A harsh reality about getting older is noticing things about yourself and your appearance that you never noticed before. Honing in on different areas of your body you never paid attention to before. Lines of all kinds start to grab your attention. For some men and women, their neck becomes a point of contention. As the skin on the neck ages, it is possible for deep wrinkles to form and for the muscles to become more pronounced. These wrinkles are often referred to as neck lines and neck bands.
First, let’s get the vocabulary out of the way.
Neck bands (platysmal bands) are the two vertical muscles that start at the base of the neck and run all the way up to the jaw.
Not to be confused with neck lines, which are the horizontal wrinkles that cross the entire area of the neck. These wrinkles can resemble a necklace and are usually found in older patients.
When determining what causes these neck lines and neck bands, we’re looking at the usual suspects: lifestyle, genetics, sun exposure and age. And while it is unanimously agreed upon that these are aesthetically unappealing, there isn’t necessarily anything medically wrong with a person that develops the appearance of lines or bands on their neck. With that said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to maintain a youthful appearance.
Since most of the time neck lines aren’t as dramatic as neck bands, these can occasionally be treated with a chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and dermabrasion. For deeper, more intense lines and for neck bands, neck lifts and facelifts are typically recommended.
Doctor Jean-Paul Azzi is a double board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in South Florida who truly understands the anatomy of the neck and face. He explains why some surgeons might be unsuccessful at achieving results that impact the trouble area of the neck.
“There are a lot of general plastic surgeons who do not fully understand what the ‘neck bands’ really are or what they are caused by,” Dr. Azzi explains. “With any facelift or neck lift, actually repairing the aging structures that are impacted is key.”
Doctor Azzi also explained a full surgical procedure isn’t always necessary.
A select group of patients can actually address neck bands with injectables like Botox, Xeomin, Dysport or Jeuveau.
For finer neck lines, especially in young people, dermal fillers may be an option to soften the lines. Using a hyaluronic acid filler, a doctor can quickly plump the lines to make them significantly less visible. As mentioned before, this is increasingly common in young people who have “tech neck” which comes from constantly looking down at their devices.
The trick to solving your neck woes is finding a highly skilled facial plastic surgeon who specializes in the face and neck as opposed to a general plastic surgeon. This will ensure you’re getting the expertise and skill needed to address the lines or bands.
Before jumping into any procedure, Dr. Azzi highly recommends scheduling a consultation. This will allow the patient to feel out the surgeon. Consultations also provide the patient with a forum to ask all the questions they have about what their options are and what procedure will really yield the best results. The best part is that a consultation does not require committing to any kind of service or procedure – it is merely a discussion.
Doctor Azzi’s offices, located in Palm City and Jupiter, currently offer virtual consultations via telephone or video chat.
For more information on services offered at The Palm Beach Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery, or to book a consultation with Dr. Azzi, call our offices at (561) 429-5403 or click here.
Related: Pay Attention to Your Neck