Botox for Relaxing Neck Bands?

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!

Neck bands develop as we age. There is a thin layer of muscle called the Platysma. The sole function of that muscle is to maintain contour of the neck by sharpening the neck angle below the chin. There is a strip of this muscle on either side of the front of your neck. As we age, the muscle loosens allowing the front edge of the muscle on either side to start hanging down creating neck bands. Injecting Botox into these neck bands can relax the bands enough that they will relax and lie down,... more

Botox relaxes muscles; it can not tighten loose muscle. Although Botox has been proposed for neck bands, the efficacy is rather limited. If the neck muscle (a.k.a. platysma muscle) is loose under the chin, leading to platysmal banding, a necklift including platysmaplasty will be the most effective treatment. In this situation, Botox will likely be disappointing. The only time I would consider Botox for the neck is if one is concerned with tight vertical muscle bands showing due to animation... more

Dear Iksugarman, Neck cords are caused by laxity of the platysma muscle at the angle of the neck and laxity of skin. Botox can improve the appearance of these cords by relaxing the muscles bands that are producing the cords. Be aware that this treatment can use up a good amount of Botox (25 to 50 units) depending on the individual. Cost will depend very much on what your doctor charges for a unit of Botox. Longevity is about 4-5 months. Not everyone has a great response to Botox for the... more

These bands that have been there since your teenage years are not likely to be removed by Botox and it effects muscle activity. I would suggest the CO2 Fraxel Laser for this and I would not expect miracles. This is a difficult problem even to correct with surgery.

Botox an be very effective in treating platysma bands. It will have no effect on skin laxity.  Usually I inject about 15-20 units for some bands, and may use more for multiple bands.

As you may have gathered from the other posts, Botox is a good treatment for relaxing vertical neck bands.  50 units is usually adequate.  The total dose should not exceed 100 units and should be superficial to avoid complications including neck weakness and difficulty swallowing.

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... more

I routinely use Botox to treat platysmal neck bands.  I usually start with 40 to 60 units and dilute this in twice the normal amount of saline to provide uniform coverage.  It is safe and effective and cost much less than a traditional neck lift or platysmaplasty.

Botox could be used to improve the dynamic lines caused by the platysma muscle spasm. Botox will relax the muscle and make the lines softer. The number of units used wil depend on how many bands you have and how tight they are. Like all procedures choose a board certified plastic surgeon that you trust and for the first injection go with a smaller number to avoid over diffusion to the neck. Hope that helps!

Botox is a safe and effective treatment for relaxing vertical neck bands. The bands typically are noticeable from the jawline to the collar bone and become prominent when they separate into bands as we age. To flatten/relax the bands, Botox is injected along the length of the muscle, the platysma. Depending on the person, 50 to 100 units of Botox may be needed at a cost of between $600 and $1800. Your cost will vary depending on what your injector charges for Botox. The relaxation effect... more

Hi lk, Botox can be very effective at relaxing platysmal neck bands. It can also be used to lift the neck (The Nefertiti Lift). It does take higher units to achieve excellent results, so do speak to you injecting physician about costs prior to your treatment. The neck is an area where you should seek out an expert because of the higher doses used, and the possibility of significant complications is placed improperly. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Greetings, As the other physicians have pointed out, Botox cosmetic does work for neck bands, but this is an off label use. What was not mentioned is that injection in the neck can lead to difficulty swallowing necessitating a feeding tube if injected improperly or there is migration of the injection. If you are considering the treatment, be sure to seek out a physician who not only has experience with Botox injections, but also with injection in the neck area.

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.

This may be very effecitve for you. It should be low risk, and not that expensive. The down side is that it is temporary. Also, it will not tighten skin, and it will not address any fat pads that may be present.

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.

Treating platysmal bands (neck bands that run down from chin to chest) with Botox is a great way to improve the neck angle without surgery. It is subtle, but pleasing, and has a very low risk profile if done by an experienced board certified dermatologist. Since price and degree of improvement needed varies, the price will also vary. Also, keep in mind that you should beware of those who charge by the area and not by the unit. Typically, with consvervative injectors like myself, I won't use... more