Published on Sept 2025
Introduction
By Dr. Blake Raggio | Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery – Birmingham, AL
One of the most common questions I hear in consultation is: “Do I need a facelift, a neck lift, or both?”
It’s a great question — and an important one. While the face and neck age together, they don’t always age at the same rate. And what you actually see in the mirror might be different from what’s structurally causing the change.
At Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, AL, I help patients across the Southeast— from Hoover, Mountain Brook, and Huntsville to Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Florida Panhandle—understand what procedure (or combination of procedures) is right for them based on their unique anatomy and goals.
Here’s how to tell the difference between a facelift and a neck lift — and how to know when it makes sense to combine them.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift (technically called a rhytidectomy) addresses aging in the lower two-thirds of the face, focusing on:
- Sagging cheeks
- Jowls and jawline definition loss
- Deep folds around the mouth (nasolabial and marionette lines)
- Descent of the midface and lower facial volume
At Raggio MD, I perform the deep plane facelift—and for select candidates, my proprietary PreservaLift™. Both techniques go beyond skin tightening to reposition deeper facial structures for a long-lasting, natural lift.
What Is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift focuses on the under-chin and jawline region, correcting:
- Skin laxity or sagging under the chin
- Neck banding (visible vertical muscle cords)
- Fullness or “double chin” appearance
- Blunting of the neck angle or profile
The procedure may include platysma muscle tightening, fat reduction, and skin redraping to restore a smooth, defined neck contour.
Do You Need Both?
In many cases, yes.
The face and neck are anatomically continuous. Rejuvenating one without addressing the other may lead to imbalanced results. For example:
- A lifted face with a sagging neck can look incomplete
- A tight neck with aging cheeks may draw attention to the contrast
- Most candidates for deep plane facelifts also benefit from neck contouring
Combining a facelift and neck lift allows me to restore facial harmony, achieve more natural transitions, and often deliver better, longer-lasting results—with just one surgery and one recovery.
What If You Only Need One?
Not all patients need both.
You may be a candidate for facelift only if:
- Your neck remains relatively firm, but you have jowling or midface descent
You may be a candidate for neck lift only if:
- You have excess skin or banding in the neck, but your face still has good tone and volume
During your consultation, we’ll evaluate your unique aging pattern and discuss a surgical plan tailored just for you.
Why Patients Across the Region Choose Raggio MD
Patients come to our Birmingham-based boutique practice from across Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi for a reason:
- Double board-certified expertise
- Exclusive focus on facial surgery
- Advanced techniques like the PreservaLift™
- Concierge care in a private, elegant setting
- Honest, personalized recommendations—never a one-size-fits-all plan
Before and After Example
What’s the Recovery Like?
- Most patients return to work or social activities in 2–3 weeks
- Bruising and swelling improve significantly within 10–14 days
- With our enhanced recovery protocols (PRF, IV sedation, HBOT), healing is typically smoother and more comfortable than patients expect
Wondering Which Procedure Is Right for You?
If you’re seeing signs of aging but unsure where to begin, that’s completely normal. You don’t need to decide on your own. During a private consultation, I’ll assess your anatomy and goals, and help you understand exactly what approach will create the most natural, balanced result.
Call Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham at 659-272-0092 or Request a Private Consultation Online.
