An example of what is considered a beautiful neck is that of a bust exhibited in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, that of the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Because? Because this bust reflects the different aspects that we value in an attractive neck: it is long, thin and wrinkle-free. These necks can be found in many young people, but over the years, the frequent movements of this skin under the effect of the muscles that move the neck and head, together with the action of sun exposure, will produce the appearance of wrinkles.
Before continuing, we would like to point out that the neck has muscles at different depths and with different functions. Aesthetic treatments can be performed on the skin, fatty tissue and the platysma muscle. This muscle goes from the sternum and clavicle to the jaw and is the one that contracts when we move the jaw forward, showing “cords” in the neck.
Going back to wrinkles, there are two main types on the neck:
- Fine horizontal wrinkles: fruit of the contraction of the platysma muscle and vertical movements of the neck. These wrinkles look very similar to the wrinkles that form on the face with the contraction of mimic muscles. They are wrinkles in which the skin has lost collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin and, secondarily, water. We can find this type of wrinkles in practically the entire population, even in children. Of course, over the years they become more evident and less “aesthetic”.
- Thick vertical wrinkles, like “ropes” that join the clavicle to the jaw. They are produced by a sagging of the platysma muscle and its, let’s say, “pathological” contraction. These wrinkles give the neck a very aged appearance and are typical of women and men over 40 years of age.
The solution for the two types of wrinkles will be different:
Fine horizontal wrinkles: there are several treatment options:
- Chemical peeling to eliminate the most superficial layer of dehydrated and thickened skin and stimulate the growth of more beautiful and softer skin.
- Fill the wrinkles one by one with a hyaluronic acid that gives volume to those small grooves in the skin.
- Diffusely hydrate the neck through the use of vitamins and amino acids through a mesotherapy treatment.
- A combination of all of the above, which logically has better results than each technique separately.
Thick vertical wrinkles: the treatment consists of relaxing the platysma muscle by injecting small amounts of botulinum toxin (the famous Botox). It is injected into different parts of the muscle to relax it and make wrinkles disappear.
In summary:
A slender neck without vertical wrinkles is typical of youth and is considered beautiful.
Fine “expression” wrinkles on the neck have been present since childhood but can be improved if they worsen over the years.
Vertical “rope” wrinkles are unaesthetic and can be easily resolved by using botulinum toxin.