21-07-2025
My Neck Was Aging Faster Than My Face. Here's What I Did to Slow the Process Down
Who doesn't want to hear the words, 'You have beautiful skin'?
I'd certainly longed to think that way about myself since my pre-teens when my hormones went haywire and my face paid the price.
I can remember the first confidence-busting blemish. Sometime between when I headed to middle school one morning and departed that afternoon, a microscopic zit had groundswelled into a bump the size of a pencil eraser. With a dance just hours away, I did what any other teen might do; descended into my friends' basement bathroom and gouged at the eyesore.
That moment would begin my obsession with my skin, with no pimple surviving my close inspection under a magnifying mirror. As I evolved from college student to beauty reporter/writer/editor, I even had one on my office desk (and believe me, I extracted a few things while sitting at it after hours writing about celebrity skincare routines) until the pandemic forced me to work from my couch.
Then, like many people, I actually found comfort in a consistent routine. But let's be real, I also grew older, and I presume I won the battle with my hormones.
However, age has brought forth new unflattering issues. Yes, from my forehead to my neck, my skin is pristine: even and smooth, and glows like no other, I'm told. But, when I began to notice lines along my neck, that teenage panic set in again.
Like any beauty editor would, I assessed my regimen, and raided my medicine cabinet. I'd already been in the habit of drawing my skincare down to my neck, but now I reached for neck-specific products, hoping something would soften the look of these newfound lines. Nothing worked.
Next: I called my dermatologist, Dr. Anna Karp, who I like to think of as part doctor, part therapist. (She reminds me that even babies have other smile lines among other helpful things.) In spring 2025, I sat in her chair to discuss my new area of concern, and it turns out my timing was impeccable.
In October 2024, Allergan Aesthetics scored a major FDA approval milestone when the company's Botox Cosmetic injectable became the first and only one approved for the use in the jaw and neck to temporarily improve the look of platysma muscle (otherwise known as the vertical lines that run from the jaw to the neck) in adults.
When Dr. Karp explained the development to me, I felt so seen. I am not alone. Dr. Karp says there's an uptick in curiosity, noting that more patients 'are interested in this 'Nefertiti lift,' which uses Botox Cosmetic along the lower jaw and platysma muscle to soften the vertical bands.' She posits this is likely the result of factors such as tech neck.
That struck a chord with me. Though I have covered beauty, and as a result slathered lotions and potions all over my face, ahem, more than 15 years, the end result of testing was writing endless reviews while hunched over a laptop much like I am now. Another factor was something I have labeled 'Zoom scrutiny,' ie: the effect of watching, nay, analyzing your own face on screen during meetings.
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Dr. Karp made me make an 'eek' face. It reminded me of when a general practitioner makes you say, 'ahh.' This way, she said, she could get a closer look at how my neck contracts. She then explained I'd be a good candidate for Botox Cosmetic in the platysma because I showed early signs of skin laxity and some dynamic movement of the platysma muscle contributing to lower face heaviness.
While my bands had not entered moderate territory (those with moderate to severe bands are ideal candidates, she says), Dr. Karp added I'd still be a good candidate to try the cosmetic treatment because in addition to helping soften neck bands, treating the platysma with Botox Cosmetic can also help improve the contour of the jawline, and create a more lifted, youthful appearance in the lower face.
'The goal is a smoother, more elegant neck and enhanced definition along the jaw,' she affirmed.
Like any fabulous doctor would (visit to find a trained provider; prices vary by provider), Dr. Karp also explained what the treatment would not do. For instance, I also have horizontal lines, which this would not improve. Additionally, it would not tighten skin.
I live my life by a tight schedule, so I asked about a timeline. She said it was possible I could see results in as little as a couple of days, with full results visible at about the two week mark. Results from the temporary treatment could last for up to four months.
Dr. Karp then presented the bottle of Botox Cosmetic for my treatment. Like all new bottles, it contained 100 units (a standardized measurement) of the neurotoxin. She injected 16 units in my jawline and 20 units in my neck, a typical amount for treating platysma bands, she explained.
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I promise, it didn't hurt. It felt more like a quick pinch than anything else. And it was over in what felt like a minute. Now I had to wait — and see.
A few days passed. And a few more. And at first I wasn't sure if I could notice a difference, and then I kind of forgot I'd done anything at all. It was different than when you get a facial and have that instantly gratifying sculpted silhouette (which only lasts a few hours, I might add). At times, I'd spot myself talking and think my neck appeared smoother, but, was it really?
Then, exactly three weeks to the day that I had the treatment, I sat with two very discerning friends at dinner and one said, 'Your skin always looks this great, but what did you do to your…'
As her finger drew a virtual circle around my neck, I exclaimed, 'I got Botox!' and told them both about the experience. Then, I asked what specifically they noticed, to which one replied, 'the area just looks more…snatched.'
And with that I called Dr. Karp's office and booked my next appointment.
Read the original article on People
