I've heard that Botox is being used to relax neck bands. Can you please share your opinions on this, the safety, effectiveness, expected cost, alternate treatments, etc.?
Botox Cosmetic works great for vertical neck bands. If you tighten up your neck and see vertical neck bands (bands running up and down like columns) then Botox will likely be very effective for you. However, Botox is not effective for the horizonal neck creases - this usually requires a neck lift. Neck bands usually require 50 to 100 units of Botox, which costs somewhere between $600 and $1800 for treatment. Good luck.
To lksugarman,
Hi. Commonly, neck bands are caused by the platysma muscle. Relaxing this muscle with Botox can really clean up the neck.
This is totally safe if injected properly (superficially). It is more expensive than Botox in other areas (frown lines, for example) because the platysma is a big muscle and you need at least 50 units of Botox in the neck.
LK,
Botox can indeed be used to soften neck bands as an off label use. I have found it to be very effective and safe. The cost depends on the size and extent of the bands. The alternative, surgical correction is, of course, more invasive, more costly, and requires a recovery. Good luck!
There is some retraction of the neck bands, making them look better in some, but not all individuals. When used in this off-label approach, it involves the same side effects as Botox when administered in facial regions such as brusing, but there is a risk that the neck muscles might be so relaxed that you could find it difficult to raise your head out of the hair salon’s shampoo sink, and a few cases of hoarseness have been reported.
Also, a very, very rare but serious side effect had been reported where a patient had difficulty swallowing, but this was not permanent. These worrisome side effects are possibly dose-related so reasonable number of units delivered to the area of the neck bands do not cause this to happen. Alternative treatment is a surgical neck lift. External radiofrequency devices may help minimally.
Contact the doctor
