Curious About A Neck And Lower Face Lift? Here’s What It’s Really Like

If you’re curious about the results you can get from a neck and lower face lift – wonder no longer. Read 0ur first person review by Jane, 42, who had the transformative procedure performed by the leading  plastic surgeon Mr George Orfaniotis in London, including what a neck and lower face lift can do for really sagging skin and the downtime you can expect if you book in (it’s not as bad as you may imagine). This is everything to bear in mind if you are interested in upgrading from tweakments to the surgical treatment. Hint: it’s especially good for significant skin tightening for jowls and jawline.

Why were you interested in a neck lift?

“I have reached the ripe old age of 42, not old enough for a face and neck lift my friends and family would have had you believe; however, after two kids and weight gain and loss, lots of sun exposure and decades of a very stressful career, I found that the filler, toxin and in-clinic energy devices could only get me so far.

“My goal was to have the snatched jawline of my 20s back. I was known for a razor sharp jawline and pointy chin that I was proud of and over time, the folds of skin and laxity in my lower face started to win. I knew I was ready for surgery when I started to delete photos I didn’t like and when injectables started to make my lower face look heavy. I noticed that many women my age were looking youthful facially in the main but their necks looked neglected and wanted my face and neck to match up. The last straw was my three year old holding the excess skin on my neck and shouting ‘funny mummy’.”

How expensive is the treatment?

“It is certainly a costly and considered treatment and I did have a couple of consultations with my very patient and experienced facial plastic surgeon, Mr George Orfaniotis before going ahead.” You can expect the treatment to start from around £29,000 with an experienced surgeon like Orfaniotis, who is one of The Tweakments Guide favoured surgical experts for face and neck lifts.

“I decided that the cost of all the treatments and injectables, makeup and skincare I would outlay over the next 10 years or so, added together would be a fair swap for this surgery,” continues Jane.

What was the consultation like?

“At the consultation we took numerous photos and he assessed my face dynamically to see how my skin behaved (or not!) when talking, laughing, moving my head and he agreed I was a good candidate down to the volume of excess skin,” Kate explains. “I used to pinch and pull it for anyone who would suggest I was being ‘dramatic’.  I was asked about my general and mental health, lifestyle and post-surgical support network too. He was very thorough.

“I had researched Mr Orfaniotis at length and seen he has a great track record; face lifts and neck lifts are his super-specialism and during consultation I saw the most impressive before and after images which was very motivating. I booked in during the spring of 2024 so that I could hibernate afterwards if need be and be fresh-faced and ready for the summer and all my travel commitments for work and family.”

What was having a neck lift like?

“The procedure itself was relatively straightforward. I was a day case, meaning I didn’t have to stay overnight in hospital but I am told this is dependent on how the general anaesthetic is per individual and how the surgery goes. The anaesthetist was calming and did his job perfectly because I awoke 4 or so hours later feeling as though I had had the most restful sleep. I was pleased to have no pain whatsoever, just some mild aching and a tight sensation in my throat over the coming days. I was sent home that evening with a funny-looking face support provided by the surgeon, which I had to wear day and night for the next week. My stitches were removed after a matter of days and the swelling was almost down to zero in 10 days post-op. In fact, I went to my first face-to-face work meeting on day 10.”

What was the aftercare advice?

“I had to take care not to get any sun exposure which helps to minimise scarring and was careful to drink plenty of water and take all the supplements as advised. I was even given a nutrition plan to help with the healing process, encouraging me to include foods in my diet which were anti-inflammatory and advised to avoid refined sugar which for me, was hard. The aftercare was impeccable. I had a dedicated doctor who was on Whatsapp with me and saw me in person two or three times post-surgery to help me on the road to recovery. All this was included in my procedure price.

“I was recommended to have sessions in a hyperbaric chamber which I did every day for six consecutive days, 90 minutes per session and Mr Orfaniotis noted that my recovery was indeed super speedy in his experience. I am now a big believer in the benefits of hyperbaric and only wish I had the time to have sessions regularly.”

How good were the results?

“I am so confident with my surgical results and continually have friends and colleagues amazed by how quick the healing process was and with the most minor, almost undetectable scarring unless I volunteer to tilt my head up to give away the inch-long scar under my chin. My partner, who was dead against my surgery, has eaten his words and loves the new youthful me just as much as before!”

Mr Orfaniotis is listed in our Practitioner Finder as a trusted practitioner. He operates out of Montrose Clinic, 19 West Eaton Place, SW1X 8LT, www.orfaniotis.co.uk