Nefertiti Lift: Neck Bands and the Platysma

You turn your head in front of the mirror and two vertical cords stand out under your chin. Perhaps you also notice that your jawline is less defined than it used to be. The Nefertiti lift targets the neck bands: it is an injection that relaxes the platysma, the muscle that pulls them taut. It is not surgery. It can make the bands less noticeable; it does not remove skin or fat. The result and its duration vary from person to person. A medical assessment always comes before the injection.

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Fictional man in three-quarter view, head slightly raised, neck and jawline as they naturally appear, in soft light against a light background.

At a glance

Five things to know before deciding

What it is: an injection that relaxes the platysma, the thin muscle that forms the vertical neck bands. It is not surgery.
What it can do: make the bands less noticeable and possibly change the look of the jawline; it does not remove loose skin or fat under the chin.
Duration: temporary; an improvement in the bands can persist at three months, while fading. The result and its duration vary from person to person.
Risk specific to the neck: difficulty swallowing, changes in the voice or neck weakness if the product spreads beyond the muscle.
Before any treatment: a medical assessment, which can lead to the injection being postponed, changed or not performed.

The Platysma and the Vertical Bands of the Neck

The platysma is a thin, wide, flat muscle just under the skin: it covers most of the front and sides of the neck. When it contracts, the platysmal bands stand out and the tissues of the face are pulled downward. With age, the skin loses elasticity, the neighbouring tissues sag and the tissue that connects them changes. Together with repeated muscle contractions, these changes make the bands more prominent and the jawline less defined.

Fictional woman shown in a three-quarter view, with a natural neck appearance and posture, and subtle vertical neck bands visible without exaggeration or markings.

Bands, Loose Skin and Fat Under the Chin

An aging neck changes in several ways at once: fat builds up under the chin, the skin loses firmness, bone is resorbed and jowls appear. Platysma bands can therefore come with loose skin, fat under the chin or jowls. They do not, on their own, account for the changes in the neck. Relaxing the muscle does not tighten the skin and does not melt fat. The first purpose of the assessment is to distinguish these changes in your neck.

If it is mainly the volume under your chin that bothers you, a double chin is not treated the way muscle bands are.

What an Injection That Relaxes the Platysma Changes, and What It Does Not

This injection blocks the muscle's ability to contract. In the neck, the injection is given into the platysma to reduce tension in the bands. It is also called a neuromodulator, with brand names such as Botox^® or Dysport^®. Among cosmetic injections, this one relaxes a muscle rather than filling a hollow. The same principle applies between the eyebrows: the frown line deepens when the muscles draw the eyebrows together.

When the bands lessen, the jawline can look more defined, since the muscle pulls down less. The effect is better in people whose platysma is very active and whose skin is still elastic. Loose skin and fat under the chin do not depend on this contraction. The fine horizontal lines of the neck, often present throughout a person's life, are also different from the vertical bands and respond less to the injection. Neck wrinkles are therefore not all treated in the same way: a horizontal line is not a cord pulled taut by the platysma.

It changes: The look of the vertical bands, and possibly that of the jawline.
It does not change: Loose skin or fat under the chin. The fine horizontal lines of the neck respond less to the injection than the vertical bands.
Who it is for: An adult whose bands come mainly from the muscle, after assessment by a doctor.
What it does not guarantee: The effect of a surgical lift, or the same result from person to person.
Who performs it: A doctor, or a nurse injector supervised by a doctor.
Product and area: The doctor assesses them separately, based on your bands and your medical history.

When to postpone or forgo it

Inflamed or infected skin, hypersensitivity to an ingredient in the product; extreme caution is required with neurological conditions, difficulty swallowing or breathing problems.

How Long the Effect Lasts

For the neck bands, an improvement can be visible around two weeks and persist at three months, though already less pronounced. The effect remains temporary. A duration of three to four months is a general benchmark for this type of injection, not an established duration for every person's neck treatment. For facial wrinkles, the effect sets in within a few days and the muscle is generally fully relaxed between five and fifteen days; that timeline does not predict the one for your neck.

To maintain the effect, the injection is repeated when it fades. You and the doctor decide how often, based on your bands and what you want. Pain or a bruise at the injection site is possible.

Onset: An improvement in the bands can be visible around two weeks; this does not mean the effect is then complete.
Duration: An improvement in the bands can persist at three months, though less pronounced; no individual duration is guaranteed.
Maintenance: The injection is repeated when the effect fades; you and the doctor decide how often.
Discomfort: Pain or a bruise at the injection site.
Guarantee: Neither the result nor its duration is guaranteed.

Risks Specific to the Neck

In the neck, the muscles used for swallowing, speaking and holding the head up are close to the platysma. If the dose is too high or if the product spreads beyond the platysma, it can interfere with these functions. For facial wrinkles, most effects are mild and short-lived. In the neck, difficulty swallowing, changes in the voice or muscle weakness require particular attention. The injection must nevertheless be performed by a qualified health professional who has experience with it. Before deciding, take the time to understand the risks.

Bruising: The most common effect in the neck; pain at the injection site is also possible.
Difficulty swallowing: Possible if the product spreads beyond the platysma.
Voice changes: Possible if the product spreads; higher-pitched sounds may be affected.
Reduced neck strength: If the product reaches the muscles that support the neck, controlling neck movements can become harder.
Other possible effects: Headache, facial pain, rash or allergic reaction, local muscle weakness; generally temporary, they can last several months.
Rare but serious: Spread of the product far from the injection site, mostly associated with non-cosmetic uses.

Signs That Require Medical Attention

Before the injection, say so if you already have trouble swallowing, a breathing condition or a history of a neurological condition: these situations require extreme caution and can lead to the injection being postponed or not performed. After the injection, pain or a bruise may appear. A problem with your voice, swallowing or neck movements must not be dismissed. Call CARE MD if you have significant pain or swelling, a rash or an allergic reaction. Call as well if an unusual effect persists or worries you. Only a doctor can tell what it is.

Nefertiti Lift, Focused Ultrasound or Surgery: What Sets Them Apart

The word “lift” can be confusing: the Nefertiti lift is not surgery. A surgical neck lift addresses excess fat under the chin, loose neck skin and the muscle bands. Non-surgical treatments do not give the same results. They can delay the point at which surgery becomes appropriate, or complement its results. An improvement in the bands therefore does not mean that excess skin or fat has been removed.

Focused ultrasound aims to firm the skin, notably of the lower face and neck. It targets loose skin, not the muscle bands or fat. Mild, short-lived redness, swelling or discomfort is possible after the treatment. Its long-term effect is not yet established. Other approaches target the jawline, without acting on the neck bands. Masseter injection belongs to the same type of muscle-relaxing injection, but it targets a different muscle of the lower face, not the platysma.

At CARE MD Injection that relaxes the platysma: Targets the vertical bands; CARE MD offers it.
At CARE MD Focused ultrasound: Targets loose skin of the lower face and neck; CARE MD offers it.
Neck surgery: Addresses fat, skin and bands; it is not performed at CARE MD, and the doctor will talk to you about it during the assessment if it suits you better.

Why a Medical Assessment Comes First

Before the assessment, getting to know Dr. Karen Dzolang's background helps you prepare your questions about her experience and about the person who would perform the injection.

Before proposing the injection, the doctor needs to understand what bothers you: the bands, loose skin or the volume under the chin. To find the bands, the doctor may ask you to contract the muscle, for example by turning your head to one side, lifting your chin and showing your lower teeth, then turning your head to the other side. The doctor may also examine the skin and the volume under the chin. Tell the doctor if you have trouble swallowing: this history of swallowing difficulties can change the decision. The assessment can lead to the injection being postponed, changed or not performed. During the assessment, the doctor also chooses the product and the area to treat.

Your medical history and the treatment you have already received can change the decision. Also prepare your questions about what the injection can improve in your neck, what it will leave as it is, its risks, its duration and what happens if the effect does not suit you.

What to bring: Information about your medical history, allergies, medications and supplements, and previous treatments. Also tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What to ask: How the injection can interact with other products, other procedures or medications taken for other conditions.
Who performs the injection: A doctor, or a nurse injector supervised by a doctor.
After the session: Before you leave, ask how to reach the CARE MD team if an effect worries you.

Ask Us About Your Neck Bands

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nefertiti Botox®, and what can it do for the neck?

The Nefertiti lift is an injection that relaxes the platysma, a thin, flat muscle just under the skin that covers most of the front and sides of the neck. When this muscle contracts, the vertical bands stand out; with age, less elastic skin and sagging neighbouring tissues make them more prominent. It is also called a neuromodulator, with brand names such as Botox^® or Dysport^®. The injection can make these bands less noticeable, with no promise of a result: it is not surgery, it does not remove loose skin or fat under the chin, and the result varies from person to person.

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