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It’s funny how we notice the signs of aging on our faces. It starts from the upper face with wrinkles on the forehead. And it moves down a bit to the crow’s feet and then further down to smile lines and so on. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. But thankfully, we have Botox to smooth out those wrinkles all the way down. Moving a little lower, neck Botox offers the same benefits of smoothing out the wrinkles and lines on the neck.
If you’ve started to spend an extra minute in front of the mirror trying to find out what the hell is going on with your neck, Botox for neck wrinkles can be the answer. I mean Botox is the answer for pretty much everything these days. I feel like we peaked as a society when we first discovered Botox.
The point is you don’t have to live with those neck lines. I did the research for you, and a little bit for myself now that I’m in my mid-30s. Even though I haven’t tried Botox for neck wrinkles, I’ve been happy with my results from getting Botox for jawline slimming, for treating gummy smile, and for a brow lift for hooded eyes.
If you’re unhappy with how your neck looks and considering getting Botox for neck wrinkles and lines, scroll down to learn everything there is to know about it.
What Causes Neck Lines?
What causes the lines and wrinkles on the neck is actually the platysma muscle (1). The platysma muscle is a broad muscle sheet that rises from the chest up to the sides of the neck. It spreads upwards to the lower face as well, covering the jawline.
As you age, the platysma muscle wears out and the skin around it loses laxity and volume. This muscle becomes prominent in the form of neck bands. These bands are called platysmal bands (2). At first, they only appear when you contract the muscle.
But in time, they become more noticeable even when the muscle is relaxed or when you simply eat or talk. And that’s just annoying! The platysma also pulls the face down and creates the appearance of sagging skin. Like any other facial muscle, it all comes down to aging and hyperactive muscles.
What is Neck Botox?
Neck Botox is the treatment of smoothing out the lines on the neck by injecting Botox into the platysma muscle (3). Botox is injected into this muscle to weaken it. In doing so, Botox targets the muscle that causes the look of bands, resulting in a smoother and tighter-looking neck.
On a side note, in case you’re not familiar with how Botox works, Botox does not tighten or lift the skin; it relaxes the muscles, which results in smooth skin and reduced wrinkles.
And smooth skin gives the illusion of tight skin. When wrinkles are out of the equation, the skin just looks tighter. That’s just how it goes.
Before considering other invasive, and potentially more expensive options, Botox can help a lot with the appearance of these neck lines and bands. Also, when the platysma is relaxed, the horizontal fine lines soften too.
And as the platysma is too weak to pull the face down, the look of the lower face improves as well. Basically, neck Botox is the simplest form of neck rejuvenation.
How Does Neck Botox Work?
During your neck Botox procedure, you contract and relax the platysma muscle multiple times so that your doctor can evaluate the area that needs the injections. When you contract the muscle, the lines are more visible. Your injector then grabs the muscle and injects Botox into it.
As Botox works by weakening the muscles, the motion of the platysma muscle becomes very limited. The relaxed muscle makes the neck look smoother by softening the wrinkles and lines.
Additionally, as there are no more visible bands or involuntary contractions, the neck appears tighter as well. This effect indirectly helps with the appearance of jowls and jawline too, not to be confused with masseter Botox, though.
Below is a before and after picture of a patient of SpaDerma, Chicago, IL. The patient was treated for neck bands using Botox injections. The relaxed platysmal bands also improve the jawline and give the illusion of a lifted neck.
Who is Neck Botox For?
Neck Botox or Botox for platysmal bands is suitable for anyone who wants to get rid of the vertical and horizontal lines appearing on the neck (4). This procedure can also be a preventative treatment (5).
However, it doesn’t look like you’ll see a lot of improvement from it, just like it is with Botox brow lift, if the skin is too saggy. Also, neck Botox injections will not work when there is too much fat in the neck area.
How Long Does It Take to See The Results?
It takes about 5-10 minutes to perform the injections, that’s it. Botox kicks in fully in about 10 days, but it can take up to 2 weeks depending on the person.
How Long Does Neck Botox Last?
Neck Botox lasts about 4-6 months. But a lot of times, this depends on the person as well. For some people, the effects can last as long as 6 months whereas in some cases, it lasts for about 3 months.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The side effects of neck Botox are no different than the side effects of Botox for other areas. The procedure is pain-free, but you might see bruising or swelling for a couple of days after the procedure. This, again, varies from person to person.
Some people don’t experience any bruising or swelling at all. Other than these, you are free to go back to your daily activities right after you leave the clinic.
How Many Treatments Do You Need?
You’re usually called up for a follow-up 7 days after the first injections for evaluation of the results. You and your doctor can then decide if the results are good enough. But most people need 2 treatments per year to maintain the results.
How Much is It?
It depends a lot on the location but the cost for neck Botox is usually between $300 – $500.
What Else Can You Do For Neck Wrinkles?
There are professional treatments as well as at-home skincare you can try to reduce the appearance of neck lines and wrinkles.
For starters, if you want to take matters into your own hands, a good anti-aging neck cream can go a long way to minimize the appearance of neck wrinkles.
Concerning treatments, your injector may try combination therapy. For example, they may offer to inject Botox into the jawline too. That way, you target a broader area and hopefully get more visible results and better satisfaction.
Additionally, dermal fillers are used to treat neck lines too. So your injector may suggest the use of both Botox and fillers for enhanced results.
If you are more worried about sagging skin on the neck, you can consider micro-needling. Micro-needling is a treatment where they use tiny needles to inflict controlled wounds on the skin.
This procedure forces the skin to renew itself rapidly, resulting in collagen production and firmer and tighter skin. There are at-home kits you can try too.
Another treatment is radiofrequency where the deeper layer of the skin is heated up to stimulate collagen growth. This treatment can work on relatively young skin and tighten up the appearance of loose skin.
But still, Botox seems to be the safest, and easiest way to rejuvenate the neck area and give the appearance of a lifted, and tight neck.
Remember that you’ll benefit from Botox only when you get it from a professional. Always consult a certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon for the best and safest results.
Read Next: The Best Anti-Aging Treatments
References:
- Hoerter JE, Patel BC. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Platysma. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545294/
- Brandt, F. S., & Boker, A. (2004). Botulinum toxin for the treatment of neck lines and neck bands. Dermatologic clinics, 22(2), 159–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0733-8635(03)00021-4
- Conor M Sugrue, MCh, MRCS, MB, BCH, BAO, Jack L Kelly, FRCS (Plast), MD, Niall McInerney, FRCS (Plast), MD, Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Mild to Moderate Platysma Bands: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Injection Technique, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 39, Issue 2, February 2019, Pages 201–206, https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjy179
- Lee, J.H., Park, Y.G. & Park, E.S. A Prospective Observational Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Botulinum Toxin in the Horizontal Neck Lines. Aesth Plast Surg 42, 1370–1378 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-018-1160-8
- Jabbour, S. F., Kechichian, E. G., Awaida, C. J., Tomb, R. R., & Nasr, M. W. (2017). Botulinum Toxin for Neck Rejuvenation: Assessing Efficacy and Redefining Patient Selection. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 140(1), 9e–17e. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000003429
