Those who are not blessed with a sharp jaw can get it thanks to a variety of non-surgical neck lift processes. They can help you tighten and redefine the neck and jawline!
Whether you have excess sagging skin due to a drastic weight loss or have a ‘turkey neck’ due to ageing, these non-invasive procedures can be perfect for you. You just have to choose the right one.
Some facial traits are considered more attractive. Women, for example, tend to prefer men with sharp jaws. Similarly, men prefer women with delicate, swan-like, slender necks.
However, with time, our facial structure changes. We tend to get turkey necks or double chins. The jawline gets less defined due to extra fat, shrinking of the facial muscles, and loosening skin.
Fortunately, there are ways to stop this from happening. And they don’t necessarily involve you going under the knife to regain a youthful neckline. So you could say goodbye to a surgical facelift, for the time being, at least.
If you want to give non-surgical treatments a try, keep reading and find out everything about these procedures that can give you great results without surgery.
Medically reviewed by Dr Osama Bahsas Zaky
Written by Joaquín Pineda
Updated on September 7, 2021
Why Choose a Non-Surgical Neck Lift?
Although surgery is considered the gold standard for improving the neckline and getting a jaw lift, a non surgical neck lift (also called Nefertiti lift) might be perfect for you; especially if you are stepping in your 30s or 40s and just want a little touch-up.
Additionally, many people stay away from surgeries due to the risks involved. For such patients, this procedure is a less invasive option as it comes with several benefits, including:
Non-surgical procedures are great because the recovery time is very short – between a few hours to a few days. On the other hand, major surgeries often prevent people from resuming work, and some may even require spending a few days at the hospital.
Though not covered by insurance, non-surgical lift procedures cost less than traditional neck lift surgery. The cost, however, can change from region to region and depends on many factors, including the type and length of treatment needed.
A big reason people stay away from neck and jaw lift surgery is the risks involved. Mainly, the need for general anaesthesia and its more invasive nature. Also, going under the knife can result in complications if you don’t choose the right surgeon. So, undergoing surgery shouldn’t be taken lightly. These non-surgical procedures come with fewer side effects. In any case, you could present with swelling, irritation, and redness.
The procedures are minimally invasive and painless. There are no major incisions involved, which makes them suitable for people who are nervous or anxious. Additionally, you won’t have to deal with ugly scars!
Here’s a list of some of the most popular treatments options out there:
These options are used to remove excess fat around your neck and jaw and provide you with a skin-tightening effect.
Botox is one of the most popular methods to get rid of lines and wrinkles. And for the neck area, it can give a smooth complexion in no time. Just a couple of injections, and you are set to go!
Botox works as a muscle relaxant. It paralyzes the neck and jaw muscles, preventing wrinkles produced by their movements.
There are several benefits of Botox. It is effective, painless, requires minimal downtime, and can be completed in only an hour.
In the right hands, and after carefully choosing the right patient, Botox can be as good as plastic surgery. However, the downside is that you may have to visit the doctor every few months to maintain your results.
Putting that aside, a Botox neck lift is perfect for tightening the skin and redefining the neck and jawline. Ultimately, it can give you a youthfully contoured profile.
This technique involves ultrasound energy to treat the subcutaneous layers of the skin around the chin and neck. This non-surgical procedure can effectively lift and tighten sagging skin.
The FDA approved this technology in 2009, and it soon became popular due to its low price.
Ultherapy can help improve lines and wrinkles around the neck, chin, and chest by stimulating collagen production and creating a youthful look. So, it works by gradually strengthening your skin from deep within!
The technology uses focused ultrasound imaging to bypass the skin surface and target the exact region that needs work to achieve a sculpted neckline. Temperature can be selected based on the condition of the skin.
Ultherapy is often chosen as an alternative to neck lift surgery or to maintain the results post-surgery. Also, Ultherapy is a great way to improve the appearance of the décolleté – the area of skin above the chest or low neckline.
The process is performed in the office and can take up to 90 minutes with no downtime. However, some people may have redness or flushed skin for a few hours.
Results last for 12-18 months but can take up to 3 months to show. Also, you will need touch-up treatments to keep rebuilding collagen and maintain the results.
Often confused for Botox, dermal fillers are injectables that use calcium hydroxylapatite and hyaluronic acid. These come under different brand names such as Sculptra, Radiesse, Bellafill, and Juvederm.
Hyaluronic acid can reduce wrinkles and improve the volume around your neck by attracting and binding to water molecules. This can give your skin an instant plumping effect.
When dermal filler injections are strategically placed across areas of loose skin on the neck, your doctor can effectively restore structure and give you a smooth complexion.
Experts recommend dermal fillers for people who wish to restore facial volume and improve collagen production. So, dermal fillers can give the impression of a subtle lift and a skin-tightening effect.
They come with little to no side effects and require touch-ups every 6 to 12 months.
Fractionated laser technology works in a unique fashion. It involves working on a small portion of the skin while leaving other areas untreated to increase the healing process speed.
Different types of lasers are used, including CO2 and erbium. This method stimulates collagen production, skin elasticity, and texture.
The laser neck lift is minimally invasive, with no incisions or scarring.
Post-procedural discomfort is relatively minimal. But you may present bruising and swelling for 3-5 days, which can be easily managed with ice packs and anti-inflammatories.
However, laser treatments might not be suitable for everyone as it can be a little painful and requires local anesthesia. Moreover, it has a downtime of up to 10 days.
On the positive side, a recent study found that laser treatment offers long-term benefits. It can reverse the signs of ageing, combating double chins to boost your confidence!
Those who need a minimally invasive procedure can try radiofrequency, also known as a NeckTite.
Marketed as a facial rejuvenation technique, radiofrequency is perfect for lifting and tightening of the skin. It is the way to go if you want a youthful neck and décolletage!
This treatment targets loose skin and wrinkles by using a mixture of two techniques – micro-needling and radiofrequency – to improve collagen and elastin production.
First, your doctor will administer a local anaesthetic to numb your chin and neck area. Then, the NeckTite cannula is inserted across your submental area and neckline, using multiple entry points (small incisions).
Radiofrequency energy essentially heats up and breaks down the excess fat cells. Then, this thermal injury forces the body to ‘repair’ itself, stimulating the production of elastin and collagen.
So, with radiofrequency, you get double the benefits at once: it melts fat and stimulates collagen production!
After this treatment, your doctor may ask you to use a supportive neck garment for three days. Also, pain can easily be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
A 2019 report found that radiofrequency, when combined with other technologies, can even improve skin laxity. However, results can take a while to appear.
Thread lifting is another minimally invasive option with both lifting and regenerating effects.
The treatment uses cannulas to insert re-absorbable poly-L-lactic acid (or PLA) or PDO sutures. These threads come with little cones along their length that anchor underneath the skin to give a lifting effect.
Before inserting them, your doctor carefully traces the path that the sutures will follow to give you a jaw lift and create a “tighter hammock.” The threads will be inserted from the jaw’s base and across under the chin.
Also, over the next 18-24 months, the suture threads will be naturally absorbed, stimulating the body to produce more collagen so that the skin looks refreshed and rejuvenated.
The number of threads used depends on the sagging and loose skin on the neck and jaw area.
Whichever your case, thread lifting gives an immediate and natural lift effect. Also, it has a progressive nature over 12-18 months.
Last on the list is Kybella, a procedure used to remove excess fat under the jaw and chin. Kybella is the new cosmetic injectable drug designed to treat “submental fat” (the fat pocket under the chin) as instructed by the FDA. Composed of deoxycholic acid, Kybella is known for tightening loose skin.
It is injected into the skin and works by “melting” or metabolizing fat cells. Then, these fatty compounds are eliminated naturally through the lymphatic system in several weeks.
Known to be fast and painless, Kybella can leave slight swelling and redness. Results, however, can take up to 6 weeks to show.
It is natural for the skin to get loose as we age. And the neck is one of the areas first to show the premature signs of ageing.
Some people try to cover their turkey necks by wearing scarves and turtle necks, but that isn’t the solution.
Whether you are considering Botox, Kybella, radiofrequency skin tightening technology, or a thread lift, any of these non-invasive treatment options can give you great results.
For patients with mild neck sagging, these subtle treatments, such as Botox or dermal fillers, can help soften lines and wrinkles, improving the skin’s overall condition.
However, those patients with moderate sagging and wrinkles could get better results from thread lifting. In this way, the skin and connective tissue get actively lifted, giving you instant and more noticeable results.
Remember, though, that these non-surgical procedures are better suited for patients in their 30 or early 50s, where sagging skin is not severe!
A surgical neck lift remains the first option. After all, surgical procedures have an award-winning niche in plastic surgery because of their definite and long-lasting results.
So it is better to get in touch with a professional to find out if a non surgical neck lift is the best procedure for you!
This treatment is customized to your unique skin type, texture and aesthetic goals. Every procedure is personal to you and to your needs, and so is the cost.
Since we know that cost is important, we welcome you to visit our facilities for a free, no-obligation visit. You’ll have time to consult with the plastic surgeon, ask questions, and talk about any concerns.
We’ll identify the best solution and the best price for you.
We’re so glad you asked! With over 20 years of experience, Antiaging Group Barcelona is a leading clinic in cosmetic treatments.
Doctor Jesús Benito is a member of many international plastic surgery organizations, has won numerous awards, and is dedicated to his patients. His world-class medical center in Spain is sought out for its excellence and state-of-the-art procedures. A highly trained team supports Doctor Benito and provides superb care for every patient.
Specialist in face and body cosmetic medicine.
Cosmetic medicine with laser techniques (IPL, QSwitch…)
Anti-aging medicine.
Rejuvenecimiento facial no quirúrgico. XIX Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Cirugía Plástica, Reparadora y Estética. Guayaquil, octubre 2016.
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