Take Years Off Your Neck With Botox

March 30, 2007
Botox injections are by far the most sought after cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S., with over three million procedures performed in 2006 alone, according to statistics by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Now, plastic surgeons are taking it a step further by injecting the solution into aging necks to smooth wrinkles and diminish vertical cords.

As we age, the platysmal muscles—muscles in our neck—become more visible, causing vertical cords that expand from the chin all the way to the chest. Botox injections are used to shrink these vertical bands by relaxing the muscles in the neck.

“Now that faces are getting a lot of attention, people are paying more attention to the rest of their body,” said Neil Sadick, president of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation who has performed dozens of Botox procedures on the neck.

While Botox is safe and effective in reducing the appearance of unsightly neck bands and wrinkles, the toxin will not work for “rubberneckers”—patients with loose folds of neck skin. For these patients, a combination of a mini-facelift and Botox may be effective, said plastic surgeon David Watts.

The price of Botox for the neck ranges from about $600 to $1,000 per treatment. Side effects may include difficulty swallowing and temporary discomfort, although rare.

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