Neck Injectables
With age, most adults develop neck wrinkles and sagging neck skin. Sun damage, reduced amounts of collagen in the skin, collection of neck fat, skin laxity, and other age-related changes lead to necklines that give away a person's age. People who spend long hours in front of computer screens can develop what are called tech neck lines. If these things sound familiar to you and your confidence has taken a beating as a result, you can stop hiding behind chokers and turtle necks. Neck fillers are an easy way to treat an aging neck. The use of dermal fillers in the neck can achieve what is essentially a non-surgical neck lift. Continue reading to learn more about neck filler procedures and what they can do to enhance the appearance of your neck area.
What is a non-surgical neck lift?
Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane are commonly used to fade fine lines, plump thin lips, and fill acne scars during face rejuvenation procedures. When used in the neck area, these dermal fillers can address many of the common signs of jawline and neck aging, such as neck bands, wrinkles, and turkey neck.
Benefits of fillers
A non-surgical neck lift with hyaluronic acid neck fillers works by smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines and lifting sagging neck skin. However, for natural looking results, the technique requires the use of the correct filler at the correct depth. Key advantages of filler procedures are: An anti-aging effect can be achieved with minimal downtime and very few side effects. It is a quick office procedure. The results are immediate and long-lasting.
Another benefit of neck fillers is to address premature aging caused by "tech neck." This is a nickname for a common problem caused by repetitive strain on the muscles and other tissues of the cervical spine. Besides causing discomfort, the constant bending and looking down at devices can lead to the formation of more prominent wrinkles and lines in the neck region. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can help reverse some of the aging changes caused by tech neck.
Surgical vs Non Surgical Neck Lift
Compared to a surgical neck lift, a filler treatment for the neck has the following benefits for patients: Recovery is faster after filler injections (from a few hours to a few days). Adverse effects are minimal and typically consist of redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site. Non-surgical treatment is far less expensive. Also, it is a faster treatment that can be done in the office without anesthesia. The non-surgical procedure has fewer risks overall.
What fillers are best for the neck?
Doctors usually prefer hyaluronic acid fillers to treat horizontal neck wrinkles and lines in patients to restore a more youthful appearance. These fillers are available under various brands such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero.
How to prepare for a neck filler appointment?
Your aesthetic provider will see you in consultation to obtain a skin history and perform an examination. This consultation will help your doctor determine whether your neck wrinkles can be adequately treated with fillers (or whether something like Botox is more appropriate). They might also suggest other treatments for the face and chin for optimum results. For example, combining your anti-aging neck treatment with a Kybella treatment for double chin could give you the best results.
There is no specific preparation required before dermal fillers in the neck. Your doctor may ask you to discontinue certain medications temporarily for a couple of weeks before your appointment. (Some medicines such as blood thinners, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDS can increase the risk of bleeding with injection treatments).
You will also receive some skincare advice. Your doctor may ask you to stop using prescription retinol products 1-2 days before the treatment. It is also a good idea to avoid tanning and sun exposure as much as possible before your treatment.
What to expect during neck filler treatment?
Physicians usually start by taking some “before” photos of the neck. They will then clean your skin and inject the hyaluronic acid filler into strategic areas of the neck. Once the injections are done, your doctor will gently massage the area to help the filler settle into place. The entire procedure takes 15-30 minutes. Most patients report that the discomfort with filler injections is tolerable. Those who have undergone laser treatments say the laser was far more painful.
What is recovery like after neck wrinkles treatment?
It is common to have some redness, swelling, and discomfort at the injection site. The discomfort side effect can be managed with overt-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen) and icing and typically resolves in a few days. You may need to cover your neck with a scarf or turtle neck for about 1 week while it heals. There is no downtime after the procedure and you can go back to your normal routine right away. However, you should avoid strenuous exercise, massages, and extreme heat such as hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms. These activities can cause pressure in the treated area, increase bruising, and affect your results.
Are neck fillers safe?
Dermal fillers are a safe and gentle anti-aging treatment for the neck. This treatment does not carry many of the risks associated with a surgery such as neck lift.
Fillers vs Botox vs Laser
There are other treatments to address an aging neck besides dermal fillers. The two most common alternatives are Botox and laser skin resurfacing. All three procedures are effective in ironing out fine lines and wrinkles and giving the neck a more youthful appearance. However, they work differently and have variable longevity.
Botox temporarily paralyzes the neck muscle to prevent contraction and neck wrinkle formation. Dermal fillers not only fill the wrinkles but also promote collagen formation in the skin, with longer-lasting results.
Your aesthetic provider will help you decide which procedures are right for you. For example, if your lines are due to overactive platysma muscles, commonly known as tech neck, then Botox may be a more appropriate product. If you want a treatment that lasts longer, fillers have more longevity. Lasers may or may not be suitable for your skin type.
How much are fillers for neck?
The cost of your neck treatment will depend on where you live, the expertise of your aesthetic provider, and the type of treatment you're having. The average cost of a Botox session for the neck is around $550. The cost of one neck filler session is around $1,000. However, the difference in cost may ultimately work out to be negligible because Botox treatment needs to be repeated every 3-4 months. Maintenance filler treatments, on the other hand, are required less frequently, every 6-12 months. Of course, if you're having additional procedures such as Kybella to address your double chin and jawline, the cost will be higher.
Ready to get rid of neck lines and turkey neck?
The MeTime app makes it easy to find providers who offer neck filler services in your area. You can chat with experts to get more information, send photos across, do a video consultation, and get a quote. And when you're ready, you can even book your first appointment through MeTime. What are you waiting for? Download the MeTime app today!