The Naked Truth About Neck and Jawline Treatments for Men

A Strong Jawline, Cleaner Neck and Natural Result—With Less Downtime

Why More Men Are Treating Their Neck and Jawline

For many men, the first sign of aging is noticeable along the jawline and neck.

The jaw becomes less defined; fat accumulates beneath the chin, and jowls begin to appear. The angle between the chin and neck becomes less sharp. In photographs, phone FaceTime, and video calls, a man may suddenly look heavier or older—even though his weight has not changed. Most men who come to see me are not asking to look younger in an obvious way, but rather they usually want something subtle and natural:

• A stronger, better-defined jawline
• Less fullness beneath the chin
• A cleaner neck angle
• Less loose skin or visible neck bands
• A natural, masculine appearance
• Minimal visible scarring
• The shortest reasonable recovery

The good news is that improving the male neck no longer requires a traditional facelift. Today, we have a spectrum of treatment options, from completely noninvasive skin tightening and liposuction to RF-assisted contouring, limited-incision neck lifts, and comprehensive deep-neck surgery. The challenge is choosing the best choice for each of my patients.

The Naked Truth

The best treatment is not necessarily the newest technology or the biggest operation. It is the least invasive procedure that can predictably improve your anatomy while providing a safe, comfortable experience with a quick and smooth recovery.

The goal should not be an over-pulled neck, hollowed face, or obvious “facelift” appearance. A great result should make you look fit,  rested, and rejuvenated without the appearance of surgery.

What are the main causes of loss of neck definition?  

What looks like a simple “double chin” may actually involve several different structures.

Common anatomic considerations include:

• Superficial fat beneath the chin
• Loose skin
• Platysma muscle laxity or bands
• Jowls obscuring the jawline
• Deep neck fat
• Prominent digastric muscles
• Prominent submandibular glands
• A small or retruded chin

Genetics, weight changes, aging, and environmental issues such as sun and wind exposure can all contribute to these findings. It’s a wrong concept to treat every male neck with the same technique or device; this approach makes little sense.  Before choosing the treatment, we must identify the problems.

Four Levels of Treatment:

Level	Examples	Best For	Recovery
1. Noninvasive	Ultherapy, Thermage-type RF, CoolPeel, non-ablative lasers	Early laxity, skin quality	Little to none
2. Minimally invasive	Morpheus8, FaceTite, microcoring, liposuction	Mild laxity, submental fat, early loss of definition	Days to ~2 weeks
3. Limited-incision neck lift	Submental lift, platysmaplasty, short-scar neck lift	Fat + muscle laxity + moderate aging	Often ~1–2 weeks
4. Comprehensive/deep-neck surgery	Neck lift, face/neck lift, deep cervicoplasty	Significant skin, jowls, or deep-neck fullness	Several weeks

Recovery varies considerably between patients and procedures, so these ranges are general, not guaranteed.

Level 1: No-Incision Neck Tightening

For a younger man beginning to notice slight looseness but who still has good underlying anatomy, a noninvasive treatment may be enough. A variety of such treatment devices are briefly noted below:

Ultherapy

Microfocused ultrasound delivers energy beneath intact skin to stimulate collagen remodeling.

It may help with:

• Early skin laxity
• Mild loss of jawline definition
• Early neck aging

There are no incisions and generally little interruption of normal activities.

The tradeoff is straightforward:

Less downtime usually means less correction.

Ultherapy cannot remove substantial fat, repair loose platysma muscle, or remove hanging skin.

Thermage-Type (topical) Radiofrequency

Monopolar RF also stimulates collagen remodeling and tissue contraction without an incision.

For men with good anatomy and early skin laxity, this can provide subtle tightening without looking “done.”

Think of these procedures as maintenance and tightening treatments—not surgical neck lifts without scars.

Level 2: Minimally Invasive Jawline and Neck Contouring

When a man wants more correction but still prioritizes rapid recovery, minimally invasive procedures become more interesting.

RF Microneedling, RFMN (Morpheus, VitueRF, Vivaci, etc.)

RF microneedling can improve:

• Skin texture
• Mild laxity
• Fine wrinkles
• Early crepiness
• Collagen remodeling

It may be particularly useful when the primary problem is skin quality rather than a heavy neck. RFMN cannot directly repair a separated platysma or remove significant loose skin.

A Word About Aggressive RF

In 2025, the FDA issued a safety communication concerning certain uses of RF microneedling after reports that included burns, scarring, unwanted fat loss, and nerve injury. That does not mean you should avoid RF microneedling.  It means more energy is not automatically better. In a male neck, indiscriminate fat destruction can sometimes create an unnaturally hollow or irregular appearance. As with all treatments, this should be performed at a qualified center like Bio-Spa Medical Spa by certified and licensed providers.

Precision Neck Liposuction: Often an Excellent Choice for Men

For the right male patient, neck liposuction remains one of the most effective relatively small procedures we have.  We often combine this with Vaser ultrasonic liposuction for enhanced results.

The ideal candidate has:

• Fullness beneath the chin
• Good skin elasticity
• A reasonably strong chin
• Minimal jowling
• Minimal platysma laxity

Through minimal access incisions, surgeons can selectively remove excess superficial fat to reveal the underlying jawline.

For some men in their 30s and 40s, this relatively straightforward procedure can produce a greater visible improvement than repeated skin-tightening treatments.

The key is precision. Vaser ultrasound liposuction can help. The goal isn’t to remove every possible fat cell. Some superficial fat is desirable because it maintains a smooth transition between the skin and deeper structures.  A masculine jawline should look defined—not skeletonized.

FaceTite: Fat Reduction Plus Tissue Contraction

FaceTite sits between external energy treatments and surgery.

A small RF probe is introduced beneath the skin, allowing treatment of fat while heating the surrounding tissue to encourage contraction.

It may be appropriate for a man who has:

• Submental fat
• Mild-to-moderate skin laxity
• Reasonably good elasticity
• Limited muscle laxity

I consider FaceTite minimally invasive rather than nonsurgical. J-Plasma or Renuvion is another energy source some physicians prefer to add to liposuction. I have personal opinions on these devices that can be discussed during your consult.

Level 3: The Limited-Incision Male Neck Lift

This is one of the most useful options for men who want a meaningful improvement but would prefer to avoid the extent of a traditional face-and-neck lift. These men often tell me: “I don’t want a facelift. I just want my jawline back.”

A limited-incision neck lift may be appropriate when there is:

• Persistent fullness beneath the chin
• Early or moderate platysma laxity
• Loss of the neck angle
• Mild-to-moderate loose skin
• Early jowling
• More aging than liposuction or other energy device can predictably correct.

The Lite-Lift® is our proprietary limited-incision neck lift, often done with awake anesthesia if my patients want it. It has a quick recovery, looks very natural, and is as long-lasting as any face or neck lift technique.

What Can Be Done Through a Small Incision Under the Chin?

A carefully concealed submental incision can provide direct access to the central neck.

Depending upon anatomy, this may allow:

• Precision fat removal
• Direct visualization of the platysma
• Platysma tightening
• Corset platysmaplasty
• Selected deep-fat removal
• Improvement of the chin-neck angle

This is fundamentally different from RF tightening.

Limited-incision neck surgery plus an energy source for better skin contraction. RF-assisted minimal surgery treatment:  Energy + fat treatment along with muscle repair and skin excision.

Q. Can a Male Neck Lift Be Done Without Incisions Around the Ears?

A. Sometimes. If a man has good skin elasticity and the major problems are beneath the chin—fat, muscle separation, or deep fullness—a submental approach may provide substantial improvement without traditional facelift incisions.

This can be particularly appealing to men with short hair who are concerned about visible scars.

However, there is an anatomical limitation:

An incision beneath the chin cannot eliminate significant loose skin along the sides of the neck.

If substantial skin redundancy or jowling is present, short incisions around the ears or a more comprehensive neck lift may produce a better result.

The smallest scar isn’t necessarily the best option.

Short-Scar Neck Lifts for Men

Some men fall between a submental-only procedure and a traditional facelift.

A limited incision around or behind the ear may allow:

• Lateral platysma tightening
• Modest skin redraping
• Better jawline definition
• Improvement of early jowls

Combining a small incision beneath the chin with limited incisions around the ears can address both the central and lateral neck while avoiding the full extent of a traditional facelift incision in properly selected patients.

Level 4: When a Deep Neck Lift Makes More Sense

Not every heavy neck is caused by superficial fat.

Fullness can also come from structures beneath the platysma, including:

• Deep neck fat
• Digastric muscles
• Submandibular glands

A man can be thin and physically fit yet still have a genetically heavy or poorly defined neck.

In these patients, repeated liposuction or energy treatments may not resolve the actual problem.

A deep-neck procedure can selectively address the deeper anatomy when necessary.

But “deep” does not mean “better.”

If your deep-neck anatomy is normal, there may be no reason to operate on it.

The operation should match the anatomy—not the latest surgical trend.

What About the Chin?

You cannot evaluate the male jawline without evaluating the chin.

A weak or retruded chin can make the neck look heavier and the jawline less masculine.

For selected men, improving chin projection with:

• Fillers
• Fat grafting
• Chin implant

may substantially improve the apparent jaw-neck relationship.

Sometimes the best “neck treatment” actually requires improving the framework above it.

Neck Treatment Based on Your Concerns

If Your Main Concern Is…	Consider Evaluating…
Slightly loose skin	Ultherapy or monopolar RF
Skin texture + early laxity	RF microneedling
Small double chin + tight skin	Precision liposuction
Fat + mild loose skin	Liposuction ± RF-assisted tightening
Weak chin	Chin augmentation ± neck treatment
Visible vertical neck bands	Neuromodulator or platysma repair
Fat + loose platysma	Limited-incision neck lift
Poor neck angle despite being thin	Deep-neck anatomy
Early jowls + loose neck	Short-scar or lower-face/neck lift
Significant loose skin + jowls	Comprehensive face-and-neck lift

Neck Treatment Based on Age

What I Might Consider at 35, 45, 55, and 65; Anatomy matters more than age 

Age	Common Male Concern	Options Worth Evaluating
35	Genetic double chin, early loss of definition	Liposuction, RF/ultrasound, chin evaluation
45	Fuller neck, early jowls, mild laxity	Liposuction ± FaceTite; selected limited-incision repair
55	Platysma laxity, jowls, loose skin	Limited-incision neck lift or surgical lower-face/neck lift
65	Significant skin and structural aging	Comprehensive face/neck lift ± deep-neck treatment

A fit 40-year-old may need structural surgery because of genetics, while a 60-year-old with excellent skin and minimal laxity may need very little.

Treat the neck—not the birthday.

How Do You Keep a Male Neck Lift Looking Natural?

This is one of the most important questions men ask.

A. A natural male result depends on restraint and anatomy.

My priorities include:

• Preserve masculine facial proportions
• Define rather than over-tighten
• Avoid excessive fat removal
• Do not create an unnaturally sharp or hollow neck
• Keep scars as inconspicuous as anatomy allows
• Preserve sideburn and hairline relationships when incisions are necessary
• Avoid an obviously pulled or operated appearance

What About Recovery?

A. Men frequently put recovery near the top of their priorities.

The general tradeoff is:

Less invasive treatment = quicker recovery but usually less correction.

More structural correction = greater improvement but usually more recovery.

For the appropriate patient:

• Noninvasive treatments may require little or no social downtime.
• RF microneedling generally involves temporary redness and swelling.
• Liposuction and RF-assisted procedures generally involve more swelling and bruising and may require compression.
• Limited-incision surgery usually requires a longer recovery but can produce a substantially greater structural change.
• Comprehensive neck lifting generally requires the most recovery.

The goal is the shortest reasonable recovery for the result you actually need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Male Neck and Jawline Treatments

What is the best neck and jawline treatment for men?

There is no single best procedure. The right treatment depends on what is actually causing the loss of definition—skin laxity, superficial fat, platysma muscle laxity, jowls, a weak chin, or deeper neck structures.

The goal is to choose the least invasive treatment that can predictably correct the problem.

What is the best nonsurgical jawline treatment for men?

For mild skin laxity, treatments such as microfocused ultrasound or radiofrequency may provide modest tightening. RF microneedling may also improve skin quality and early laxity.

However, nonsurgical treatments cannot remove significant loose skin or directly repair a separated platysma muscle.

What is the quickest way to get rid of a double chin in men?

If the fullness is mainly superficial fat and the skin has good elasticity, precision neck liposuction can significantly improve it with minimal-access incisions.

But not every double chin is caused by superficial fat. A weak chin, deep fat, muscle anatomy, or prominent submandibular glands may also contribute.

Can neck liposuction give me a stronger jawline?

Yes—when excess superficial fat is hiding an otherwise good jawline.

Liposuction can uncover the natural mandibular border and improve the angle between the chin and neck. It cannot completely correct a weak chin, significant jowls, loose platysma, or substantial excess skin.

What is the difference between FaceTite and neck liposuction?

Liposuction primarily removes fat.

FaceTite combines fat removal with RF-assisted tissue heating and contraction.

A man with good skin elasticity and isolated fat may need only liposuction. Someone with fat plus early skin laxity may benefit from an RF-assisted approach.

Neither procedure provides the same direct muscle repair as a surgical platysmaplasty.

Is Morpheus8 a nonsurgical neck lift?

Not really. Morpheus8 is better described as a minimally invasive RF microneedling treatment.

It can improve skin texture, collagen remodeling, and mild laxity, but it cannot surgically tighten the platysma or remove substantial excess skin.

The FDA issued a 2025 safety communication regarding certain uses of RF microneedling after reports of complications including burns, scarring, unwanted fat loss, and nerve damage. Treatment depth, energy, and patient selection therefore matter. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Can Botox improve a man’s neck and jawline?

Neuromodulators can soften prominent vertical platysma bands and reduce some downward muscular pull along the jawline.

They do not remove fat or loose skin and should not be confused with a surgical neck lift.

Can I improve my jawline without having a facelift?

Frequently, yes.

Depending on your anatomy, options may include:

• Chin augmentation
• Precision neck liposuction
• RF or ultrasound tightening
• RF microneedling
• FaceTite-type RF-assisted treatment
• Neuromodulators for platysma bands
• Limited-incision neck surgery

A facelift becomes more relevant when jowling and lower-face descent are major parts of the problem.

Can a male neck lift be performed through only a small incision under the chin?

In selected men, yes.

A concealed submental incision may allow the surgeon to remove fat, directly visualize the platysma, and perform central muscle repair.

This can be especially attractive to men with short hair who want to avoid longer incisions around the ears.

However, substantial loose skin along the sides of the neck cannot simply be made to disappear through an incision beneath the chin.

Will I have visible scars?

That depends on the procedure.

Liposuction and RF-assisted treatments generally use tiny access points. A limited-incision neck lift may use an incision hidden beneath the chin and sometimes short incisions around or behind the ears.

More extensive skin laxity may require longer incisions to obtain a natural result.

For men—particularly those with short hair—scar placement and hairline preservation should be part of the surgical plan from the beginning.

How long is recovery after a male neck or jawline procedure?

Recovery depends on how much correction is required.

• Noninvasive treatments: often little social downtime
• RF microneedling: usually temporary redness and swelling
• Liposuction/RF-assisted contouring: swelling and bruising are common; compression may be recommended
• Limited-incision neck lift: generally more recovery, but also greater structural correction
• Comprehensive face/neck lift: typically the longest recovery

Rather than promising a specific number of days, I prefer to determine the shortest reasonable recovery for the result the patient actually needs.

How do you keep a male neck lift looking natural?

Male neck surgery should preserve masculine anatomy.

Important principles include:

• Avoid excessive skin tension
• Avoid over-removing facial and neck fat
• Maintain natural jaw and chin proportions
• Preserve normal sideburn and hairline relationships
• Create definition without making the neck unnaturally hollow
• Correct only the structures that actually need correction

A good result should make you look leaner, sharper, and better defined—not operated on.

Will people know I had a neck lift?

Ideally, they should notice the improvement, not the operation.

Friends or coworkers may think you lost weight, started exercising, or simply look better rested.

For many male patients, discretion is part of the desired result.

What is a deep neck lift, and do men need one?

A deep-neck procedure addresses selected structures beneath the platysma, potentially including:

• Deep neck fat
• Digastric muscles
• Submandibular glands

Some men have a genetically heavy neck despite being thin and physically fit. In these patients, superficial liposuction alone may not correct the underlying anatomy.

But deep does not automatically mean better. If the deeper structures are normal, there may be no reason to operate on them.

Can nonsurgical treatments now make a future neck lift more difficult?

Potentially.

A 2026 Aesthetic Surgery Journal study reviewed 180 neck lifts and reported fibrosis, altered tissue planes, platysma/deep-fascia rigidity, and unpredictable fat distribution among some patients who had undergone previous neck treatments.

The Naked Truth for Men Who Want a Necklift:

Most men do not want to look different. They want to look sharper, healthier, and more defined. A successful male neck and jawline treatment should therefore accomplish three things:

• Correct the anatomical problem
• Preserve a natural masculine appearance
• Use the least invasive procedure capable of producing a worthwhile result

The goal is the easiest procedure that can reliably produce the result you want.

For men seeking a strong jawline and cleaner neck while still looking completely like themselves, that is the Naked Truth.

References

O’Daniel, T.G. and Patton, S. (2026) ‘Neck lift after nonsurgical treatments: fibrosis, fat loss, and surgical complexity’, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 46(4), pp. 372–383. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaf149.

Remy, K., DePamphilis, M.A., Buta, M.R., Vicente, K.A., Vyas, K., Manstein, D. and Carruthers, K.H. (2025) ‘Core innovations in skin rejuvenation: A systematic review of microcoring technology’, Dermatologic Surgery, 51(7), pp. 696–701. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000004623.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2025) ‘Potential risks with certain uses of radiofrequency (RF) microneedling – FDA Safety Communication’, 15 October 2025.

American Academy of Dermatology (2025) ‘Statement on the FDA safety briefing about radiofrequency microneedling risks’, 16 October 2025.

O’Daniel, T.G. (2021) ‘Optimizing outcomes in neck lift surgery’, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41, pp. 871–892. doi:10.1093/asj/sjab056.

Brobst, R.W., Ferguson, M. and Perkins, S.W. (2014) ‘Noninvasive treatment of the neck’, Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 22, pp. 191–202. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2014.01.011.

Hogan, S., Kandula, P., Callaghan, D.J. and Dover, J.S. (2019) ‘Submental fat contouring’, Advances in Cosmetic Surgery, 2, pp. 75–87. doi:10.1016/j.yacs.2019.02.004.

Teller, C.F., Chiu, A., Chesnut, C.D. et al. (2021) ‘Best clinical practices with ATX-101 for submental fat reduction: Patient-related factors and physician considerations’, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 9, e3668. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000003668.

Horowitz, J. (2026).Blog: Neck Lifts: Best Choices in 2026 “The Naked Truth About Nonsurgical and Minimal-Incision Neck Lifts”; September 2026. Available at Plastic Surgeon Newport Beach | https://www.HorowitzMD.com (Accessed: 9/15/2026)

About Dr. Jed Horowitz

Dr. Jed Horowitz is a board-certified plastic surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons specializing in aesthetic plastic surgery, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, and post-weight-loss reconstruction. He practices at Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery and BioSpa Medical Spa in Newport Beach, California, where he helps patients achieve natural-looking results through a combination of surgical expertise, regenerative medicine, and advanced aesthetic technologies.

His philosophy emphasizes individualized treatment plans, patient education, and achieving results that appear natural rather than operated upon.

Neck Lifts: Best Choices in 2026

Medical Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational purposes and does not constitute individual medical advice. The appropriate treatment for a man’s neck or jawline depends on anatomy, skin quality, medical history, previous treatments, and personal goals. A qualified physician or board-certified plastic surgeon must perform an in-person examination to determine appropriate treatment options and expected recovery.