“Housewife on Orange County” actress Tamra Judge may be pressing on the big 5-0 but she is looking stunning and way younger. Her secret? A face and neck lift.
RSB previously covered the impressive results of a face lift with the hottest technique in the beauty industry – face threadlift – but a beautiful visage is not without a matching youthful neck.
Necks, like the growth rings of a tree, can reveal age. Ravages of time including weight gain and gravity can result in a double chin, fine lines and saggy skin. I speak to Dr Chua Han Boon, Medical Consultant of SW1 Clinic on the rising trend of women opting for neck lifts, ways to attain that smooth and defined neckline and more.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON ISSUES FACING WOMEN’S NECKS?
Dr Chua: The most common issue affecting a woman’s neck is the sag of the upper one third of the neck, from the jawbone down. This blurs the jawline definition and the common complaint is that they don’t have a “neck” or they have a fat one. A well-defined jawline to delineate the face from neck region is an important aesthetic feature.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST AESTHETIC OPTIONS TO TIGHTEN SAGGING SKIN ON THE NECK?
Dr Chua: Ultherapy and Thermage for the jaw and neck are currently the best non-invasive treatment for tightening sagging neck skin. Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to stimulate the deep layers of the collagen, while Thermage uses power radiofrequency energy to penetrate deep skin with a specialised cooling system to protect the surface of the skin.
For patients who want a more obvious lift, the Infinity Neck Lift, a neck Threadlift treatment offered by our clinic is currently very popular. Threads are carefully inserted into the fatty layer of the skin to provide support and to lift the skin.
Read More: Five Ways to a Fabulous Neck
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SKIN TIGHTENING TREATMENT LIKE THERMAGE AND NECK THREAD LIFTS?
Dr Chua: Thermage and Ultherapy are totally non invasive and have no downtime. They use energy sources to stimulate skin collagen, and a mild tightening will take place over the new few months as new collagen is produced. There are totally no wounds or even needle marks.
Neck Threadlift is a minimally invasive treatment that uses needles to make a small opening in the skin where the threads are carefully inserted into the fatty layers of the neck skin. The threads themselves provide the structural support and lift, while simultaneously stimulating collagen formation over the next few months.
The result of neck Threadlift for sagging neck is more dramatic than Ultherapy or Thermage, but the procedure also comes with slight downtime.
(Image showing an instant and drastic lifting of skin at the chin area after one session of neck Threadlift)
WHO IS SUITABLE FOR NECK THREAD LIFTS?
Dr Chua: Patients with visible “double chin” and sagging of the upper neck are the best candidates for neck Threadlifts. For patients with very mild sagging skin, I will usually advise Ultherapy or Thermage of the jaw and neck instead.
Read More: 5 Things You Never Knew About Your Neck
WHO ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR NECK THREAD LIFTS?
Dr Chua: Patients who are on blood thinners, for example warfarin, are not suitable. Patients who need to go back to work on the same day may not be suitable as they will be downtime.
WHAT IS THE DOWNTIME FOR NECK THREADLIFTS?
Dr Chua: Some bruising and mild swelling is to be expected. The swelling will take 2-3 days to resolve while bruising usually takes about 5-7 days. The bruises can be easily covered with a concealer. The treated area will feel heavy and tight for the next few days. Immediately after procedure, the neck area will be specially taped up for the rest of the day to minimize swelling.
(Image showing patient with small pin prick holes where thread was inserted)
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Dr Chua: All procedures have side effects. Thankfully side effects are minor for the neck Threadlift procedure. Bruising and swelling may happen as the neck tissue is relatively loose. Occasionally there may be puckering of the skin for the first 2 days due to the lifting of the neck skin. These will resolve within 1-2 days.
IS THERE ANYTHING THE PATIENT NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
Dr Chua: Avoid strenuous activities and avoid alcohol. Otherwise they can carry on with their usual daily activities. I will also prescribe patients with a short course of antibiotic tablets.
CAN ONE COMBINE THE TREATMENTS ABOVE?
Dr Chua: Combination treatment of Ultherapy, Thermage and/or neck Threadlift will give the best possible results and is highly encouraged.
In my opinion, these procedures should be done separately. While it doesn’t matter which one is done first, I feel it’s best to for patients undergoing neck Threadlift as a start to reserve Ultherapy and Thermage for until 3 months later.
Dr Chua Han Boon obtained his medical degree and post graduate family Medicine qualification at the National University of Singapore and obtained his post graduate diploma in Dermatology at Cardiff University, UK. Dr Chua is trained in the use of non-invasive procedures and has attained certification of competence in cosmetic lasers, Botox injections and filler procedures which are recognized by Singapore Medical Council’s Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee.