedure if you are generally between 40 and 65 years old, with loose neck skin, visible jowl lines or the appearance of a double chin, and skin that still retains some elasticity. Good general physical and mental health supports a smoother recovery.

Non-smokers, or those willing to stop smoking well ahead of surgery, tend to heal with less visible scarring. During your consultation at Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Dr. Wilkinson assesses your neck structure and skin quality to confirm whether a neck lift, or a complementary procedure, suits your goals.

Schedule a consultation to find out if a neck lift procedure suits your neck concerns.

A neck lift procedure usually takes a few hours, depending on the extent of correction required. 

Dr. Wilkinson separates the skin from the underlying fat and muscle, trims or suctions excess fat around the neck and chin, then tightens the platysma muscle before re-draping and removing the excess skin.

Every neck structure differs, and Dr. Wilkinson adapts her technique, sequence and incision placement to suit your anatomy. She secures the layers of tissue, closes the incisions, then loosely bandages your head to minimise bruising and swelling.

Contact us to learn more about what your neck lift procedure will involve.

Incisions for a neck lift procedure usually begin behind the earlobe and extend into the posterior hairline, keeping incision lines discreetly hidden within your natural contours. A limited incision neck lift, confined mostly to this area, often suits patients with minimal skin laxity and no visible jowls.

Where the centre of the neck also needs correction, Dr. Wilkinson may add a separate incision under the chin, closer to a traditional neck lift incision approach used when the procedure accompanies a facelift. She determines the most suitable incision technique for your neck during your consultation at our practice in the V&A Waterfront.

Book a consultation to discuss which incision technique suits your neck.

Dr. Wilkinson generally performs a neck lift procedure under oral sedation combined with local anaesthetic, keeping you relaxed and comfortable throughout. In select cases, she uses general anaesthesia instead, with a certified anaesthesiologist administering and monitoring your care throughout.

Dr. Wilkinson recommends the most suitable option for you based on the extent of your procedure and your overall health, discussed in full during your pre-operative consultation.

Get in touch to discuss anaesthesia options for your neck lift procedure.

Patients typically notice a sharper jawline, a smoother profile and a marked reduction in the appearance of a double chin or turkey neck. Many feel their neck finally matches how youthful they feel elsewhere in their face.

Because Dr. Wilkinson adapts every procedure to your individual neck structure, results look natural rather than overdone, refining your contours instead of altering them.

Reach out to find out how a neck lift procedure could refine your neck and jawline.

A neck lift procedure usually takes a few hours to complete, and longer where it accompanies another facial procedure such as a facelift or eyelid surgery. The exact length depends on your neck structure and the extent of correction needed.

Dr. Wilkinson will give you a clear time estimate during your consultation, once she has assessed your neck and discussed your goals for surgery.

Book your consultation to find out how long your neck lift procedure will take.

Most patients are up and about within a day or two, though bruising and swelling can persist for two to three weeks. 

Light activity is fine early on, but strenuous activity and heavy housework should wait at least two weeks, with normal activities resuming around three weeks and exercise between three and six weeks.

Some numbness in the neck is normal and generally fades within about six weeks, though it can occasionally last longer. Dr. Wilkinson and her team guide you through each stage of recovery, with follow-up visits at set intervals to monitor your healing.

Schedule a consultation to discuss your personal recovery timeline.

Surgical Neck Lift results can last for many years, though this varies from patient to patient depending on the quality of the skin, lifestyle, and the natural ageing process. Sun protection and a healthy lifestyle help preserve your results for longer.

Because ageing continues after any surgical procedure, some patients choose to repeat a neck lift or a complementary treatment further down the line. Dr. Wilkinson discusses realistic, long-term expectations with you at your consultation.

Get in touch to discuss how long your neck lift results are likely to last.

Neck lift procedures at plastic surgery and medical aesthetic practices in South Africa generally range from R60 000 to R150 000, depending on the extent of correction, the surgeon’s experience and whether the procedure is combined with a facelift or other surgery.

A neck lift procedure at Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates typically costs between R90 000 and R105 000, depending on the surgical time and extent of correction required. Dr. Wilkinson will confirm your exact cost only after she assesses your neck during a full consultation.

Additional costs may include a consultation fee of R2 850, medication of approximately R1 400 to R1 600, and an additional overnight stay at our facility priced at around R8 500, if recommended. Further investigations advised at consultation may carry separate costs.

Book your consultation to receive a personalised quote for your neck lift procedure.

When a qualified plastic surgeon performs a neck lift procedure in an accredited clinical setting, complications are infrequent and usually minor. As with any surgical procedure, individual anatomy and healing ability affect the outcome, which is never entirely predictable.

Dr Nerina Wilkinson has over 20 years of experience in facial and neck surgery, and she performs every neck lift at her private surgical facility in the V&A Waterfront with close attention to safety and precision.

Contact us to discuss the safety and suitability of a neck lift procedure for you.

A neck lift procedure carries the general risks associated with any surgical procedure. While complications are uncommon, it is important to understand them ahead of your consultation.

Neck Lift Procedure: Side Effects, Risks & Complications

• Haematoma: a collection of blood beneath the skin that Dr. Wilkinson may need to drain.
• Fluid collection and infection: uncommon in a sterile surgical setting, but possible with any procedure.
• Wound breakdown: requiring further attention from Dr. Wilkinson’s team.
• Swelling behind the ear: may persist for several weeks after surgery.
• Scarring: kept as inconspicuous as possible along the incision lines, typically hidden behind the ear or within the hairline.
• Skin loss: rare, but the undermined skin can occasionally be lost, which may require a skin graft.
• Poor healing or keloid-type scarring: more common in patients who smoke.
• Numbness in the neck: can persist for weeks and, occasionally, longer.

Contraindications for a Neck Lift Procedure

• Active smoking within four weeks of surgery.
• A recent cold, flu or infection within two weeks of your procedure.
• Use of aspirin, anti-inflammatories, herbal medicine or diet pills within two weeks of surgery.
• Unrealistic expectations about the likely outcome of the procedure.

Dr. Wilkinson reviews your full medical history at consultation to help minimise these risks and plan your procedure safely.

Contact us to discuss your individual risk profile ahead of a neck lift procedure.

Preparing correctly for your neck lift procedure and following the recommended aftercare guidelines support a smoother recovery and the best possible results.

Before your neck lift procedure

• Complete all pre-operative tests requested by Dr. Wilkinson, including bloodwork and medical reports.
• Stop smoking four weeks before and after your surgery to support healing.
• Stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories, herbal medicine and diet pills two weeks before surgery.
• Arrange everything you will need for recovery, including meals, pillows, ice and reading material.
• Report any signs of a cold or infection within two weeks of your surgery date.
• Arrange transport to and from the clinic, as you may not drive for 24 hours after sedation.
• Attend a pre-operative consultation with Dr. Wilkinson two weeks before your surgery.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and flat, easy-to-remove shoes on the day.

Day of your neck lift procedure

• Take your normal daily medication, such as blood pressure or diabetic medication, with a small sip of water.
• You will receive oral sedation and local anaesthetic for your procedure, or general anaesthesia in select cases.
• You will remain in our day clinic for approximately one hour after surgery.
• Dr. Wilkinson will see you before discharge, and her team will confirm your follow-up appointment before you leave.

What to do after your neck lift procedure

• Keep your head elevated and still for the first few days to help manage swelling.
• Avoid strenuous activity, exercise and heavy housework for at least two weeks.
• Avoid alcohol, steam rooms and saunas for several months following surgery.
• Report any severe or persistent pain, or sudden swelling, to Dr. Wilkinson’s team immediately.
• Attend follow-up visits at three to four days, one week, two weeks and six weeks so Dr. Wilkinson can monitor your healing and remove sutures.
  

Your consultations and follow-up visits take place at our practice at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, where Dr. Wilkinson gets to assess your neck, your goals and your medical history in detail. 

The neck lift procedure itself is performed at The Cosmetic Surgery Institute, an accredited surgical facility in Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, where Dr. Wilkinson operates with the clinical precision and close personal attention that defines her surgical work.

Every neck lift procedure includes a thorough pre-operative consultation, with Dr. Wilkinson and her team overseeing your care from your first appointment through recovery. Follow-up visits are scheduled at each stage to monitor your healing and results.

Book your consultation and take the first step toward a firmer, more youthful neck.