Palo Alto Office
105 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 407-2922
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Los Gatos Office
326 Village Ln
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 402-3220
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
The IO Clinic
999 Alma Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 327-3232
Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Mini Facelift & Neck Lift
The primary objectives of a lower face and neck lift, also called a mini facelift, at our Palo Alto and Los Gatos practice are to enhance and accentuate the youthful contours of the neck, jawline, and lower cheek. These procedures are done carefully with meticulous attention to every detail, and are often performed in conjunction with a facelift to minimize recovery time and achieve the best possible aesthetic improvements.
How Does the Aging Process Affect the Face and Neck?
Over time, gravity affects the skin, muscles, and connective tissues, causing them to loosen and droop. The loss of volume coupled with these changes can lead to the formation of jowls along the jawline, deep folds in the cheeks from the sides of the nose to those of the mouth (parentheses lines or nasolabial folds) and downwards from the corners of the mouth (marionette lines), hollowing under the eyes, and excess fat and skin under the chin (double chin) with deep vertical folds in the front of the neck (platysmal neck bands forming a “turkey neck”).
A lower face and neck lift, also referred to as a mini facelift, is intended to surgically address signs of aging in the lower face, including the lower cheek and jawline, as well as the neck.
This natural progression of aging has become increasingly difficult for many men and women to accept, since the advent of healthier lifestyles, cleaner diets, and improved medical care have resulted in people feeling much younger and energized than they may otherwise appear. Bridging the gap between how you look to how youthful you feel can be addressed with a comprehensive, individualized approach to facial rejuvenation.

Meet Our Surgeons
Get to know our world-class, board-certified facial plastic surgeons, known for the precision of their work and consistently satisfied patients.
Who’s a Good Candidate for a Lower Face & Neck Lift?
Healthy women and men, typically in their 30s to 40s, make good candidates for a mini facelift if they:
- Want to tighten mild to moderate laxity of the jawline (jowls) and neck
- Want to correct vertical neck bands
- Are no longer satisfied with the results of dermal fillers
- Are not concerned with aging of the midface
People with more advanced aging that includes the midface may need a more complete facelift or a combination of procedures to attain their desired rejuvenation.
How Much Does a Mini Facelift & Neck Lift Cost in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Because our surgeons personalize these procedures to each patient’s unique needs and cosmetic goals, you will need to come into our Palo Alto or Los Gatos office for a one-on-one consultation to receive a price estimate.
How Is a Lower Face & Neck Lift Performed?
When performed on its own, a lower face and neck lift procedure typically takes between two to three hours. But as the experience is different for each patient, it may take an additional hour if a neck lift is performed with a full facelift.
While a neck lift alone may be appropriate for some patients, the reality is that most individuals who have lax skin at their neck will also have the same on their face, and addressing multiple areas in close proximity to each other simultaneously tends to be the most practical approach to achieving overall rejuvenation.
At our Bay Area practice, we perform a lower face and neck lift that addresses the deeper tissues, such as the muscles and fat underneath the surface of the skin. We lift the layer of muscle at the neck (platysma) and cheek (superficial muscular aponeurotic system, or SMAS for short), tightening and re-suspending the tissues while removing any excess skin and fat to achieve natural, long-term results that rejuvenate the youthful contours of your neck and face.
Along with a neck lift and facelift, a brow lift may also be performed simultaneously. As the soft tissue of the cheek is suspended to a more youthful position, the excess skin must be redistributed along the forehead and then into the hairline. Performing these intricate, interrelated procedures within the same operation allows the surgeon to simultaneously address the neck, cheek, brow, and forehead. Some patients also choose to address their lower eyelids (lower blepharoplasty) are also addressed at the time of face and neck lift surgery.
What Should I Expect From a Lower Face & Neck Lift?
Though individual patient experiences tend to vary, a neck lift with a facelift, brow lift, and/or a blepharoplasty typically takes between four to six hours, and can be performed under either twilight sleep (also referred to as intravenous sedation) or general anesthesia.
Prior to neck lift surgery, you will meet the anesthesia team and be asked to review any allergies, as well as your major medical history. You will then be given your anesthesia to help you relax. As experienced surgeons, we always work diligently and in tandem with the anesthesiologist to minimize any nausea or pain after surgery.
Recovering From a Mini Facelift & Associated Procedures
After about an hour or two of recovery time under the careful observation of our staff, you can be discharged from the surgery center into the care of a family member or friend, though every patient’s recovery window is unique.
Mini Facelift Recovery
BANDAGE REMOVAL 1 day | SUTURE REMOVAL 4-10 days | RETURN TO WORK 2 weeks | 75% RECOVERY 2 months | 100% RECOVERY 6 months |
No matter what procedures you choose to receive from our practice, our core objective is to provide a safe and comfortable surgical experience that aspires to enhance your appearance while aiming to produce natural results.
We have provided before and after photos of our neck lift patients on our website to help you visualize the possibilities.
Non-Surgical Neck Lift With Ultherapy®
For those patients that are not yet ready for a surgical neck lift or mini facelift, we now offer Ultherapy, the only FDA-approved non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound technology and the body’s own natural healing process to lift and tighten loose skin on the neck and under the chin. Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin without disturbing the surface of the skin.
There is virtually no downtime expected with a non-surgical neck lift*, and many patients choose to return to work shortly after their treatment. Results have been known to continue to unfold over the course of two to three months, and some patients have reported continued improvement for up to six months, including lifting of the skin on the neck, under the chin, jawline and on the brow.
After your consultation, we work with you to decide on a treatment plan based on what areas are to be treated. A combination of oral medication, numbing cream and local anesthesia is often used to minimize any discomfort.
Ultherapy® Recovery
BANDAGE REMOVAL None | SUTURE REMOVAL None | RETURN TO WORK Right away | 75% RECOVERY 2-3 months | 100% RECOVERY 6 months |
To learn more, we have a Nonsurgical Facelift page with dedicated information about non-invasive treatment options such as Ultherapy® and liquid facelifts.
Drs. Lieberman, Parikh, and Curti would be happy to answer any questions you may have about surgical or non-surgical face and neck lifts, and help you determine which procedure may be most appropriate for you. To request a consultation, contact us online or call (650) 407-2922 to schedule an appointment at our Palo Alto or Los Gatos offices.
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