Beyond the face, the neck is one of the most visible of the body’s features that can reveal age. Fortunately, there are some effective treatments to refine and rejuvenate the neck and minimize the “turkey neck” or “double chin.” This is especially important to many people coming into the holiday season where there will be pictures and parties galore. Today I’m going to highlight 2 non surgical treatments for making the neck area look younger and that won’t take you away from your busy schedule leading up to the holidays: Kybella and Botox.
If your concern with your neck is the double chin or bulge, Kybella could be your answer. It is a non surgical alternative to liposuction since the treatment simply involves a series of injections. They contain a naturally occurring molecule called deoxycholic acid. This natural acid dissolves fat and then the body flushes it out naturally. The extensive clinical trials conducted with Kybella demonstrated a 50% improvement in fat reduction with 2 treatments a month apart.
The injection treatment itself only lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, with a little prep time before and after. These precisely placed injections can be done on any part of the neck and can treat the largest to smallest bulge. Some people have a double chin due to carrying extra weight, yet others may be thin but have a genetic predisposition to a double chin. Also, Kybella can help to slightly tighten the skin, but it cannot remedy loose, hanging skin.
Even though Kybella is considered an “in and out” procedure, it does have mild side effects to which the degree varies for each person. While some people tolerate the injections with only a level 3 of 10 pain ranking, others would consider them more painful. Also, while everyone can return to regular activity immediately, some patients will experience some temporary swelling and redness or some soreness and numbness depending on how much Kybella is being injected in a session. The winter is actually the perfect time to hide any of these issues with a turtleneck sweater or scarf.
If your concern with your neck is the prominent vertical bands, Botox may be able to help. While it is most known for eliminating frown lines between the eyebrows or forehead, the basic function of Botox is to relax the muscles so it can be used on most any muscle groups that are contracting to create lines, which includes the neck. Over time the neck develops bands in a V shape from the platysma muscle, which can accentuate any neck bulge or waddle. Botox will relax these muscles and so good clients are those who have a prominent platysma muscle along with good skin tone.
There is no need to feel self conscious of your neck even if you want to avoid surgery and don’t have time for recovery. Kybella and Botox could be your answer to get rid of your turkey neck for Thanksgiving and beyond. Schedule a consultation to see if these effective treatments are a good fit for you at www.davinciplastic.com.
Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon
