We put so much focus on our face that it’s easy to forget what people see below the jawline! Our chin and neck can give us away if we have a softened jawline and neck bands, also known as necklace lines.
You may be interested in a Nefertiti lift if you want to reverse the signs of aging along your lower face, jaw, and neck. This cosmetic procedure can be done in a doctor’s office and involves several injections in the area you want to be treated.
It’s a procedure that lasts several months and may help you delay or skip a more invasive type of cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift.
Learn more about the Nefertiti lift, including what the procedure and recovery are like, and how much it typically costs.
What’s a Nefertiti lift?
A Nefertiti lift is a cosmetic procedure performed with botulinum toxin injections in the lower part of your face, jaw, and neck.
Botulinum toxin is also known under the brand names BOTOX®, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. It’s a substance made from bacteria that when injected temporarily blocks nerves in your muscles to prevent contraction. Muscle contraction can cause wrinkles and other signs of aging.
The procedure’s name refers to the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, known for her elongated, thin neck. The Nefertiti lift targets the platysma band of muscles that run vertically from the bottom of the face to your collarbone.
A doctor will inject botulinum toxin into specific parts of this muscle to:
- lessen lines around the bottom part of the face
- smooth dimpled skin on the chin
- erase or reduce folds or sagging of the lower part of the face
- even out the symmetry of the lower face, jaw, and neck
- remove lines on the neck
- create a more pronounced definition of the jaw
A Nefertiti lift is a temporary way to restore a youthful look without surgery.
It’s important to know that the use of botulinum toxin in the platysma is considered off-label. This means it hasn’t been reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in specifically treating the lower face, jaw, and neck.
Firm Up Your Jawline with BOTOX®
Our jawline naturally softens as we age. And the neck bands or necklace lines, also called platysma bands, are caused by the tightening of the platysma muscles which run from the jawline to the collarbone area. The muscles engage when you turn the corners of your mouth down or, according to some studies, use a cell phone excessively.
What does a Nefertiti lift do?
Egyptian Queen Nefertiti was admired for her strength and beauty including her long, elegant neck and strong jaw. Her name even means “a beautiful woman has come.” Today, she lends her name to the Nefertiti lift, which gives you a youthful and elegant appearance by targeting the lower part of the face, chin, jawline, and neck.
You can bring back the definition your jawline and lower face has lost and smooth neck lines with this BOTOX® treatment, the safest, most affordable, and popular way to treat the platysma area.
After your appointment you won’t have downtime or discomfort. You can even have the BOTOX® Nefertiti treatment during your lunch break and get right back to your day, as long as you avoid laying down or working out for about four hours afterwards.
The average BOTOX® dose for the neck area is just 10 units per band. Who says beauty has to break the bank?
Is a Nefertiti lift effective?
Several studies in the last decade have found the procedure to have positive results.
One study examined several prior articles on the Nefertiti lift and found that it’s a highly effective treatment. One of the articles the study detailed found that 88.4 percent of participants observed an improvement in the appearance of their neck after the procedure.
A 2007 studyTrusted Source found that the Nefertiti lift was an effective, minimally invasive alternative for those wanting to push back or eliminate more invasive cosmetic surgery.
Keep in mind that this procedure doesn’t fix signs of aging permanently. The results of a Nefertiti lift only last a few months to half a year.
BOTOX® Masseter
Who’s a good candidate for a Nefertiti lift?
The Nefertiti lift is an outpatient procedure that requires a doctor to inject a substance into your face, neck, and jaw.
It doesn’t require surgery, so many people can undergo the procedure with minimal risk. Those unhappy with signs of aging may be the ideal candidates for the procedure.
Several groups of people may not be good candidates for the Nefertiti lift. These include those:
- who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- diagnosed with or who have a family history of certain health conditions like myasthenia gravis or Eaton-Lambert syndrome
- with an infection
- taking any medications or drugs that aren’t compatible with botulinum toxin
- with certain psychological conditions
What’s the procedure like?
A Nefertiti lift involves:
- a consultation with a doctor to discuss your treatment goals
- an examination from your doctor to evaluate your physical health, your family history, and the requirements of the procedure
- an outpatient session of 15 minutes or more where a doctor will use a small needle to inject botulinum toxin into the muscle band along your lower face, jaw, and neck about a half inch apart
What’s the recovery like?
This procedure involves very little recovery. You can leave your appointment and resume daily activities with no downtime.
You may need more than one procedure to achieve your desired results.
Your doctor will determine the specific injections you need based on a personal evaluation. For example, you may need more injections on one side of your body than the other side to create symmetry.
Are there side effects or precautions to be aware of?
There are some side effects of the Nefertiti lift, similar to other cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin. These include:
- bruising or redness at the injection site
- difficulty swallowing
- weakness in your neck
- flu-like symptoms
- headache
You may experience side effects if you receive an injection with too much botulinum toxin or an injection in the wrong place.
Talk to your doctor about how to prepare and recover from the procedure to minimize any side effects.
How long does it take for Nefertiti lift to work?
The results of your Nefertiti Lift should be visible after one to three days, and you should be seeing the full effect after two weeks. The full effect will last for anywhere between three to six months
