Neck Tightening and Permanent Fat Elimination

One of our features that we prize the most – but often don’t appreciate until there’s trouble – is our necklines. A smooth, well-defined neckline can denote grace and refinement to the point that perfumes and colognes are always dabbed there lightly. It’s definitely a focal point and when illness, dieting, or the simple passage of years starts affecting your neckline, it’s something you’ll definitely notice.

Today we’re going to talk about the most popular treatment for smoothing, tightening, and restoring the youthful luster of the neck and throat with Neck Tightening and permanent fat elimination, courtesy of polydioxanone threads.

This is an article intended both for physicians who are curious about training in this technique, as well as for patients who want to make an informed decision with more than just a ‘quick brochure’ on this highly popular treatment option. We’ll also compare it to other surgical and non-surgical options to provide a little contrast, so that by the time we’re done you’ll have all of the information you need to make your own decision.  

Let’s talk about Neck tightening and permanent fat elimination to restore your own smooth, natural neckline!

The ‘Lunchtime lift’ – How does it work?

You can view the PDO Neck Tightening and Permanent Fat Elimination technique by clicking this link, but we’ll explain it to you in a nutshell so that you know exactly what’s going on here. With this particular procedure, the doctor is inserting 12 surgical PDO threads in a ‘ladder formation’ to instantly tighten and sculpt the patient’s neck, but while the results are visible right away, the process isn’t over. 

That’s because in the 5 minutes that it takes the trained physician to put these PDO threads into place is just preparation for what they are doing underneath the skin. Polydioxanone threads don’t just ‘hold’ – they also stimulate neocollagenesis, which simply means that they are going to boost the production of collagen and elastin for the next 12 – 24 months (with that timeframe depending on the specific threads and we’ll talk about this more later).

Aside from boosting the skin’s natural collagen and elastin production, the threads also stimulate natural lipolysis at the subdermal layer, so that adipose fat will also be gradually reduced without the need for invasive liposuction!

A doctor will typically proscribe anywhere from 1 to 3 treatments and those will be spaced 1 to 3 weeks apart, with the average cost being approximately $800 per treatment, and as you can see from the video the results are quite impressive and immediate and will last from 12 to 24 months while the threads slowly dissolve and rejuvenate the skin. 

The fat loss from the lipolysis, however, can last a lifetime!

Since it takes less than the space of a lunch break, it’s lovingly called the ‘lunchtime lift’ and it’s the preferred treatment for rejuvenating the neck and throat around the world – especially when you consider that recovery time is 24 to 48 hours, along with no heavy lifting for a space of 2 weeks!

Let’s compare the surgical and non-surgical options so that you can contrast them as far as recovery time, number of treatments involved, costs, and other important factors and we’ll also talk more about VSoft PDO threads for enjoying your results to the fullest.

We’ll also have some extra information for physicians and patients who want to learn a little more about this procedure in the VSoft lift section towards the end of this article, but for now let’s compare the procedures so that you can better understand the popularity of the ‘lunchtime lift’.

What are the alternatives to a lunchtime lift?

While a PDO Neck Tightening and Permanent fat elimination is the most popular option, it’s certainly not the only one. We’ll give you a quick overview of the surgical and non-surgical options with some quick facts about time, recovery, number of treatments, and costs so that you’ll have these facts at your disposal. Let’s take a look!

Surgical alternatives to the lunchtime lift

Surgery is always going to be popular, as it tends to have the longest-lasting results, but there are costs to consider and not everyone is keen on ‘going under the knife’ when they don’t have to. The most popular options on the ‘surgical side’ include the ‘neck lift’ and ‘neck liposuction’ and we’ll detail what they involve below.  

Neck Lift

A neck lift is the more invasive option for restoring a more youthful neckline and dealing with excess fat. The ways to do this will be different based on the patient’s needs, so incisions may be made behind the ears that extend to the base of the neck, or they might be made from the hairline to just behind the ears. 

This allows for manipulation of the tissues, as well as physical removal of excess fat, and the skin is trimmed and pulled tight in order to remediate sagging, wrinkling, and other signs of illness, dieting, or age. This may take 2 – 4 hours to perform and while recovery time is usually within 2 weeks, the swelling may persist for up to 3 months in rare cases. As far as costs, the average procedure cost is approximately $5774 and the results may last from 10 to 15 years. 

Neck Liposuction

Neck liposuction is a targeted approach that is much less invasive and usually involves the physician making 3 incisions – one below the chin and one behind each ear – so that a small cannula may then be inserted and used to permanently remove fat cells from these areas. The caveat, however, is that this is better suited for younger patients, as once the fat is removed it relies on the elasticity of the skin to naturally tighten back in place. 

Recovery from this procedure may take 3 to 6 weeks for any bruising or swelling to fully heal, although most patients may resume work, schooling, or other light activities within 1 to 2 days and light exercise within 1 week. The fat removal results are permanent, as we stop producing fat cells in any appreciable volume around the age of 25. The costs for this procedure usually run between $2000 and $4000, although your doctor will be able to quote a more accurate estimate.

Non-Surgical alternatives to the lunchtime lift

For those who want a non-surgical alternative, there are certainly lots of options. We’ll touch on the most popular ones so that you can know the pros and cons of each.  

Botox

With Botox you have a treatment option often referred to as a ‘Nefertiti treatment’, and during this procedure your doctor injects botulinum toxin into the platysma muscles (the ones that stand out when you are flexing your neck) and the paralysis of these muscles helps to define the jaw better and reduce the appearance of ‘turkey neck’. The effects are instant and recovery just takes a day or two, although you will be advised not to massage the area to avoid redistributing the toxin until it’s settled. 

Results from this procedure usually last 3 to 4 months and costs average around $800 per treatment, so this could run $2400-$3200 per year to maintain and this is definitely something to consider. 

Dermal fillers

With this treatment, a filler material such as hyaluronic acid is injected in order to plump up areas of sagging skin. This helps to improve skin tone and may also be used to ‘fill up’ wrinkles, so that a youthful appearance to the neck may be restored. Sometimes referred to as ‘liquid lifts’, dermal fillers may last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the filler type, patient’s age, and other patient-specific factors. Costs range from $500 to $1000 for the treatment, but this is a very ‘ballpark’ estimate and you’ll need to check with your doctor for a more accurate assessment.

Microneedling

Microneedling is a technique that relies on stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities. During this treatment, tiny needles are used to create ‘micro injuries’ on the skin which will trigger fibroblast cell growth as a response. This causes the skin to naturally produce collagen and elastin, and there are newer forms of the treatment that also incorporate RF/radiofrequency to produce faster results.

Recovery usually takes a mere 24 hours – as most of the ‘damage’ is done underneath the skin – and in some cases, possibly 2 to 3 days but it is generally very brief. For maximizing collagen production, usually 3 treatments is considered ideal, while scars may require 3 to 6 treatments, and the results will be apparent within 4 to 6 weeks. 

These results may last a lifetime or in some cases and areas, just  4 to 6 months. Treatment costs range between $200 and $800 per session. 

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a fairly recent approach that uses ultrasound energy in order to generate cellular friction underneath the skin. This allows for precise healing in areas, so that muscles and skin may be tightened, and results are usually visible within 2 to 3 months of beginning the treatments. The results from Ultherapy mast last up to 2 years and usually only 1 treatment is needed, although you’d need to consult with your doctor. 

This is a good option for those who prefer gradual results, as opposed to an instantaneous change, and the costs range from $1200 to $3500 per treatment.

Now that you’ve seen a comparison with some of the most popular options, it’s easy to see why a PDO Neck Tightening and Permanent Fat Elimination procedure is the go-to option for so many around the world – you get immediate results, with the PDO threads nourishing and improving your skin over time, and it’s at a much more reasonable cost for up to 2 years of results!

It’s all going to depend on the threads that you choose and VSoft Lift PDO threads are the best on the market.

VSoft Lift PDO threads – Important information for patients and physicians who wish to learn more

For physicians who wish to learn more about the Neck Tightening and Permanent Fat Elimination procedure seen in the video today, we recommend visiting VSoft Lift’s website at this link. VSoft can provide you with training from the American Academy of Facial Aesthetics so that you can incorporate this popular procedure in your own clinic.

Further information on VSoft lift threads may be found in VSoft’s Injector’s brochure, which is also good for physicians who want to learn more or patients who want to demand the best for their own procedure and get a good look at what these world-recognized PDO threads have to offer. 

In a nutshell, for this procedure up to 14 29G x 30MM VSoft Lift PDO threads are introduced by means of a preloaded stainless steel cannula and once in place, provide benefits such as:

• Strength – VSoft Lift threads have 10 to 20 times the tensile strength of ‘standard’ PDO threads, meaning less threads are required and a faster recovery time for patients. This also makes for longer lasting results, as standard threads typically last up to 12 months.
• Maximized Neocollagenesis – VSoft Lift threads provide the highest level of collagen and elastin production of any market thread, hands-down!
• Lipolysis – at the subdermal layers, VSoft lift threads induce natural lipolysis, like getting a slow, natural liposuction at a micro level without the bruising and swelling!

These are just a few examples of the benefits, so be sure to check  VSoft’s Injector’s brochure to learn more if you would like to use them for your procedure or if you are a physician, to include these world class threads and PDO lift techniques as an offering at your own elite practice. 

In closing

Today we’ve talked about PDO Neck Tightening and Permanent Fat Elimination and it’s easy to see why this is the treatment of choice for restoring a graceful neck and throat for patients around the world. It’s cost-effective and non-invasive – you won’t be going ‘under the knife’, but in less time than a quick lunch break you can get immediate results.

Best of all, you can enjoy the results of the lift for up to 2 years with quality threads such as VSoft Lift and the fat loss is yours to keep for at least a good 10 to 15 years – or possibly a lifetime.

Just be sure to insist on the best for your procedure – ask for VSoft Lift!

References/FYI

American Board of Cosmetic surgery

Westlake Dermatology; “Neck Lift vs. Neck Liposuction”

Healthline; “What Is a Polydioxanone (PDO) Thread Lift?”

James Weston MD; “Neck Liposuction in Menlo Park, Atherton & Palo Alto, CA”