Most people researching a deep plane facelift and neck lift eventually arrive at the same question: should I include a neck lift at the same time? If the face is the picture, the neck is the frame. Treating one without the other can leave a visible mismatch that undermines an otherwise excellent result. This article explains what a neck lift involves, why the two procedures are so often paired, what the combination costs in Australia versus South Korea, and what recovery looks like in practice. If you are new to the deep plane technique, our guide to what a deep plane facelift is and how it works covers the facelift component in full.
What Does a Neck Lift Do?
A neck lift, medically called a platysmaplasty or cervicoplasty, addresses the specific signs of ageing below the jawline that a facelift does not fully reach on its own.
What the Procedure Targets
As the face ages, so does the neck. The platysma, a broad muscle running from the collarbone to the jaw, gradually weakens and separates, creating the vertical banding visible in many people over 45. Submental fat accumulates beneath the chin, and skin loses its elasticity, resulting in the loose skin and blunted jawline angle often described as a turkey neck.
A neck lift addresses these changes directly. Through a small incision beneath the chin and along the natural contours of the ear, the surgeon can tighten or suture the platysma muscle to eliminate visible banding, remove or redistribute submental fat using liposuction where needed, and excise excess neck skin to create a cleaner jaw and cervicomental angle.
Neck Lift vs Facelift: Where Each One Starts and Stops
A facelift, even a deep plane one, focuses primarily on the mid and lower face: the cheeks, nasolabial folds, jowls, and the lateral neck where it meets the jaw. It does not specifically address the vertical muscle banding running down the front of the neck, nor does it target the submental area directly beneath the chin.
A neck lift works from the front and underside. The two procedures approach the neck from different directions, which is why combining them addresses the area thoroughly rather than partially.
Why a Deep Plane Facelift Always Includes a Neck Lift
A neck lift can be performed as a standalone procedure without a facelift. However, a deep plane facelift must always be performed with a neck lift to produce a natural result.
The reason is anatomical. The deep plane facelift incision runs from in front of the ear to behind the neck line. Because this dissection extends into the lateral neck, leaving the anterior neck unaddressed creates an obvious imbalance. The face is lifted; the front of the neck remains unchanged. For this reason, our surgeons in South Korea do not perform deep plane facelifts without a neck lift component.
For patients with a turkey neck or significant jowling caused by a weakened platysma muscle, a full platysmaplasty is specifically recommended alongside the facelift to achieve the most successful result. Platysmaplasty directly addresses the muscle banding at its root cause, not just the overlying skin.
The Face and Neck Age as a Single Anatomical Unit
The SMAS layer in the face continues directly into the platysma muscle in the neck. They are the same tissue under different names. When the face descends, the neck descends with it. A deep plane facelift repositions the facial SMAS and lifts the lateral neck, but the anterior neck, the part visible head-on, requires the neck lift component to achieve the same degree of correction.
Patients who address the face but not the neck often notice the imbalance themselves within months. The face looks refreshed; the neck tells a different story. For patients with visible platysma banding or loose skin in the front of the neck, that asymmetry becomes obvious.
What the Combination Achieves
When the two procedures are performed together, the full face-to-neck transition is addressed as a single unit:
- Cheek fat pads and midface structures repositioned upward
- Jowls lifted and the jawline redefined
- Lateral neck tightened via the facelift dissection
- Anterior platysma bands sutured and tightened through the neck lift component
- Submental fat reduced for a cleaner chin-to-neck angle
- Excess neck skin excised and redraped
The result is a face and neck that look like they belong to the same person at the same age, with proportional rejuvenation rather than one area pulling focus.
Dr Lee (Elite Plastic Surgery): revision deep plane facelift, neck lift, endotine forehead lift, brow lift, SMILE lower blepharoplasty and upper cheek lift (13 days post-op)
Deep Plane Facelift and Neck Lift Cost: Australia vs South Korea
In Australia, a deep plane facelift and neck lift combined typically costs between $45,000 and $80,000 AUD when surgeon fees, anaesthesia, hospital costs, and aftercare are totalled. In South Korea through Glamjet, the same combination is available from $20,000 to $44,000 AUD, with aftercare, translation service, and recovery therapies included in the package.
| Location | Typical Cost (AUD) | Included | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul (South Korea) | $20,000 to $44,000 | Surgery, aftercare, translation service, recovery therapies, follow-up | 2 to 3 months via Glamjet |
| Sydney (Australia) | $45,000 to $65,000 | Surgery and basic follow-up (aftercare often separate) | 6 to 12 months |
| Melbourne (Australia) | $50,000 to $70,000 | Surgery and consultation (extended care billed separately) | 6 to 12 months |
| Complex cases (AU) | $65,000 to $80,000+ | Surgery only (revisions and complications extra) | 12 months or more |
Why the Cost Differs
The cost difference is not about surgical quality. Australian surgeons charge higher fees, and operating costs in Australia are significantly greater: inpatient theatre rooms at private hospitals, anaesthesia, nursing staff, and hospitalisation all carry substantially higher price tags than equivalent facilities in South Korea.
In Australia, all post-operative care is typically charged separately or not included at all. With Glamjet, comprehensive aftercare is built into the package, which is why our clients often report remarkably fast and comfortable healing compared to patients who had equivalent procedures locally. You get more experienced surgeons in South Korea and more included in your package, for considerably less.
In Australia, a neck lift combined with a facelift adds $15,000 to $30,000 to the total. In South Korea, the same addition typically costs $5,000 to $9,000 on top of the facelift package, for the same reasons of lower overhead structure.
What Is Included in a Glamjet Package?
Booking a deep plane facelift and neck lift through Glamjet includes:
- Pre-surgical consultation with 3D imaging
- Surgery with a board-certified specialist
- Post-operative recovery therapies: lymphatic massage, LED light treatment, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, and laser deswelling
- Translation service throughout your stay
- Airport transfers and accommodation assistance
- Follow-up consultations after returning home
- Specially designed post-surgery pillow system, nutritious recovery meals, and supplements
- Patient advocate hotel visit during recovery
You pay the same as booking the clinic directly, with no markup. A dedicated client manager handles all coordination before, during, and after your trip. Most clients tell us this saves between 50 and 100 hours of planning, and scheduling through Glamjet means waiting 2 to 3 months rather than the 6 to 9 months typical when approaching clinics independently. Full payment options are on our payment solutions page.
What to Expect: Procedure and Recovery
The Surgery
A combined deep plane facelift and neck lift takes 4 to 6 hours under sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the surgeon and clinic. The facelift incisions, placed within the hairline and along the ear contour, provide access to both the facial and lateral neck structures. A small additional incision is made under the chin for the platysma work when needed.
Day-by-Day Recovery Timeline
Surgery
You will be hospitalised for one night after surgery. The anaesthesiologist and nursing team monitor your recovery closely before you are cleared to rest.
Compression bandages and drains can be removed 24 to 48 hours after surgery, once your surgeon gives clearance. You transfer back to your hotel and return to the clinic for a check-up the following day. Your Glamjet team provides a basic hair wash and wound check. Once compression is removed, you will wear a lighter compression band for 22 hours a day. These are the most challenging days: you will be given medication for nausea, infection management, and wound ointment. Light walking is encouraged to promote lymphatic drainage. Post-operative appointments for red light LED therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chamber sessions, and laser deswelling will be arranged as part of your package (availability varies by clinic).
Most patients are comfortable going out for meals and some gentle sightseeing, wearing a hat. Swelling is still present but manageable.
Stitches are removed at two separate appointments, five days and nine days after surgery.
Once stitches are removed, you are generally safe to fly home. Glamjet recommends staying for at least 14 days after surgery to allow for contingency and to give yourself time to explore Seoul. Healing timelines vary between patients, and the additional days provide reassurance before a long-haul flight.
Bruising resolves substantially. The face and neck continue to settle. Most patients feel comfortable in social settings by week 3.
The face and neck settle together as residual swelling clears. Because both areas heal as a unified whole, the final result reflects what was planned rather than two separate healing timelines. Most patients return to work after 2 to 3 weeks and resume exercise at weeks 4 to 6.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift and Neck Lift?
You are likely well suited to the combined procedure if you have:
- Significant jowling or lower face laxity
- Visible platysma banding running vertically down the front of the neck
- Loose neck skin, a blunted cervicomental angle, or excess submental fat
- Concerns across both the face and neck that you want addressed in a single operation
- Good general health and realistic expectations about recovery and results
Patients with concerns limited to the face and with a naturally well-defined neck may be candidates for a facelift without the full neck lift component. Your surgeon will assess this at consultation and advise honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a deep plane facelift without a neck lift?
In most cases with Glamjet's partner surgeons, no. A deep plane facelift always includes a neck lift component to produce a natural result, because the incision extends from in front of the ear to behind the neck line. Leaving the anterior neck unaddressed would create a visible imbalance. You can, however, have a neck lift as a standalone procedure without a facelift if your concerns are limited to the neck only.
How much does a combined facelift and neck lift cost in South Korea?
Through Glamjet, a deep plane facelift and neck lift together typically costs $20,000 to $44,000 AUD, compared with $45,000 to $80,000 or more in Australia. Glamjet packages include aftercare, translation service, recovery therapies, and comprehensive support that would be charged separately elsewhere. See our deep plane facelift packages page for full details.
How long do the results of a combined facelift and neck lift last?
The combined result typically lasts 12 to 15 years. The deep plane technique repositions the underlying structures rather than just tightening skin, and the neck lift addresses the platysma at its root cause. Individual longevity depends on age at surgery, skin quality, and lifestyle factors including sun exposure.
What is the recovery time for a combined facelift and neck lift?
Most patients are ready to fly home after 10 days, once stitches are removed. Glamjet recommends staying 14 days for contingency. Most patients return to work after 2 to 3 weeks and resume strenuous activity at weeks 4 to 6. The final result is typically fully visible between 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Is it safer to combine the procedures or do them separately?
Combining a deep plane facelift and neck lift in a single operation under one anaesthesia event is generally considered lower overall risk than two separate procedures. It also allows the face and neck to heal together, producing a more balanced and proportional result. Your surgeon will confirm suitability at consultation.
Not Sure Whether You Need Both Procedures?
Request a free quote and a Glamjet specialist will come back to you with:
- A personalised recommendation on whether a neck lift adds genuine value for your anatomy
- A cost breakdown for the combined procedure versus facelift alone
- Matched surgeon profiles with documented experience in combined face and neck surgery
- A clear picture of what the process looks like from consultation through to recovery at home
References
Khoury, S., Almubarak, Z., Khan, H. et al. (2025). The Deep Plane versus SMAS Facelift: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-025-05118-x
Swanson, E. (2019). Facial Nerve Injury in Face Lift Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 39(4), 351-361. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30768122/