Neck Lift Without Surgery - How Does it Work?

The face is not the only area of the body that is subject to the aging process. The skin on the neck can start to show signs of aging such as sagging skin and wrinkles. In the past, a neck lift was considered to be the best method to rejuvenate the look of the neck, but many patients were not fans of the idea of having to undergo surgery on the neck to address loose skin located either on the neck or under the chin. In this article, improving the look of the neck by having a nonsurgical neck lift will be discussed and this includes the benefits of the medical options available to patients.

Nonsurgical Neck Lift – Benefits Revealed

While a surgical neck lift is considered to be the “gold standard” of addressing neck issues such as loose skin, excess skin, and bands on the neck, there are also changes that can be made by having a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure.

While a minimally invasive treatment cannot provide the same dramatic results as a surgical procedure, a nonsurgical choice can improve the contour of the neck and reduce the amount of wrinkles and neck folds that are visible to others. Plus, the skin can gain an improved look to its tone and texture.

A nonsurgical neck lift involves a quicker recovery time that can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The side effects and complications are not as extensive as a surgical neck lift, and they include swelling, redness, tenderness, and skin irritation. This neck lift option also takes less time to perform than a surgical procedure.

Nonsurgical Neck Lift – Options for Patients

One of the most common and popular nonsurgical neck lift options is the placement of Botox in the treated area. While Botox is considered to be an off-label option for the neck, many dermatologists inject Botox along the neck and the vertical neck bands. The injections work to limit muscle movement on the neck so there is a reduction in the amount of downward pulling of the neck muscle. The placement of Botox requires little, or no, downtime but the patient will need to have follow-up treatments on a regular basis to maintain the results.

Kybella addresses fat that has accumulated in the upper neck and under the chin. If the amount of fat is mild in size and amount, Kybella can be injected in order to break down fat cells and metabolize them. The recovery time does not take long but the patient will likely experience some redness or swelling at the injection site. It might take multiple procedures to gain the desired results, but the final results are permanent.

There are multiple fillers that can be used to treat the neck and they include choices such as Juvederm, Sculptra, and Radiesse. These fillers are able to reduce the look of wrinkles on the neck and also restore any volume that has been lost due to the aging process. Like Botox, fillers are sometimes used as an off-label treatment option to promote the production of collagen in the treated area and give the jawline an improved amount of definition. Fillers do not provide permanent results so patients will need to have an ongoing series of treatments to maintain their results.

Another popular treatment option combines radiofrequency energy with microneedling to promote collagen and elastin (a protein found in the dermis of the skin). The doctor places short and fine needles in the skin to rejuvenate the treated area. Microneedling is able to resurface the superficial layer of skin while also enhancing the effects of skin tightening that result from the radiofrequency energy. The combination of these two procedures allows doctors to treat a wider range of patients with various levels of skin laxity. The results from this treatment can last for multiple months but the results are not permanent.

Ultherapy is a procedure that uses ultrasound to penetrate the skin so the subcutaneous layer of the neck and chin can be treated. Ultherapy is able to stimulate collagen production which results in a more youthful look to the skin on the neck and chin. Since the ultrasound energy is able to bypass the surface of the skin, the medical professional is able to target the skin at the right depths to lift and support the deeper layers of the skin. There is usually no downtime, but the skin can look red after the treatment. In addition, the results of Ultherapy can last up to a year.

Neck Lift Without Surgery – Discuss Your Options with a Doctor

As mentioned earlier, a nonsurgical neck lift is not able to provide the same dramatic results as a surgical neck lift. However, it is a good option for a person who does not want to have an invasive surgical procedure.

Patients who are interested in a nonsurgical neck lift should discuss the type of results they hope to achieve with a doctor who is trained and experienced in treating signs of aging on the neck. The doctor can examine the current condition of the skin on the neck to determine if a nonsurgical neck lift is the best treatment option for the patient.

- MA