Nefertiti Lift: Botox for the Jawline and Neck Bands

The Nefertiti lift takes its name from the Egyptian queen whose famous bust shows a long neck and a crisp, defined jawline. The treatment aims for a softer version of that look. It uses Botox, the same purified protein used for frown lines and crow's feet, placed along the lower edge of the jaw and into the vertical bands of the neck.

How it works

The platysma is a thin, sheet-like muscle that runs from the collarbone up over the front of the neck and attaches along the jawline. Every time it contracts, it pulls the lower face and jaw slightly downward. Over the years that repeated pull can blur the line between jaw and neck, and the muscle's edges can stand out as vertical cords, often called neck bands.

A Nefertiti lift relaxes the parts of the platysma responsible for that downward pull. With less tension dragging them down, the muscles that lift the face work with less resistance. The result can be a more defined jawline, softer neck bands and a neck that looks smoother when you talk or tense it.

What it can and cannot do

It can soften visible neck bands, give the jawline a little more definition and smooth some of the tension that shows when the neck is strained.
It cannot remove loose skin, reduce fat under the chin or lift sagging jowls in a meaningful way. Those are structural changes, and relaxing a muscle does not reverse them.

That distinction is what decides whether the treatment is worth doing. The same neck can look like a candidate in a photograph and not in person, which is why the assessment matters more than the injection.

Who it suits

The best results tend to come in people whose main concern is the muscle rather than the skin: prominent bands that stand out when talking or exercising, or a jawline that has started to soften while the skin still has reasonable elasticity. That is often in the thirties to fifties, though age matters less than what the neck is doing.

Where the skin has loosened significantly, or fat sits under the chin, Botox alone will disappoint. A neck lift addresses loose skin and the muscle directly, and the guide to turkey neck explains how the different causes of an aging neck are told apart. Fullness under the chin may respond better to Kybella or chin liposuction.

The treatment

A Nefertiti lift is an office procedure and usually takes around fifteen minutes. After the neck is assessed while you are relaxed and while you tense it, a series of small injections is placed along the jawline and into the bands. No anesthesia is needed for most people, and there is no downtime in the usual sense.

The aftercare is the same as for Botox elsewhere: stay upright for a few hours, avoid rubbing or massaging the area, and skip strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. The Botox aftercare guide covers the details.

Results and how long they last

The effect starts to appear within a few days and settles over about two weeks. Results typically last three to four months, after which the muscle gradually returns to its usual activity and the treatment can be repeated. The guide to how long Botox lasts explains what affects duration.

Safety and side effects

The most common effects are small bruises, mild swelling and tenderness at the injection points, which pass within days. The neck also contains muscles involved in swallowing and in holding up the head, so placement and dose matter here more than almost anywhere else Botox is used. Too much, or product placed too deep, can cause neck weakness or difficulty swallowing. These effects are temporary, but they are the reason this treatment should be done by someone who knows the anatomy of the neck well.

Combining it with other treatments

A Nefertiti lift is often one part of a plan rather than the whole plan. It pairs naturally with jawline filler, which adds structure where the jaw has lost definition, and with Botox in other areas of the face. For horizontal creases rather than vertical bands, see the guide to neck lines.

The short version

A Nefertiti lift uses Botox to relax the neck muscle that pulls the jawline down. It can sharpen the jaw and soften neck bands for about three to four months, with very little downtime. It works best when the muscle is the main issue and the skin is still in good condition. When loose skin or fat is the cause, a neck lift or a treatment aimed at fat will do what Botox cannot.

Wondering whether your neck would respond?

A consultation looks at the bands, the skin and the jawline together, so you know whether Botox will help or whether another treatment would serve you better.

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A Nefertiti lift is a Botox treatment along the lower jawline and the vertical bands of the neck. It relaxes the platysma, the thin muscle that pulls the lower face and jawline downward, so the jaw can look more defined and the neck bands softer.

Like Botox elsewhere, results usually last about three to four months. The effect starts to show within a few days and settles over about two weeks.

Most people find it quick and tolerable. It is a series of small injections with a fine needle, and you can usually return to normal activity the same day.

People with visible neck bands or a jawline that is starting to lose definition, but who still have reasonable skin quality. It does not tighten loose skin or remove fat.

No. A neck lift is surgery that removes loose skin and tightens the underlying muscle, and the result lasts years. A Nefertiti lift relaxes the muscle temporarily and needs repeating.

Bruising, swelling and tenderness at the injection points are the most common and pass quickly. Because the neck contains muscles used for swallowing, careful placement and dosing matter, which is why an experienced injector is important.