Most people don’t take great care of their neck. Although it is usually easy to remember to nourish the facial skin with moisturizers and sunscreen, it is easy to forget to apply these products to the skin on the neck. Consequently, the collagen in the neck skin can break down faster, and wrinkles and textural problems can appear sooner than they do on the face.

There are many ways to surgically and nonsurgically rejuvenate an aging neck. The right treatment approach (or combination of approaches) depends on the specific issue or issues that bother the patient.

If you are bothered by the appearance of your neck, Dr. Douglas Stevens can help you identify what bothers you the most. It could be loss of volume, wrinkles or fine lines, horizontal “bands” or “cords,” sagging skin or a combination of all of these issues. Dr. Stevens will recommend a treatment regimen that addresses the things that bother you.

Nonsurgical Solutions

Botox injections temporarily relax certain muscles to smooth the overlying fine lines or wrinkles. Botox can be injected into the platysmal muscle bands of the neck to smooth the skin and minimize the appearance of bands or cords.

Kybella is another injectable specifically designed to treat excess fat underneath the skin that can give the neck a heavy or inelegant look. When injected into the fat, Kybella dissolves the fat so the neck looks leaner and there is greater definition along the jawline.

Microneedling uses a special handpiece to make tiny injuries that trigger the body’s natural healing response and stimulate the production of fresh collagen and elastin, for smoother, more youthful skin. Microneedling is an excellent way to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, “crepe-y“ looking skin and other textural problems with the skin.

Surgical Solutions

Neck lift is the gold standard for addressing visible signs of aging in the neck and jawline. During the procedure, excess sagging skin and fatty deposits on the neck and under the chin are removed. Loose skin is tightened and muscle banding is treated for a smoother and more youthful contour.

Neck lift can be performed as a singular procedure or in combination with facelift to address other areas of the lower face.

To discuss your treatment options for an aging neck with Dr. Stevens, please schedule an appointment at our Fort Myers office today.