A number of noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures promise improved neck contours: BOTOX® Cosmetic, KYBELLA®, liposuction, laser treatments, ultrasound energy treatments such as Ultherapy®, and the list goes on and on. Each procedure has unique benefits, and at my plastic surgery practice in Los Angeles, I can help determine if a nonsurgical treatment option is right for you.
Even though these procedures are effective for the correct patients, I’ll explain in this blog post why only a surgical neck lift can address certain conditions. The neck is an area that often reveals signs of aging earlier than other facial features and is a spot where fat tends to accumulate. Men and women alike commonly say their necks are the feature they would most like to change.
So, it’s understandable that several treatment alternatives are available to address those concerns. But few patients understand why a nonsurgical neck lift can’t accomplish their cosmetic goals.
Nonsurgical Treatment Options
I recommend the best treatment option for a particular patient—whether nonsurgical or surgical—based on the patient’s concerns and a physical examination. In some cases, combining different treatments may be the best path. Here’s a brief look at each of the nonsurgical options and what they can accomplish:
BOTOX: Most people associate BOTOX injections with reducing wrinkles around the eyes and on the forehead, but it’s also an effective treatment alternative for neck bands (vertical platysma muscles). These bands begin to show more prominently as we age, and BOTOX can create a more youthful-looking neck.
KYBELLA: This injectable treatment, which came on the market in 2015, reduces the appearance of a double chin. Double chins are one of the most common aesthetic concerns of both women and men and can develop even in younger patients. A series of KYBELLA treatment sessions can create a more well-defined chin.
Ultherapy: We believe Ultherapy is the best energy-based treatment for improving the neck’s appearance. It’s the only treatment cleared by the FDA for non-invasively lifting the skin. It delivers ultrasound energy deep into the skin with precision and stimulates the production of collagen, which is an essential component of tight, smooth skin. You can see the results we’ve achieved with actual patients in our gallery of before-and-after photos.
Fractional laser skin resurfacing: We use the ablative fractional CO2 laser, which can tighten loose neck skin and minimize the appearance of creases, wrinkles, and lines. Even though it’s a nonsurgical procedure, laser skin resurfacing targeting the neck typically requires at least 2 or 3 days of downtime.
Neck Lift Surgery
Women and men with very lax skin or jowls typically won’t benefit from a nonsurgical approach. Neck lift surgery is a very effective way to tighten the skin in a way that looks natural when an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon performs it. It’s often combined with a facelift at our Los Angeles practice to address the cheeks and midface in addition to the neck. I can also combine the procedure with liposuction to reduce neck fat or use laser skin resurfacing to minimize the appearance of sun damage or other signs of aging.
The best way to learn what treatment approach is best for you is to contact our office and request a consultation using the online form or call us at (310) 300-1779. Take a look at our before-and-after photos to see the results of neck lift surgery.
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