Personal note: This is my experience, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified, board-certified or board-eligible surgeon (and their team) about what’s right for your anatomy, goals, and health.
I started noticing my “turkey neck” in my mid-20s. Little moments, like catching my profile in a mirror, seeing a photo someone else took, watching a video of myself, quietly chipped away at my self-esteem for years before I ever even considered plastic surgery.
No one ever said anything. No one pointed it out. But I saw it. Every time. I tried to ignore it for a long time. I told myself it was weight. Or lighting. Or posture. Or angles. Or just me being overly critical. But deep down, I knew it was the one part of my face that made me feel self-conscious in a way I couldn’t talk myself out of.
And the hardest part? It didn’t matter how healthy I got, how much weight I lost, or how much inner work I did; it never changed.
That’s what eventually led me to a lower facelift and chin implant with Dr. Singh at Amelia Aesthetics. Not because I wanted to look like someone else. But because I wanted to finally feel like the outside matched the way I felt inside.
The moment I realized my “turkey neck” might be genetic.
I remember the exact moment it clicked for me. I was sitting on the couch with my mom, just talking, not even thinking about my face or my body or any of that. And I glanced over at her profile. Her chin sits a little farther back. There’s a softness from the chin into the neck that I’ve always noticed but never really thought about.
And I had this quiet little lightbulb moment like… oh. This is where mine comes from. It wasn’t this dramatic realization. It was actually kind of comforting in a strange way. Like I could finally stop blaming myself. Because for years, I thought it was my fault.
I thought it was weight gain. Or losing weight too fast. Or not being disciplined enough. Or getting older. Or bad posture. Or bad angles in photos. I kept thinking that if I could just lose 10 more pounds, or tighten up a little more, or be more consistent, it would go away.
But sitting there looking at her, I realized it wasn’t just about weight. It wasn’t just about angles. It wasn’t even really about age. It was how I was built. And once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.
I started noticing it more in myself after that, especially in profile, in photos someone else took, in videos where I was looking down and concentrating. It was like this little voice in my head going, “Yep, there it is again.” Not in a way that made me hate myself. But in a way that slowly chipped at my confidence over time.
I think what made it harder was knowing that no amount of dieting or working out was ever going to change the structure of my face. Over a five-year period, I lost anywhere from 14 to 25 pounds and gained the weight back at different times. I got more consistent with movement (I’m a Pilates girl). I did the internal work. I did the lifestyle work.
And still, my chin and neck area didn’t change. That’s when I finally started exploring professional options.
My first steps: Botox…
It was my first time exploring medspa treatments so I didn’t really know what treatments like Botox could and couldn’t do. At my first appointment, I talked through my goals and what I was hoping to change. My nurse injector said submental liposuction would likely be a better treatment for what I was hoping to achieve.
But five years ago, I was not game for that. I had this preconceived notion that plastic surgery was for “older women” or for people who… I don’t know… it just felt scary and extreme. I grew up in the era of bad celebrity plastic surgery, and the idea of doing something that might not “favor me” long-term freaked me out.
So instead, I did what felt safer: non-surgical treatments. I did CoolSculpting and Kybella. Nearly $7,000 later, I still did not get the results I wanted.
Exploring Surgical Options & Choosing the Surgeon for Me
After multiple rounds of treatments and thousands of dollars later with no results, I finally decided it was time to start exploring my surgical options.
The first surgeon I consulted with, I don’t know how to explain it, but I did not like the vibe. And I really believe that matters when you’re choosing your surgeon. If your body is telling you “no,” listen. Needless to say, I kept exploring, both my surgical and non-surgical options.
About a year ago, I started seeing a new injector at a different medspa, and once again, asked for recommendations on what I could do to address my chin and neck. Similar to my last go around, she felt my best route was surgery, and suggested I meet with Dr. Singh, even if it was just a consult.
Despite feeling less than hopeful after my previous experience with the last plastic surgeon, I booked a consultation for submental (double chin) lipo.
Consultation Day Round 2
Dr. Singh walked in and said, “So, liposuction. Talk to me.” I started explaining what I hated about my chin and neck, and near the end, he asked something that instantly made me feel seen: “Who else has that chin in your family?”
I immediately laughed and said, “My mom.”
And honestly? That question made me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect. It wasn’t “You need this” or “Let’s sell you something.” It was like: I understand what I’m looking at, and I understand you.
He basically reaffirmed this is genetic. Which meant, there wasn’t much I was going to be able to do on my own to change it. And the more fat/weight I lost, the more “turkey neck” and excess skin I would have. In short, there just wasn’t enough structural support from chin to neck to create the shape I wanted.
And here’s the part that sealed it for me: He told me he could do liposuction… but I wouldn’t be happy. That kind of honesty made me trust him immediately.
I went in asking for one thing, submental lipo, and walked out realizing I needed something different: a lower facelift (with neck/jowl improvement) and a chin implant.
Figuring Out the Finances
I didn’t book my surgery on the spot, mostly because the cost was higher than I had mentally planned for. I went into the consultation expecting something like $7–8k for lipo. My actual procedure was around $24,000. But, I knew I was going to do it.
Emotionally I had decided that this was what I wanted, and the financial part got easier to solve. I saved and used a mix of cash and credit.
And truthfully? Knowing I was going to get the result I wanted mattered more than the number.
How I Prepped for Surgery
Once I booked, the waiting was the hardest part. I waited about four months, which isn’t long in the grand scheme, but once you learn what’s possible, it’s hard not to want that change immediately.
In the four months leading up to surgery, my prep looked like this:
- Protein: about 1–2 weeks before, I upped my protein with premade protein shakes (two a day)
- Supplements (as recommended): magnesium glycinate + probiotic about a week out; bromelain + arnica three days out
- Two days out: stool softeners/laxatives (because anesthesia + pain meds = you need a plan)
- Movement: I leaned into Pilates and strength, going into surgery I wanted my body as resilient as possible)
- Prehab: I watched the Amelia Health prehab resources to learn how to prepare your body for surgery and got a ton out of it.
Surgery Day + the First 24 Hours
Once you’re in the office, it’s kind of a whirlwind in the best way. There’s no time to spiral. Vitals, markings, you go into the OR, they play your favorite song…
…and then you wake up. I woke up about six hours later with a new chin.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: surgery day was the hardest day.
I woke up wrapped like a Q-tip. Pain was managed, but it’s still painful. I got into the car and immediately started crying, like full sobbing. I think my body was in shock, and it needed the release.
At home, I was still in pain. I reached out and was told to take extra gabapentin (nerve blocker), and that helped a lot. I slept on a wedge pillow the first night. I had drains behind my ears for the first 24 hours (pinned/taped and easy to manage once you get over the “I can’t believe I’m doing this” moment). I emptied them and tracked output.
The next day, I went back into the office. Dr. Singh removed the drains and the head wrap. Honestly, the relief was glorious.
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Healing Isn’t Linear
As relieving as it was to have the head wrap off, that’s when the swelling really started. “With every step forward, there’s a little sidestep, not backwards, but definitely not linear.”
My neck pillow became my best friend. I wore my jaw bra, slept flat with minimal pillow support, and did the best I could to let everything drain and settle.
The left side of my face swelled a lot more than the right. I texted Dr. Singh (yes, he gave me his number so I could reach out directly if I had any questions). He even opened the office on a Sunday to check on the swelling. That kind of aftercare matters more than people realize. Because recovery can really mess with your head.
Around day 9 or 10, I had this huge emotional release. I cried all day. Like Linus from Peanuts with a blanket, just crying. I posted a video saying, “Choose yourself.” And honestly? I think it was important. Your body holds a lot during healing. Letting it out didn’t scare me. It felt necessary.
The “Invisible Middle” Is Real
I’m about 45 days out now. I look normal. I’m back at work. I can wear makeup. People don’t clock that I’m still recovering.
But mentally? There’s a stretch where you look fine and don’t feel like yourself. You can’t work out normally. You’re out of routine. You’re still swollen in places only you notice. And the early “rah rah you’re amazing” energy from people fades… because to them, you’re healed.
That stretch has been the hardest for me. I’m a routine person. Pilates is my thing. It’s a community for me. And being out of that space felt like I was floating.
What I Want Other Women to Hear
I did a lot of mental work for years. I worked on the inside. But I still felt like the outside wasn’t reflecting how I was growing.
This surgery gave me a confidence boost that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it (which is why the Bustmob community is such a game changer before and after surgery). I want to be in pictures now. I’m not running away from cameras. I’m not bracing for the angle that makes me spiral.
And here’s the wild part: a lot of people said, “I didn’t even know you needed that.” Which just proves what we already know: we are so much harsher on ourselves than anyone else is. But it also doesn’t matter.
I didn’t do this for anyone else. I did it because I was tired of hiding. I’m even cutting my hair shorter, a cute little bob. I haven’t had short hair in years. I feel like the outside finally matches the inside, and I’m ready to show up.
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Meghann’s FAQs: Lower Facelift + Chin Implant
What was your biggest reason for doing a lower facelift and chin implant?
I wanted a stronger chin and a smoother neck/jawline contour. I was tired of feeling uncomfortable in photos and videos, especially from side angles.
Am I too young for a facelift?
I’m 41. My insecurity started in my 20s. I used to think facelifts were for older women and looked like the “wind tunnel” stereotype from the 90s and early 2000s. That’s not what this was.
After talking to Dr. Singh, I don’t think the question is “How old are you?”
I think the question is:
- Are you seeing jowling or laxity that bothers you?
- Are you noticing changes that aren’t bouncing back?
- Is it impacting your confidence in a real, daily way?
If yes, it’s worth consulting with someone who specializes in faces.
Dr. Singh even told me that doing the right thing earlier can make future procedures easier if you ever want them, but it doesn’t mean you’re signing up for a lifetime of surgery. It’s just giving yourself support now. To me, it felt like a “preventative” move, like how we think about Botox.
Did you originally want liposuction instead?
Yes. I went in for a lipo consultation. Dr. Singh told me it wouldn’t give me the result I wanted, so we talked through better options for my anatomy.
Where are the scars for a lower facelift?
My incisions are around my ears (in front and behind). There is no incision across the front of my neck.
Where is the chin implant incision?
Right under the chin. It’s in a spot nobody really sees.
Is the chin implant “one size fits all”?
No. Mine was shaped and molded to fit my face. He used the smallest implant and contoured it in a way that felt feminine and natural.
What was the hardest day of recovery?
Once the nerves start waking up, it can feel itchy and tingly (like when your arm falls asleep and comes back to life). That was the most uncomfortable part for me, and it really became more noticeable after stitches came out.
Did you have drains?
Yes, behind my ears for the first 24 hours. They were removed at my next-day follow-up.
What helped most during the first week?
A neck pillow, a solid sleep setup, staying on top of the meds as instructed, and wearing the jaw bra as directed. Also: communicating early if something feels off.
When did stitches come out?
Neck stitches came out around 3–5 days post-op, and everything else around one week post-op.
What do you wish you knew before surgery?
Healing isn’t linear. You’ll have good days and weird days. And the “invisible middle” is real: you can look normal before you feel normal.
What should you look for in a surgeon/consult?
Red flags: feeling pressured to book, being spoken over, feeling intimidated or small.
Green flags: a real conversation, a surgeon who listens, explains “why,” and strong aftercare access.
How much did it cost?
My standard lower facelift and chin implant was over around $24,000, which includes all my appointments, consult, OR/surgeon fees, jaw bra, and anesthesia. I expected way less going in (thinking lipo), but once I understood what I actually needed to get the result I wanted, the cost mattered less than the outcome.
What is a chin implant?
My chin implant was a small piece of material that can be shaped to match your anatomy. Dr. Singh used the smallest one for me and rounded it in a way that felt feminine (he told me men often want more square definition). The point wasn’t a “bigger chin.” It was balance and support.
What is a lower facelift?
A neck lift is just the neck. A lower facelift includes the jowl area too. For me, the incisions were placed around the ears:
- in front of my ear
- and behind my ear (two behind each ear)
There was no incision across the front of my neck. The sutures across my neck were there to tighten/support the muscle, but everything was done with hidden incisions.
He also told me he only removed a tiny amount of skin, like 1–3 millimeters, because you actually need skin to cover the new surface area once things are repositioned. This wasn’t about pulling my face tight. It was about contour and structure.