Let’s talk about neck rejuvenation. The neck is one of the most common patient complaints. More often than not, the neck has been an area of neglect as far as skin care and treatments go. Juxtaposed to a well maintained and rejuvenated face, the contrast between the neck and face can be pronounced.
Of course, there is no single recipe to treat an aging neck. The recipe must be personalized based on what needs to be addressed.
General Checklist for Neck Rejuvenation
- Laxity – degree of skin sagging + creasing
- Volume Loss – loss of collagen + elasticity + hyaluronic acid
- Vertical Bands – aka Platysma Bands – vertical bands and wrinkles
- Double Chin, Cervicomental Angle, Chin Balance – all directly related to transition between face + neck.
- Pigment issues – degree of sun damage
- Textural issues – degree of sun damage and general aging
Non-Surgical Treatments for Neck Rejuvenation
Botox Neck Lift (Nefertiti Lift)
Botox works to flatten the vertical platysma muscles in the neck, lifting and smoothing skin in the process. Straining and stretching these muscles over the years cause them to detach and loosen. The edges of these platysma muscles protrude and appear as vertical bands from the chin to collarbone.
Kybella + truSculpt 3D
Eliminating fat below the chin and along the jawline (Jowlbella) can be life changing for many, especially for those with a sharp cervicomental angle that has been masked behind a fat pad.
Also, unlike traditional liposuction or fat freezing (cryo) lipolysis, there is skin retraction and tightening with Kybella and truSculpt 3D.
Kybella is an injectable that destroys fat cells. It is made of deoxycholic acid, the same bile acid that breaks down fat in our stomachs. When injected, the acid dissolves the membrane around the fat cells. These cells empty their lubricious content. This fatty liquid works its way naturally through the lymphatic system until it is forever expelled.
There is potential downtime with Kybella with degrees of swelling and possible bruising. Embrace the swelling! The more robust the swelling, the more fat cells are destroyed with the treatment. The swelling will resolve in a week or two to pre-treatment size. The end result of each Kybella session may take 2-3 months.
truSculpt 3D uses RF energy (heat) to permanently shrink fat pads by an average 25%-33% and tighten skin. At 41°C, fat cells cannot survive. Reaching higher temperatures allows us to shrink fat pads even more than the average reduction. Because truSculpt is not container dependent as is fat freezing lipolysis treatments, the transition between treated and non-treated areas with truSculpt is even and smooth. Also, a by-product of RF energy is skin tightening and contouring! Smooth, even, tight and contoured is undeniably the desired outcome for the neck and jawline.
Dermal Fillers
Sculptra and Bellafill are bio activators that work to fill necklace lines and help smooth skin.
Secret RF, SkinPen + TCA, Pixel Laser
For texture and tightening, Secret RF, SkinPen with TCA and Pixel Laser are the most effective non-surgical treatments. These treatments may be alternated for enhanced results, and are appropriate for all skin types.
These treatments penetrate beyond the skin’s epidermis, triggering skin’s own wound healing abilities to upregulate collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production. The result is increased dermal density, smoother texture and tighter skin.
Secret RF combines microneedling with radiofrequency (RF). The ultra-fine needles work as conduits for RF, taking this energy deep into the subdermis where collagen and elastin are produced. RF energy at these depths induces collagen and elastin to produce at mach rates, tightening skin and smoothing fine wrinkles. A minimum of two treatments is recommended.
SkinPen + TCA combines microneedling with tricetachloric acid (TCA). The ultrafine needles of SkinPen create microchannels to deliver TCA into skin to tighten skin, soften texture and help with pigment issues. Skin with TCA also helps to increase skin density. A minimum of 3 treatments is recommended.
Pixel Laser Resurfacing is a fractionated laser that vaporizes microscopic tunnels into skin. These micro-tunnels are surrounded by non-treated skin to reduce downtime and speed the healing process. Each Pixel treats approximately 20% – 30% of the entire skin surface. Alternating Pixel Laser with Secret RF enhances results. Appropriate for all skin types.
Excel V or IPL
To treat varying degrees of photo damage (sun damage) – age spots, freckles, broken capillaries, general redness and general hyperpigmentation – Excel V and IPL are the go-to treatments. These therapies also can treat a noticeable pigmented skin disorder on the neck caused by chronic, long term sun exposure called Poikiloderma of Civatte.
There is a major difference between the two devices. Excel V is a laser, and IPL is a pulsed light device. Excel V can be used to treat pigment and vascular issues on almost all skin types. IPL only can be performed on fair and pinkish skin types. The number of treatments vary with both devices depending on conditions being treated and skin types.
Chemical Peels
The key to as perfect as possible skin may be chemical peels. While chemical peels may not be effective treatment options for skin laxity, chemical peels will help maintain and finesse results of other procedures and will keep skin healthy and luminous.
Revision Nectifirm Advanced
Nectifirm Advanced is the must-have product for the neck. Nectifirm is an award winning patented blend of vitamins, peptides, ceramides, glucosamine and algae extract. Clinical studies show Nectifirm smooths, firms and tightens the neck. Your neck deserves it.
Read FAQ about the neck on our blog.
