We tend to devote plenty of attention to the face and considerably less to the neck until vertical cords or bands become visible between the jaw and collarbone when you speak, smile, or tighten your neck. These are called platysma bands, and they develop as the thin platysma muscle covering the neck becomes increasingly prominent with age.
BOTOX is an FDA-approved option that can be injected into select areas of this muscle to temporarily soften these vertical bands connecting the neck and jaw. Treatment may also reduce some of the downward pull from these muscles, which can affect jawline definition.
Patients should understand what neck BOTOX does and doesn’t do. It treats prominent muscle bands, but it does not remove neck fat, eliminate significant loose skin, or replace a surgical neck lift.
Is Neck BOTOX a Serious Place for Injections?
It is. The neck has muscles and structures involved in movement, speaking, and swallowing and, as such, is not an area where injections should be performed casually. To that end, an expert injector should create a thoughtful treatment plan to reduce the muscular activity creating the visible bands without affecting function, ensuring a safe and pleasing result.
Our first step is to determine whether the platysma muscle is responsible for your concerns. Horizontal neck lines, loose skin, fullness beneath the chin, and vertical muscle bands are all different concerns and will not respond to the same treatment.
For example, if your primary concern is skin texture or laxity rather than active muscle bands, another treatment—such as Morpheus8—or a combination approach may be a good option.
Benefits of Neck BOTOX
For properly selected patients, treatment may:
- Soften vertical platysma bands.
- Smooth the transition between the jawline and neck.
- Reduce downward muscle pull along portions of the lower face.
- Make the jawline appear more refined.
- Require little interruption to normal activities.
- Offer results that can be adjusted with future treatments.
Most patients see improvement within the first several days, with full results at approximately two weeks. Depending on the patient, results can last between 3 and 6 months. As with all BOTOX injections, regular treatment is required to maintain results.
Who Is an Ideal Patient?
You may be a good candidate if you expect to treat muscle banding and you are comfortable returning to the office every several months to maintain your results. Neck BOTOX may not be right if your concern is primarily skin laxity, prominent horizontal lines, a double chin, or structural changes.
BOTOX may also be contraindicated in patients with an infection in the treatment area, sensitivity to botulinum toxin, or certain neuromuscular conditions. Any history of swallowing problems, neck weakness, breathing difficulties, or previous neck surgery should be discussed with our team.
Risks and Considerations
Possible temporary effects include redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising, headache, neck discomfort, or asymmetry. Rarely, some patients may experience unexpected weakness in a nearby muscle.
Because the platysma is close to muscles involved in swallowing and speech, improper placement or excessive treatment can potentially cause difficulty swallowing, changes in the voice, neck weakness, or an unnatural smile.
That is why we evaluate the area before injections and set goals to maximize safety and results.
Next Steps
Aging is normal, as are platysma bands (and the desire to make them less visible too). You are not committing to a permanently altered neck. You are choosing a temporary treatment that could help your appearance match how you see yourself.
Samantha Werkheiser, MSPA, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant with previous dermatology experience, performs Neck BOTOX at Aayla. Samantha will examine your neck both at rest and during movement to determine whether platysma treatment is appropriate and whether BOTOX, Morpheus8 for the face, or a combination of therapies is best for your concerns.