Specifically, BOTOX® improves the contour of the neck by relaxing the muscle bands on the sides of the neck. Known as platysmal bands, these cords stretch from your collarbone to your jawline. They tend to stick out more due to aging, weight fluctuations, and working out excessively.
The Procedure
During this procedure Botox® injections are used to tighten and redefine the jawline and provide a lift to the neck area. Small doses of Botox® are injected into the lower jaw and down the side of the neck along the lateral neck muscles.
Botox Neck Lift
But did you know that Botox can also help with neck rejuvenation? When Botox is injected into the platysmal bands of the neck, it tightens the lax muscles. This smooths the skin, providing a more youthful look. Results from a Botox neck lift can last up to 4 months, providing long-term anti-aging.
Neck (platysmal) bands: 25-50 units.
When injected into the vertical bands of the neck, Botox can relax the dynamic muscles, making them less prominent, and resulting in a smoother, younger looking neck. The results can generally last 4-6 months. The procedure, as with any Botox treatment, can be repeated when the results begin to wear off.
Common side effects may include muscle weakness near the injection site, difficulty swallowing, muscle stiffness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, among others. You may also notice bruising, swelling, or redness at the injection site. As with any time the skin is pierced by an injection, there is a chance for infection.
The needles used for BOTOX® injections are very fine, but you may experience some pain, swelling, and other reactions at the injection sites. The most common side effects of BOTOX® include difficulty swallowing, upper respiratory infection, neck pain, and headache.
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neurological disease shouldn't use Botox. Because Botox doesn't work for all wrinkles, check with a doctor first.
The platysmal bands of the neck and D.A.O. muscle of the jawline are what is targeted during this procedure. When Botox is injected into these, you will notice that your jawline is essentially pulled up, as are the corners of your mouth.
There is no definite age when you should start BOTOX®—it's more about the state of your skin, and everyone's timeline is different. For wrinkle treatments, it's best to start when you notice forehead lines, frown lines, or crow's feet even when your expression is neutral.
Will it cause you to look older? From a medical point of view, once the effects of Botox wear off, your face will NOT look older. Actually the opposite happens with certainty. Botox injections help you get rid of some of the unwanted wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, chin etc….
Compared to Botox, dermal fillers are just as effective. More importantly, the results last longer. However, the duration of the effects of dermal fillers still varies mostly on the type of filler. Some may last as long as Botox, while other types of fillers can last for more than a year.
Botox reduces sagging jowls by tightening and lifting the jaw area. This pulls back the excess sagging skin that creates jowls in the first place.