Address Changes in the Neck and Jawline With Care and Intention
If your neck is starting to feel out of sync with how you see yourself, it may be time for an honest conversation about your options. John Reilly has spent more than 20 years helping patients consider a neck lift in Westport with clarity and confidence without rushing the decision.
A neck lift corrects the loosened muscles, excess skin, and lost contour that develop over time. At Dr. John Reilly’s practice, you’ll sit down with a double board-certified plastic surgeon who explains what’s happening beneath your skin and what surgery can realistically fix.
The goal is for you to leave with enough information to make a confident decision—whether that’s moving forward, waiting, or choosing a different path entirely.
Real Results Guided by Thoughtful Care
What a Personalized Neck Lift Can Do for You
Dr. Reilly approaches every neck lift with a clear objective: understand what’s changed, address it directly, and achieve a result that makes the effort worthwhile. He evaluates where the skin has loosened, how the muscles have changed, what the underlying structure allows—and builds a surgical plan that addresses your concerns.
A More Defined Jawline
When the platysma muscles separate and skin loses firmness, the jawline softens and loses definition. A neck lift tightens the muscle layer and removes excess skin to restore the clean transition between face and neck.
Improved Overall Facial Proportion
Addressing the neck often brings the entire lower face into better balance. The change is specific to the treated area, but the visual effect extends to how your whole profile reads.
Changes Meant to Last
With proper healing and reasonable care, a well-executed neck lift holds up for many years. You’ll continue aging, but the structural improvements stay in place and maintain the refinement long-term.
Real Client Stories
My experience with Dr. Reilly, Jenise and the rest of the team was a pleasure from the very first phone call all the way through my final follow-up.
B Botti
What Patients Value Most About Working With Dr. John Reilly
A Castle Connolly Top Doctor with over 20 years of surgical experience, Dr. Reilly has built his practice around thoroughness and honest guidance. Patients consistently mention the same things: he takes his time, he explains everything, and he never makes them feel pressured.
Patient-Centered Care From Start to Finish
Dr. Reilly wants you to understand exactly what you’re signing up for. He’ll explain what the surgery corrects, what it doesn’t, and whether your goals are achievable given your anatomy. If he thinks you’d be better served waiting or exploring other options, he’ll tell you directly.
Time to Talk Through Your Options
Your consultation isn’t rushed. Dr. Reilly meets with you in person and covers every detail. The goal is for you to leave feeling informed enough to make a confident decision, whatever that decision turns out to be.
Results That Respect Your Features
Dr. Reilly’s focus is on solving the problem you came in with. He’s not trying to give you someone else’s jawline. He’s working with the face you already have to address the specific issues that bother you.
Considering Whether a Neck Lift Is Right for You?
A neck lift makes sense when you’re dealing with loose skin, visible muscle banding, or loss of contour that won’t respond to less invasive treatments. These changes typically develop with aging, significant weight loss, or genetics.
A neck lift may be right for you if:
- You have loose, sagging skin under the chin or along the neck
- You notice vertical neck bands (platysmal banding) that create a “turkey neck” appearance
- You have excess fat beneath the chin that doesn’t improve with diet and exercise
- Your jawline has lost definition due to skin laxity or tissue descent
- You’ve experienced significant weight loss and are left with hanging or crepey skin
- You feel your neck makes you look older than you feel
The best candidates are in good overall health, at a stable weight, and looking for a lasting improvement rather than a temporary fix.
Dr. Reilly will help you think through a neck lift without pushing you toward a decision. If relevant, he may also explore other suitable procedures:
- Neck Liposuction – Best for patients with excess fat under the chin or jawline who still have good skin elasticity.
- Facelift – Best for patients whose neck concerns are paired with jowling or sagging in the lower face.
- Blepharoplasty – Best for patients with drooping or puffy eyelids that make them look tired or aged.
- Fat Grafting – Best for patients with facial volume loss rather than significant skin laxity.
What Healing Looks Like After a Neck Lift
Recovery follows a fairly predictable pattern for most patients. You’ll have swelling and bruising in the first week; this is normal and expected. Most people can handle light activity by 7 to 10 days and feel ready to return to work or social settings within two weeks.
Dr. Reilly provides detailed written instructions and checks in regularly during your recovery. You’ll know what’s normal, what to watch for, and who to contact if something doesn’t feel right. The practice makes sure you’re never guessing about whether you’re healing properly.
Areas We Serve Throughout Connecticut
We welcome patients from communities across the state who are looking for thoughtful guidance and natural, balanced results.
- Ansonia, CT
- Bedford, NH
- Bridgeport, CT
- Derby, CT
- Fairfield, CT
- Middletown, CT
- Milford, CT
- New Haven, CT
- Norwalk, CT
- Scarsdale, NY
- Shelton, CT
- Stamford, CT
- Stratford, CT
- Trumbull, CT
- Waterbury, CT
- Westport, CT
- White Plains, NY
- Yonkers, NY
Helpful Answers Before You Decide
If you’re frustrated by sagging skin, banding, or lost definition in the neck and jawline—and you’ve been thinking about it long enough that it’s not just a passing concern—it’s worth having a conversation. Dr. Reilly will assess your anatomy and help you determine if surgery addresses what’s bothering you.
Incisions are placed behind the ears and sometimes under the chin where they’re well-hidden. Scars fade over time and, with proper care, become very difficult to see—even when someone’s looking for them.
The structural changes are long-lasting, but you’ll continue to age. What a neck lift does is set you back to where you were before the looseness and banding developed, and that correction holds up well over time.
Pricing depends on your surgical plan and whether you’re combining procedures. During your consultation, you’ll receive a clear breakdown of costs with no hidden fees or surprises.
Yes. Many patients combine a neck lift with a facelift, eyelid surgery, or fat transfer when it makes sense for their overall goals. Dr. Reilly will discuss whether a combined approach would give you better results than addressing one area alone.
Like any surgery, there are risks: swelling, bruising, temporary numbness, scarring, or complications from anesthesia. Dr. Reilly reviews your full medical history to make sure you’re a safe candidate and that you understand what to expect.
Thinking About a Change? Let's Talk It Through
If you’ve been living with loose skin or lost definition long enough that it’s affecting how you see yourself, a neck lift may be worth exploring. With Dr. Reilly’s double board certification and 20+ years of experience, Westport patients get the thorough, honest guidance they need to make the right decision for themselves.