They say the hands are the first place to see signs of aging, but we beg to differ. Oftentimes, early signs of aging appear right below the face. On our necks! Whether it’s tech neck or loose neck bands (Platysma bands), an aging neck is something that we want to treat along with the rest of the face. Luckily, there are many ways to do this!
Because the skin on our neck is significantly thinner than that of our face, the neck can experience a significant decrease in collagen before we even think to start fighting signs of aging. This loss of collagen can create visibly saggy necklines, saggy skin, the dreaded double chin, and the awful turkey neck that we all hope to avoid. This is where The Spiegel Center enters the chat. Here are a few ways to treat sagging neck bands, straight from the doctors of TSC:
Botulinum aka Botox
We know what you may be thinking… Isn’t Botox for treating wrinkles? The answer is yes, but it also does so much more. If you have early banding, botulinum (Botox) can be the answer. A few quick injections will soften those lines and restore a smooth neck. Here, we relax the muscles so that the vertical tension lines and wrinkles are less sharp and defined. Relaxed and undefined muscles are good for neck bands and forehead lines but, don’t worry, we won’t be putting this in your biceps. To achieve this we apply a medication (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, or Juveau) to smooth out these lines through fine needle injections. It’s easy, quick, and effective and has little to no downtime. Not only will Botox help relax the neckbands, but it will also help prevent any necklines from deepening. Botox for the neck is one of our most commonly requested procedures and one that we suggest as a great first step in treating an aging neck.
Repositioning the Muscle
Another great non-surgical option for getting rid of sagging platysma bands is repositioning the muscles. This is a relatively non-invasive procedure that is done right in our offices in Newton (just outside of Boston), Massachusetts. No operating room needed! We go in with a small incision under the chin, sew the muscle back together, make some repositioning stitches, and make it so you have that perfect jawline. While an incision is made, this is considered non-surgical because no anesthesia is needed other than local numbing. We also may prescribe a relaxing medication to ensure patients are comfortable throughout the entire procedure
Neck Lift
While botulinum can smooth necklines temporarily and repositioning the neck muscles can snatch the muscles back for a smoother look, a neck lift may be a great option for those who also have excess skin that are looking for something more permanent. A neck lift will do more than tighten loose bands. It will also create a smooth, defined jawline that one may be missing if a significant amount of loose skin is present. During a Neck Lift, a well-hidden incision is made along the bottom of the ear and up into the hairline behind the ear. This is shorter than the incision a facelift requires and camouflages beautifully into the natural crease of the ear and head. In most cases, a neck lift is performed in the operating room using monitored sedation (“MAC”) or general anesthesia. However, in some cases, we can perform the procedure in one of our office procedure rooms using local anesthesia. This is a good option for someone who has some fullness or excess skin in the neck and loose neck bands, but is otherwise happy with their face.
Never let a sagging neck or loose neckbands keep you from fully enjoying the beauty of life! With so many options out there, all that stands in the way is picking up the phone. There is no better time than now!
