Nefertiti Neck Lift Consultation
A consultation-led botulinum toxin treatment for prominent platysmal neck bands and selected lower-face concerns.
The treatment commonly known as the Nefertiti Lift uses carefully placed botulinum toxin injections to reduce activity in selected parts of the platysma — the broad superficial muscle of the neck.
What is a Nefertiti Lift?
The term “Nefertiti Lift” describes the use of botulinum toxin in selected areas of the platysma muscle of the neck and, where appropriate, along the lower jawline.
The platysma is a thin, broad muscle extending from the upper chest and neck towards the lower face. In some people, its activity becomes particularly visible as vertical neck bands or contributes to a downward muscular pull around the lower face.
Reducing selected platysmal activity can soften visible bands and may improve the appearance of the transition between the jawline and neck in appropriately selected patients.
An important distinction
Despite its popular name, a Nefertiti Lift is not a surgical neck lift.
It does not remove loose skin, remove fat or surgically reposition deeper facial tissues.
The best results are therefore seen when muscular activity is an important component of the concern being treated.
What can — and can't — it do?
It may help with
- Prominent vertical platysmal neck bands
- Excessive platysmal activity
- Selected downward muscular pull around the lower face
- Improving the appearance of the jawline–neck transition in suitable patients
- Creating a softer, less tense appearance to the neck
It cannot
- Remove significant loose skin
- Remove submental or neck fat
- Reposition descended facial tissues
- Reliably correct established jowling caused by structural ageing
- Produce the result of a surgical face or neck lift
Is the problem muscle, skin or deeper tissue?
A neck can lose definition for several different reasons. Identifying the dominant cause is more important than simply requesting a particular treatment by name.
Muscle
Visible platysmal bands and strong downward muscular activity are the concerns most directly addressed by botulinum toxin.
Skin
Fine lines, crepiness and skin laxity are different problems. Reducing muscle activity does not directly resurface or tighten loose skin.
Structure & volume
Jowling, fat distribution, skeletal anatomy and deeper tissue descent can all affect jawline definition and may require a different approach.
How does the treatment work?
Botulinum toxin temporarily reduces signalling between nerves and selected muscle fibres. In the neck, the objective is controlled reduction of activity — not complete paralysis of the area.
Platysmal bands
Small injections can be placed into selected visible platysmal bands to reduce their prominence when the muscle contracts.
Lower jawline
Where anatomy and muscular activity make it appropriate, treatment may extend along selected points close to the lower jawline.
Conservative dosing
The neck has important functional anatomy. Treatment therefore requires careful assessment, placement and dosing rather than simply treating a standard injection pattern.
Consultation before treatment
Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. Suitability, prescribing and treatment are therefore considered as part of an appropriate medical consultation.
At Santi, injectable treatment is undertaken by experienced medical practitioners with detailed knowledge of facial and neck anatomy.
Your assessment may include:
- Medical history and current medication
- Previous botulinum toxin treatment
- Assessment of the neck at rest and during movement
- Platysmal band activity
- Jawline and lower-face anatomy
- Skin laxity and quality
- Discussion of realistic treatment objectives
Your treatment journey
Assessment
Your practitioner assesses your neck both at rest and during muscle contraction to understand the pattern of platysmal activity.
Planning
Injection points and dosing are selected according to your anatomy rather than using an identical template for every patient.
Treatment
Small injections are made into the selected areas. The injection stage itself commonly takes around 10–15 minutes.
Results
The effect develops gradually rather than immediately and can usually be assessed more meaningfully after approximately two weeks.
When will I notice a difference?
First few days
There is generally no immediate lifting effect. Botulinum toxin requires time to alter muscle activity.
7–14 days
The reduction in platysmal activity usually becomes increasingly apparent during this period.
Around 3–4 months
Effects are temporary. Muscle activity gradually returns and duration varies between individuals.
Maintenance should be based on the return of clinically relevant muscle activity and your individual treatment plan rather than an assumption that everyone requires treatment on an identical schedule.
Why neck injections require careful technique
Botulinum toxin treatment is generally well tolerated in appropriately selected patients, but it is not risk-free.
Temporary effects around injection sites can include redness, tenderness, swelling and bruising. Treatment can also produce asymmetry or more weakness than intended.
The neck contains muscles involved in important functions. Unintended spread or excessive weakening can, uncommonly, affect neck function or swallowing. Changes in speech or other unwanted muscular effects are also possible depending on the area affected.
This is one reason why treatment of the platysma should be based on anatomy, appropriate dosing and careful patient selection.
Who may not be suitable?
Treatment may not be appropriate if:
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- There is infection at a proposed injection site
- You have certain neuromuscular disorders
- Your medical history or medication creates a contraindication
- The principal concern is significant skin or tissue laxity rather than muscle activity
Previous treatment matters
Tell your practitioner about previous botulinum toxin treatment, neck procedures, surgery and other aesthetic treatments.
Your practitioner will determine suitability during consultation and may recommend against treatment if the likely benefit does not justify it.
After your appointment
Don't massage
Avoid unnecessarily rubbing or massaging the injected areas immediately following treatment.
Follow your clinician's advice
You will be given appropriate post-treatment guidance according to the areas treated and your medical assessment.
Contact us if concerned
If anything feels unusual or you are concerned about your recovery, contact Santi rather than waiting for a routine review.
Consultation-led treatment at Santi
Treatment planning is individual and depends on your platysmal activity, neck anatomy, medical history and the findings of your consultation.
Nefertiti Neck Lift FAQs
Is a Nefertiti Lift really a neck lift?
Not in the surgical sense. The name describes a botulinum toxin technique intended to reduce selected platysmal activity. It does not remove loose skin or surgically reposition tissues.
Can it improve neck bands?
Visible vertical platysmal bands are one of the principal reasons the treatment may be considered. Suitability depends on confirming that muscle activity is responsible for the appearance.
Will it get rid of jowls?
Not reliably. Jowling can result from several age-related structural changes. Reducing downward platysmal activity may subtly alter the appearance of the lower face in selected patients, but it does not reposition descended tissue.
Will it tighten loose neck skin?
Botulinum toxin acts on muscle activity; it is not primarily a skin-tightening treatment. If skin laxity or crepiness is the main concern, another approach may be more appropriate.
When will I see the result?
The effect develops gradually. Changes generally become increasingly visible over approximately 7–14 days rather than immediately after the injections.
How long does a Nefertiti treatment last?
Effects commonly persist for around 3–4 months, although duration varies according to the individual, dose, muscles treated and other factors.
Is it painful?
The treatment involves a series of small injections with a fine needle. Most patients tolerate the procedure well, although individual sensitivity varies.
Can botulinum toxin affect swallowing?
Difficulty swallowing is an uncommon but important potential adverse effect when botulinum toxin is used around the neck. Careful anatomical assessment, placement and dosing are therefore particularly important.
Can it be combined with other neck treatments?
Potentially. The appropriate approach depends on whether the concern arises predominantly from muscle activity, skin quality, laxity, volume or a combination of factors. Combination treatment should therefore follow assessment rather than being automatic.
Explore lower-face and neck treatments
Is the Nefertiti approach right for your neck?
The answer depends on what is creating the change you see. A consultation allows us to distinguish muscular platysmal activity from skin laxity and deeper structural change before deciding whether treatment is appropriate.
Nefertiti / platysma treatment · £500 · Santi London, 33 Thurloe Street, South Kensington, London SW7 2LQ.