With age, our faces lose volume, and the skin around our necks tends to lose elasticity and sag. Wrinkles and lines develop, and fat under the chin appears more pronounced. There is a decrease in the production of collagen, muscle atrophy and bone loss that contribute to our aging appearance.
Liquid neck lifts are an alternative to the more dramatic and invasive surgical neck lift. There are a variety of options available to rejuvenate the neck area. Some practitioners use hyaluronic-acid-based fillers like Juvéderm®, Restylane®, or Belotero® to add volume. Collagen-stimulating fillers like Radiesse® and Sculptra® smooth out wrinkles and encourage the body to produce collagen, which may give longer-lasting effects. Botox and similar neurotoxins can also tighten the skin of the neck.
In some cases, deoxycholic acid – known commercially as Kybella – is used to dissolve submental fat. Kybella can be used on its own if the primary issue is fat. It is injected directly into the submental fat (the fat under the chin). For some, this is sufficient. However, if the problem is caused by deeper layers of fat, Kybella cannot help. Patients can expect to see some results immediately. Wrinkles, for instance, will appear smoothed out.
There are some aspects of the treatment that will take time to show. The effects of Kybella ordinarily would take 4 – 6 weeks to be visible, and the results can last about 8 - 18 months.
It is worth noting that some doctors warn that some of the benefits of these procedures are temporary. They cite the need for touch-ups anywhere from every 3 – 4 months for Botox and every 12 - 24 months depending on which fillers are used.
