As you age, your skin becomes thinner, especially on the neck. Concealing your neck with clothing like scarfs or turtlenecks is not a practical solution, particularly in Texas with our hot and humid climate. Surgical procedures, though effective, come with extended recovery time, expense and risk. That is why many people are turning to non-surgical procedures that can rejuvenate thin skin and restore a youthful appearance. We will review a few here.
The platysma is a superficial thin sheet-like muscle that stretches from the jaw-line to the clavicle just below the base of the neck. With aging, the muscle becomes weaker, separates and forms unwanted platysmal bands. Injecting these bands with Botox or Xeomin causes the muscle bands to relax and creates a smoother neck. You can expect results to last 3 months or significantly longer as many of my clients report.
In addition to muscle bands, the skin on the neck can get thin and crepey with reduced collagen and elastin content. Sublative rejuvenation causes selective damage to small areas of skin leaving adjacent skin intact to accelerate the healing process. Sublative therapy stimulates fibroblasts to increase production of elastin and collagen which leads to tighter skin. Amazingly, you will continue to see improvement in your skin texture for up to 6 weeks after a single treatment! However, usually a series of 3-4 treatments is performed with an impressive cumulative effect.
Almost 2/3 of adults report that they are bothered by fullness under the chin, the so-called ‘double chin’. In some, the cause is excess fat which can create an unflattering profile. Treatment for this involves disrupting the membranes of the fat containing cells so that the fat is released and removed from the body. Kybella is an FDA approved treatment for stubborn fat under the chin. It is made of deoxycholic acid , a naturally occurring substance in the body. Kybella is usually administered in a series of 2-3 treatments, scheduled 4 weeks apart. The total number of treatments can be modified as results are seen.
So, remember to include your neck and décolleté in your skin care regime. Apply sunscreen and your skin care products to these areas. If you are not happy with the appearance of your neck, Botox or Xeomin, Kybella or Sublative rejuvenation may be reasonable non-surgical options to consider!
