Neck Lift Cost, Financing and Insurance Guide

Combatting jowly or saggy skin and double chins is no easy feat, but a neck lift might be the solution you're looking for if what you seek is a more defined profile.

Nearly 40,000 neck lifts were performed in the U.S. in 2021.¹ A neck lift can restore a more youthful appearance and have long-lasting results, but it's important to remember that no cosmetic procedure, including neck lifts, will change your essential facial structure or stop the aging process entirely.²

Let's look at what a neck lift entails, and how it can help in achieving the cosmetic outcomes you're after.

What is a Neck Lift?

A neck lift refers to a set of surgical procedures commonly used to create a more defined jawline, smooth visible signs of aging or reduce fat deposits or sagging skin under the chin, sometimes referred to as “turkey neck."³ The general medical term for a neck lift is a lower rhytidectomy or submental lipectomy.

Types of neck lifts

Depending on the results you seek, your surgeon may recommend a type of procedure called a cervicoplasty, which removes excess skin, or a platysmaplasty, which removes or alters neck muscles to achieve the desired look.³

An anterior neck lift allows your surgeon to reshape the tissues of the neck and jawline through an incision in your chin, while an extended neck lift, usually performed in conjunction with a face lift, involves more invasive incisions that allow for more extensive work on the deep tissues of the face and neck while also removing excess skin.²

How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for a neck lift procedure is $5,774, but may vary based on the extent of surgery, surgeon fees, general anesthesia and surgical center or outpatient costs.⁴

However, the price for a neck lift can range between $4,500 and $22,000.⁵

Neck lift costs can vary widely depending on the region. Average costs on the East Coast, for example, range from $11,788 in New York to $14,167 in Massachusetts. In the southern regions of the U.S., average neck lift costs may run between $8,050 (as in South Carolina) and $8,610 (as in Florida). Expect to pay around $8,450 in the Midwest, while costs on the West Coast may range from $11,439 (as in Washington) to $12,087 (as in California).⁵

As you consult with your surgeon, be sure to ask for a summary of all potential costs to get an accurate figure of how much the entire procedure would be. Costs may include:⁵

• Your surgeon's fee
• A facility fee
• Anesthesiologist fee
• Prescription medications
• Postsurgical aids to manage swelling and bruising
• Preoperative tests
• Postoperative follow-up appointments

The price you pay for a neck lift procedure may also be affected by:⁵

• Level of difficulty. A lower rhytidectomy may include any or all of the following: liposuction to remove fat, platysmaplasty to tighten muscles or cervicoplasty to remove excess skin.
• Combining procedures. Neck lifts are often done in combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a brow lift, chin implant, eyelid lift or lip lift. The benefits of combining procedures include a one-time payment of facility and anesthesia fees, a single recovery process and better symmetrical results when the face and neck are done at the same time.
• Location. Surgeons located in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York typically have higher fees to cover their costs. Some patients seek qualified surgeons located in less expensive locales and find that even with travel costs, the savings are worth the expense.

Does Health Insurance Cover Neck Lifts?

Neck lifts are rarely deemed medically necessary and therefore unlikely to be covered by health insurance benefits or eligible for health savings account (HSA) reimbursement. Talk to your health insurance provider to be clear on what — if anything — your policy may cover and if cosmetic surgery will affect your future coverage.³

Good Candidates for a Neck Lift

You might consider a neck lift procedure if you have:

• Slack skin on the lower face or jawline, creating jowls⁶
• Fat deposits under the chin or jawline⁶
• Lost a significant amount of weight and want to remove excess skin⁷
• Loose or saggy neck skin or “turkey neck"⁷
• Horizontal muscle banding in the neck⁷

A number of factors affect the appearance of the lower jaw and neck, including heredity, age, stress levels and environment. Good candidates for a neck lift procedure are nonsmokers in generally good health who have realistic expectations of what a neck lift can and cannot do for their appearance.⁶

Non-Surgical Neck Lifts

Patients interested in improving the appearance of their neck without surgery can explore non-surgical options. The benefits of non-surgical cosmetic procedures include shorter recovery times, reduced risk of complications and typically lower costs as procedures are often performed in-office and without the need for general anesthesia. Multiple treatments are often required to achieve the desired outcome and results are usually temporary.⁷

Here are some non-surgical neck lift procedures:⁶

• BOTOX® injections soften the appearance of neck bands by relaxing the neck muscles that cause them.
• Dermal fillers can restore skin volume and plump sagging areas.
• Deoxycholic acid (KYBELLA®) is an injectable solution that destroys fat cells around the injection site and can be used on the chin, jawline and neck.
• Fractionated laser treatments improve skin texture with heat and light applied under the skin's surface.
• Ultrasound and radiofrequency with microneedling can be used to stimulate collagen production to improve fine lines and wrinkles.

Financing a Neck Lift Surgery With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for neck lifts and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, personal finance, and real estate/investing.