Are Platysmal Bands Making Your Neck Look Older?

As you age, you may notice changes in how you look, particularly changes in your face and neck.

One of these changes you may notice is the presence of platysmal bands.

“Platysmal bands are simply long vertical bands of muscle that run up and down along your neck,” says Dr. Heidi Harrington, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. “They tend to become more prominent over time as we get older.”

We break down the basics on platysmal bands, from why they appear as you age to what you can do if they’re undermining your confidence.

What Are Platysmal Bands?

Make a “yuck” face by scrunching up your lower lip and jaw. Do you see bands of muscle popping out on your neck? That’s the platysma muscle in your neck. It helps give your neck its smooth shape and contributes to facial expressions such as aggression, disgust or fear.

As you age, the platysma muscle can be seen as visible bands.

Read More: Liquid Facelift: When You Want to Regain Confidence Fast

What Causes Platysmal Bands?

Also called platysma bands or platysma prominence, platysmal bands happen when your platysma muscle becomes less tightly attached to your neck and jaw.

As the platysma muscle pulls downward, it can make your jawline look less firm. As the muscle separates and thins, it can take on a banded appearance. Additionally, you lose fat pads as you age, which can make the muscle look closer to the surface or more prominent.

How to Recognize Platysmal Bands

Platysmal bands can look different from person to person. You may feel like your face looks tired, worried or unfriendly, even at rest. Changes to your platysma muscle can also affect your jawline. You may notice:

• Jowls
• Marionette lines (puppet lines) that continue below the mouth towards the jawline
• Nasolabial folds (smile lines) extending from the nose to the mouth
• Neck bands
• Neck lines
• Sagging skin or “turkey neck”

Treatment Options for Platysmal Bands

People can have many feelings about their changing appearance. Visible neck changes may not worry you, or they may be distressing.

“It’s important that you be able to face life with confidence,” Dr. Harrington says. “If your goal is to soften age-related changes to your neck and jaw, we have several excellent options available.”

Treatments for platysmal bands include:

• Neck lift — Your plastic surgeon tightens your neck muscles and removes excess fat and sagging skin.
• Neuromodulators — Injected botulinum toxin (Botox) relieves tension in your platysma muscle.
• Platysmaplasty — In this surgical procedure, your provider tightens the platysma muscle to improve neck and jaw appearance. This can take place on its own or as part of a full neck lift.
• Soft tissue fillers — Injected fillers can smooth the shape of your neck.

At Beaufort Memorial, Dr. Harrington, a board-certified plastic surgeon, performs all facial rejuvenation treatments and procedures.

Read More: Botox 101: Your Guide to Smoother Skin and More

Botox for Platysmal Bands

A common, time-tested minimally invasive aesthetic procedure for platysmal bands, Botox injections under the jawline and along the vertical neck bands can relax the platysma muscle and reduce the appearance of signs of aging such as jowls and banding.

In an outpatient visit, you’ll receive multiple small injections to relax the muscle. The needle is very fine, meaning you may not need a local anesthetic or topical numbing cream. Your provider will place the shots under your jawline and along each band, lifting the band away from your neck for greater precision. It can take up to a couple of weeks to see the full results of your procedure.

Botox is very safe, but some people do experience some side effects after treatment. Mild soreness or swelling is normal. You can use ice packs or over-the-counter pain medicine to treat any pain after your injections.

You’ll want to be on the lookout for rare side effects, including:

• Difficulty breathing
• Physical weakness
• Trouble swallowing
• Vision problems or drooping eyelids

If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 right away.

Softening the Look of Neck Bands

You deserve to feel confident about the face (and neck) you present to the world. If you’re worried about age-related changes to the shape of your neck and jaw, noninvasive procedures can make a difference.

1. Platysmal bands (neck bands) are caused by changes to the platysma muscle, which helps give your neck its shape. 
2. Both noninvasive and surgical procedures can reduce the appearance of platysmal bands.
3. Beaufort Memorial offers face and neck plastic surgery in a caring environment, empowering you to face life on your own terms.

Bothered by visible bands along your neck and jawline? Schedule a consultation to discuss your aesthetic goals and explore treatment options at Beaufort Memorial.