It’s common to find signs of aging on your face such as wrinkles on your forehead, crow’s feet around your eyes and lines around your mouth. But what about when signs of aging reach your neck too?
The truth about your neck is that it ages just like our face. In fact, you can usually notice age more on the neck than on the face as the skin is more delicate and requires just as much TLC as our face and the rest of our bodies.
Botox treatments are perfect for treating the signs of aging such as the horizontal lines on your neck known as necklace lines and the vertical lines known as platysmal bands.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know to get rid of those neck wrinkles once and for all.
Click the links below to jump to the relevant section:
- What causes neck wrinkles?
- What are the benefits of neck Botox?
- What can neck Botox treat?
- What to expect when getting neck Botox
- How many units of Botox can you get in your neck?
What causes neck wrinkles?
Unfortunately, neck wrinkles are an inevitable part of aging. However, it is the platysma muscle in your neck that causes lines and wrinkles on your face.
The platysma muscle is a broad muscle sheet that covers your chest and stretches up to your lower face. These muscles are most visible as two bands located on both sides of your neck.
As you age, this muscle can become weaker and the skin around it loses its volume which makes the muscle more prominent, forming neck bands. These are called platysmal bands and will only appear when the muscle contracts to begin with. However, over time, they will begin to show even when your face is relaxed. Weakness in this muscle can also start to pull your face down, giving the appearance of sagging skin.
Your neck naturally loses fat and collagen as you age, making the muscles become more visible. It also means lines and wrinkles on your neck start to form and become more visible.
What is neck Botox and how does it work?
Botox is used to relax the muscles underneath your skin which smooths your skin and helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. By relaxing muscles, Botox prevents them from moving which gives the appearance of smooth skin and helps to prevent new lines and wrinkles from forming.
Neck Botox is injected into your platysma muscle to provide a smoother and tighter looking neck. Your aesthetic injector will ask you to contract and relax your platysma muscle to show the line on your neck and so they can see where your injections need to be placed.
There are more invasive procedures available such as a platysmaplasty which can remove loose skin or a neck lift which can make your skin look smoother and tighter. Neck Botox is the quickest and most painless way to achieve the results you’re looking for so we would always recommend trying it before moving on to other more invasive procedures if you’re still not happy with the results.
What are the benefits of neck Botox?
The benefits and results of neck Botox vary from person to person but there are a few benefits to be aware of.
Non-surgical and non-invasive
Botox is a non-surgical procedure that’s quick and relatively painless. It can help you to look younger and smooth the skin on your neck.
It’s quick
The Botox treatment you have will depend on your needs and treatment plan but your appointment should only take around 15-45 minutes which makes it perfect to fit into a busy schedule.
No recovery time
No incisions are made with no sedation or general anaesthetic is required so there’s no need for any recovery time or rest time after. If taking time out from work or your life is an issue, Botox is the perfect solution.
Does neck Botox have any side effects?
The side effects of neck Botox are the same as Botox for any other area of your face. One of the main side effects is swelling or bruising around the injection site. However, not everyone experiences this and you’re free to return to your normal daily activities after your appointment.
What can neck Botox treat?
No doubt you want to know what exactly neck Botox treats. Well, you’ll be glad to know that it’s a very effective treatment for necklace lines (horizontal neck lines) and platysmal bands (horizontal line). However, always make sure you choose a qualified aesthetic injector to inject Botox. Neck Botox requires precision in order to effectively reduce neck bands.
What to expect when getting neck Botox?
After your Botox treatment, you will start to notice your skin becoming smoother and wrinkles and lines reduce in appearance.
The required number of doses of Botox are injected and you’ll feel a slight pinch from the needle but in most cases, you won’t feel anything at all!
You’ll notice the effects of neck Botox ten to fourteen days after the initial treatment. Neck Botox lasts from anywhere between three to five months. However, you should book a follow-up treatment session if neck lines begin to appear again. It’s also worth knowing that you might experience some side effects, such as bruising or swelling. This is perfectly normal for a couple of days after the treatment and should start to fade.
How many units of Botox can you get in your neck?
Tech neck and age-related wrinkles need around twenty to fifty units of Botox. Our aesthetic injectors determine just how much Botox is needed on a case by case basis. We’ve found that these numbers (and anywhere between!) sufficiently relax the platysma muscle.
We recommend you do not drink alcohol at least 24 hours before initial treatments or follow-ups. Similarly, we’ll advise you on what medications, supplements and/or vitamins should not be used before Botox procedures. And of course, since it’s the neck area being treated, we suggest you wear a loose or V-neck shirt.
Okay! That’s everything neck-related for today. If you’d like some more information, feel free to give us a call or book a complimentary consultation today!
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