I didn't want to undergo neck lift surgery from the beginning. To be honest, I had little interest in cosmetic procedures in the past; I just felt that those things were far from me. But here's the thing, I started to notice that I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with my appearance in the mirror. Especially my profile. In the photos, my face looks like you can't really tell where my neck is, and my chin seems flattened, making the overall contour look a bit lifeless. It's not about aging, but rather a kind of "looseness" that is hard to describe.

That day when I saw the photo, I suddenly understood: it was time to take care of it.

I didn't intentionally take any selfies, but during a gathering, a friend took a side profile photo of me. The photo was shared in the group chat, and no one said anything, nor did I say much, but I stared at it for a long time. Why does my face look a bit tired and saggy? I compared the photo with a group picture from a few years ago and realized that it wasn't that I had gained weight, but that the contour lines had really become blurred. I used to have a shadow under my chin, but now it looks like my neck and chin have merged into one, and my whole face has turned into a rounded question mark. This issue wasn't that serious at first, but later it started to affect me: during video meetings, I would subconsciously adjust the angle to make myself look "less puffy"; when going out for photos, I couldn't help but lean my head back a bit and press my lips together, trying to pull the lines. I would delete a few photos before daring to send them to others!

After searching for information, I only feel more anxious.

I originally thought that losing a little weight would improve things. I actually haven't gained weight, but my chin's contour has become increasingly blurred. I looked at a lot of information online, like fat-dissolving injections, ultrasound lifting, and V-face treatments, and the more I looked, the more it felt like I was studying a new subject. Almost all of them said, "Fat is one of the reasons," but it could also be due to loose muscles, a receding bone structure, or genetic factors. To be honest, there was so much information that I didn't know where to start.

Before walking into the consultation room, I had silently struggled for several months.

The final reason I really went to make an appointment for a consultation was because I saw a case on social media: a man with a profile similar to mine had undergone the so-called "swann neck lift surgery," and after the surgery, his jawline was clear, and he looked much more energetic. When I clicked in, I found out that this was a minimally invasive structural adjustment targeting the "neck line": dealing with chin fat, tightening loose neck muscles, and if necessary, slightly augmenting the chin to adjust the skeletal proportions. Compared to the treatments I had researched, this seemed more like a complete solution to the fundamental problem, and it appeared that most cases had a short recovery period, with small incisions and a strong natural feel, which was quite in line with what I wanted. So, I made an appointment with Dr. Liu Zongxian at Enherya Medical Aesthetics.

The doctor said: "You have a very typical mixed type double chin."

As soon as I entered the consultation room, I knew I was in the right place. Dr. Liu didn't use any flashy rhetoric; he simply looked at my side profile objectively and said, "This is not just a simple issue of fat accumulation; it is a combination of skeletal retraction, separation of the neck muscles, and deep fat supporting the jawline." It sounded a bit like there was a structural issue with the body's architecture? But I actually felt relieved because finally someone was stating the specific reasons instead of pushing treatments.

He suggested that I undergo a swan neck lift surgery:

• minimally invasive chin liposuction
• Bilateral neck muscle lift (removing loose muscles)
• Slightly elevate the chin as needed, allowing the chin-neck angle to return to the ideal of around 110 degrees.

The entire swan neck lift surgery will use sedation anesthesia, lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours. After the surgery, wearing a head cap and normal care is sufficient. I thought about it and decided to go ahead. After all, I have accumulated this thought for too long, and I just found the right person and the right method.

The neck lift surgery was not as scary as I imagined.

When I woke up, the neck lift surgery was already completed. The nurse helped me adjust the headgear, which looked a bit like a ninja wearing protective gear. The first day was mainly swollen and tight, somewhat like wearing a very snug scarf, but there was no tearing or unbearable pain; the painkillers were effective. I had to apply ice for the first three days, and on the fourth day, I started switching to warm compresses to help with circulation, while still wearing the headgear. Around the fifth day, the contour lines slowly began to emerge. The original situation of "the face and neck forming a single unit" was gone, replaced by a clean and sharp arc. A friend who came to see me said, "You look slimmer! Your face seems more three-dimensional." But my weight hadn't changed; what changed were the structure and lines.

I feel much more comfortable looking at myself than before.

I didn't suddenly become a star face, but I no longer have to find the right angle when taking photos, nor do I subconsciously pull my neck or tuck in my chin. I can accept myself just by using the original camera, and during meetings, I don't constantly think about adjusting my position to hide the flesh. Even when I go out and take the elevator, seeing myself in the mirror makes me think, "Hey, I look pretty good today." This sense of ease is the most worthwhile change. If you ask me why I had this surgery, I just wanted to stop feeling awkward in front of the camera and dissatisfied with my blurry jawline. I thank Dr. Liu Zongxian for performing a natural and unobtrusive neck lift surgery for me. Now, I feel much more comfortable looking at myself than before!