Risks of using Botox for bands vs. necklift?

The most serious risk associated with treating this area is a difficulty in swallowing. If too much Botox is injected too deeply, your risk would substantially increase. Your alternative is a neck lift. 

The off-label use of Botox injections to improve the platysmal muscle neck bands has been helpful in some not all patients wtih neck bands.  Experienced physicians keep the number of units low when treating this area as there have been rare cases of swallowing difficulty and neck flexion difficulty after this treatment. A surgical neck lift can produce a much better improvement than the amount of flattening that can be obtained from Botox injections.

Botox can be used for specific platysma bands.  It may soften them a bit. It is not used successfully for lax skin issues in the neck, that is best treated by a neck lift. 

The neuromodulators are used to treat what are called the platysmal bands in the neck. The risks include the common risks as well as weakening of the muscles in charge of swallowing. In turn swallowing problems can lead to aspiration and pneumonia. It is imperative not to inject to much or to deep!!!

Make sure you get treated by a board certified specialist as well as some one experienced in those treatments !

Good luck 

Botox and other neuromodulators can be injected to decrease the muscle bands in the neck caused by the platysma muscle but remember, the improvement will last 3-4 months. There is minimal risk of interfering with the muscles that move the neck or jaw when done by an experienced physician. A  neck lift, which is a surgical procedure, will significantly improve the neck contour for years.

Botox, Dysport or the newer Xeomin can all be used to soften the neck bands.  If injected in reasonable dosages, these neurotoxins can relax the anterior (front) portion of the neck band however at higher doses swallowing can be affected.  Neck Lifts remove excess neck fat and skin which Botox injections obviously can not do.

Botox in the neck is aimed at the stringy muscle that causes neck bands.  This muscle, called the platysma, does not require a lot of Botox.  I could not imaging usual dosages of Botox causing movement problems in the neck or jaw.  Swallowing problems can occur, but are very rare.  If normal amount of Botox are injected into the platysma, then complications should be avoided.  Make sure you go to someone who knows the internal anatomy of the neck such as a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon.