Go to your local dermatologist’s office or Medspa and you’ll find an FDA-approved treatment for almost anything. Fill your lips with filler. Paralyze these 11 lines with a few Botox injections. You can even make varicose veins disappear in your hands with something called sclerotherapy. However, options have historically been limited when it comes to revitalizing the neck and giving your jawline some Clark Kent-level definition.
Sure, you can go to town on your gua sha, temporarily sculpt with filler, or look to ultrasound skin tightening treatments like Sofwave or Ultherapy (which work by heating tissue to stimulate collagen production). But an FDA-approved neuromodulator capable of tightening the jawline and smoothing vertical lines on the neck hasn’t existed—until now.
Botox just received the first completely clear to be injected into the platysmic bands: the strips of muscle that run vertically from the collarbone to the jaw line. (Look in the mirror, give a big, toothy smile and you’ll see exactly what I mean.)
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“Platysma strips are basically like neck wrinkles, but they can also pull the entire lower face down to soften the jawline,” board certified dermatologist Sabrina FabiMD FAAD, he told me in March, shortly after the results of the clinical trial of Botox for their treatment were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology conference.
Gravity is inevitable, so the more the platysmus muscles contract, the more likely you are to have loose skin along the jawline or a smile that turns downward. By injecting Botox into those platysma muscles, you can not only reduce the appearance of actual platysma lines, explains the board-certified dermatologist Terrance KeaneyMD FAAD. You can also grab your jawline in the process.
This ah-ha moment is not new, per se. It’s known to injectables – that’s why doctors and nurses have been botoxing platysma zones off-label for years. However, this FDA approval brings game-changing dosing standardization for patient safety and sets the stage for more formal injector training. “Prior to this approval, if you asked 15 doctors how they would dose the area, you would get 15 completely different answers. But there is wisdom with this large, standardized method, so we were able to find the best dose and improve safety,” says Dr. Keaney.
If you are curious about the treatment and if you are a candidate, you have come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Botox platysmic complex.
What are Platysmal Bands?
You may not know platysmic bands by name, but you’ve definitely seen them in the mirror. “It’s the muscle that connects your collarbone to your jaw,” explains Dr. Keaney. “When it contracts, it shortens and pulls the skin of the neck outward.” Some people will see their platysma bands when they are resting, while others will have to clench their teeth for the bands to appear.
Will Platysmal Band Botox tighten my neck and jawline?
A neck cream can go so far as to tighten the skin. If you’re experiencing loose skin around the mouth, a blunt jaw, and two to four visible platysma bands when bending over (let’s see that tight, toothy smile), you should see some pretty impressive results from treatment.
The best candidates for a platysmic Botox band have two to four bands on their neck.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
If you have severe skin laxity (ie loose skin) or a lot of fat around the area, you won’t see crazy results. “These people should often consider a facelift, CoolSculpting Elite, or a Kybella treatment to break up the fat,” says Dr. Keany.
How long does Platysmal Band Botox last?
You’ll see the full effect of your platysma Botox at the end of two weeks—just like you would for the face, Dr. Keaney explains. Results should last three to four months, depending on how quickly your body metabolizes the formula.
What Are the Risks of Platysmal Band Botox?
While there are always risks with any type of injection, FDA approval has standardized the most common platysmic band Botox treatments, creating a safer foundation.
That said, the neck is a sensitive area to inject. “The muscles involved in swallowing and chewing are closely linked, underneath this more superficial muscle that pulls the face down,” explains Dr. Fabi. If injected incorrectly, you may experience something called dysphagia, which is defined as difficulty swallowing or speaking. It is important to go to a certified doctor experienced in injecting if you are interested in the treatment.
How does Platysmal Band Botox compare to other neck tightening treatments?
Treating the throat is a 360-degree ordeal, so your doctor may want to combine several different technologies to achieve the desired results. Skin tightening laser treatments, for example, will usually be used alongside botox platysma. “It’s free because you’re dealing with two elements of why neck wrinkles form: one is because the muscle pulls the skin out, and the other is because the skin loses its strength over time,” says Dr. Keaney.
