Neck Botox
What Is It?
At the front of the neck there is a thin, broad muscle called the platysma. With age this muscle can become tight. As it contracts, it shows up as vertical bands on the neck; we call these platysmal bands. The same muscle also pulls the jawline downward.
Neck Botox temporarily reduces the overactivity of this muscle. Once the muscle releases its pull, two things happen. The bands relax and the neck looks smoother. The downward pull on the jawline eases as well. The approach known as the “Nefertiti lift” rests on this second effect, the reduction of the force pulling down. No volume is added to the neck.
How Is It Done?
First I need to see the muscle. I ask you to tense your neck muscles. I look at where the bands run, how prominent they are, whether the two sides differ and what the skin quality is like. The appearance of a neck can have more than one cause. If it comes mainly from loose skin or fat tissue, Botox will not meet the expectation, and I say so at the outset.
We mark points along the prominent bands. With a fine needle we place small amounts into the muscle. The muscles involved in swallowing and holding up the head lie right next to this area. So we set dose and depth carefully and respect the boundaries. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and needs no anaesthesia.
Who Is It For?
Suitable for people who don’t want surgery, who have vertical bands on the neck that stand out when they tense it, and who describe a downward pull along the jawline. If skin quality is preserved, the result shows more clearly.
If the appearance comes mainly from excess skin or fat tissue, it will not meet expectations. We don’t recommend it for people with cervical disc herniation or loss of cervical curvature. We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, people with neuromuscular disease, people who report difficulty swallowing, anyone with active infection at the site, or anyone with a known allergy to the toxin. I ask about your medication at the consultation.
Process & Recovery
Muscle analysis
While your neck muscles are tensed, we look at the line and prominence of the bands, the difference between the two sides and skin quality. We work out whether the appearance comes from muscle, skin or fat. We take photographs for the record.
Treatment day
We mark points along the bands and place small amounts into the muscle with a fine needle. It takes about 15 minutes and needs no anaesthesia.
First 24 hours
The injection points may be tender for a short while. The rules for the first day are in the “Aftercare Notes” section of this page. Their aim is to keep the product from spreading beyond the planned muscle.
Days 3-7
The effect begins and settles in gradually. This is usually when you notice the bands fading. We don’t assess the result until the process is complete.
Week 2 review
Once the effect has settled, we check it at a review. We assess symmetry and add a small top-up dose if needed.
Results & Duration
On the neck the effect follows a timeline similar to Botox on the face. It starts in the first days and settles by the end of the second week. The clearest change you will see is that the bands fade. Change along the jawline can be more limited, depending on the person.
It is not permanent. The signal to the muscle gradually returns and the effect fades on average within 4-6 months. Duration varies with muscle structure, dose and metabolism. To keep the effect, it needs renewing at regular intervals.
What Is Not Promised
Neck Botox is not a neck lift. It does not gather sagging skin or dissolve fat under the chin. Nor does it erase the horizontal lines across the neck, the so-called necklace lines. It has no effect on skin quality or on surface problems such as pigmentation.
We don’t promise a particular neck appearance, dose or duration. If the appearance isn’t coming from muscle, I don’t recommend this treatment. In that case we discuss a different approach at the consultation.
Key Benefits
- Tight neck tissue
- Sharp neck contour
- Young appearance
“With age, tight platysmal bands can appear on the neck. A simple Botox treatment relaxes them and the neck looks smoother. If skin or fat is causing the appearance, though, Botox won’t gather that tissue.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Neck Botox do?
It temporarily reduces overactivity of the platysma muscle. The vertical bands on the neck relax, and the downward pull on the jawline eases too.
When does it start working?
You notice it within the first 3 days, and it settles fully in two weeks. We assess the result in the second week.
How long does it last?
On average 4-6 months. It varies from person to person with muscle structure, dose and metabolism.
I have a cervical disc problem — can I have it?
Usually not. We don’t recommend this treatment for people with cervical disc herniation or loss of cervical curvature. I ask about this specifically at the consultation.
Will it affect my swallowing?
We set dose and depth carefully so that it doesn’t. We respect the boundaries so the product does not reach the neighbouring muscles. We don’t treat people who report difficulty swallowing.
Will it tighten my sagging neck skin?
No. It does not gather excess skin or dissolve fat tissue. If the appearance isn’t coming from muscle, we discuss a different approach.
Will it remove my necklace lines?
No. The horizontal lines across the neck are a separate problem and this treatment won’t erase them. They need a separate plan.
Who is it not suitable for?
We don’t recommend it in cervical disc herniation or loss of cervical curvature. We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in neuromuscular disease, with difficulty swallowing, with active infection at the site, or with a known allergy to the toxin.