Neck Lines

Neck lines are a normal part of the aging process.
They are caused by changes in the skin as you age, UV exposure, and repetitive movements over time.
There are many non-surgical treatment options, but only a neck lift surgery can provide long-lasting results without the need for multiple treatments.

Why Do Neck Lines Develop?

Like other wrinkles and creases, neck lines form for a variety of reasons. In general, the causes of neck lines and facial wrinkles are largely the same.

Aging Process and Skin Elasticity Loss

As you age, your skin produces less collagen and elastin, which are proteins that provide skin with its elasticity and firmness. The reduction in these proteins leads to sagging skin and the formation of lines and wrinkles. The skin also becomes thinner with age, making it more prone to creasing and the formation of lines.

As is true of facial expression lines, habitual neck movements can contribute to the development of lines over time. Gravity also plays a role. Over time, the effects of gravity cause the skin to sag, contributing to the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the neck.

Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Choices

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, leading to premature aging. Prolonged sun exposure can accelerate the development of wrinkles and lines on the neck.

Lifestyle choices also play a role in the formation of neck lines. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and speeds up the breakdown of collagen and elastin, leading to earlier and more pronounced neck wrinkles. A diet lacking in essential nutrients, particularly those that support skin health (like vitamins C and E), also contributes to the development of wrinkles.

Genetic Predisposition and Skin Type

Some people may be genetically predisposed to neck lines and have their parents to thank. These people may develop neck lines earlier in life or have more prominent lines than others due to the inherited structure and characteristics of their skin.

Skin tone also plays a role. People with darker skin suffer less sun damage than lighter-skinned people. As a result, those with darker skin may develop neck lines and other signs of aging 10 to 20 years later than people with light skin.

Are Neck Lines Normal?

Although they can vary greatly in severity from one individual to another, neck lines are a perfectly normal and common part of aging. Neck lines cause no physical harm but can impact psychological health. Many people struggle with self-esteem or self-confidence issues, fearing that their neck lines betray their age. They may hyper focus on these wrinkles and become embarrassed by them or start to dwell on the fact that they are aging.

Can Young People Have Neck Lines?

We associate neck lines and other wrinkles with age, but young people may also find themselves battling these creases. As mentioned above, lifestyle choices like smoking and eating a poor diet can contribute to early aging. So can excessive UV exposure. But younger people are also experiencing a new phenomenon known as “tech neck.”

As technology continues to develop, we spend an increasing amount of time looking down at our phones, tablets, and other screens. When we do, creases form in the skin of our neck. The more time we spend with our heads bent down in this way, the more likely neck wrinkles are to appear—often much earlier than we expect.

Key Ways to Prevent Neck Lines from Developing

You may not have control over genetics, but you can take steps to prevent the other causes of neck wrinkles. Here are a few things you can do to help protect yourself:

  • Wear sunscreen every day
  • Eat a healthy diet high in zinc, vitamin E, vitamin K, and B vitamins
  • Drink lots of water and stay hydrated
  • Moisturize your skin daily
  • Develop a skincare regimen with peptides, retinol, and other anti-aging elements
  • Avoid harmful habits like smoking and poor posture
  • Take a break from your tech when you can

At-Home Exercises to Help Reduce Neck Lines

If you wish to try them, there are a few exercises you can do at home that may reduce the appearance of neck lines. Progress is usually slow, however, and it takes time and consistency to achieve results.

Many people find that neck exercises fail to entirely eliminate their neck line problem. Still, there’s no harm in trying. Exercises include:

  • Jaw juts
  • Tongue stretches
  • Chin lifts
  • Platysma exercises
  • Head turns

There are also massage techniques that can reduce the appearance of neck lines. Like neck exercises, these may or may not work for you but require consistency and time to work when they do. These techniques are known as:

  • Kneading massage
  • Circular massage
  • The pinching technique
  • Sculpting massage

Non-Surgical Solutions

We get it: surgery just isn’t for everyone. If you prefer to handle your neck lines without going under the knife, there are several alternatives you can consider.

Topical Treatments and Creams

Topical treatments like creams and lotions sometimes reduce the appearance of neck wrinkles, especially when the wrinkles aren’t deep. Look for treatments that contain retinoids, peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid.

Chemical peels may also assist you. These use a mild acid to remove the top several layers of skin to reveal newer, fresher skin underneath. These peels are best performed by a professional. You can repeat mild peels every 4 to 6 weeks but must wait longer in between more intense peels.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

There are also several minimally invasive procedures for treating neck wrinkles. One is microneedling. Microneedling involves the use of tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production. This treatment can improve the texture and tone of the skin, reduce the appearance of neck lines, and promote firmer, more youthful-looking skin. Like chemical peels, microneedling is typically done every 4 to 6 weeks.

Another option is Botox. Botox is a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscles, smoothing out wrinkles caused by repetitive movements. Botox can be injected into the neck bands (platysma muscle) to reduce the appearance of neck lines and prevent further deepening of wrinkles. Botox treatments typically last 3 to 6 months, after which repeat treatments are needed.

You may also opt for dermal fillers, which are injected under the skin to fill in deep lines and wrinkles. Fillers can be used for neck lines and provide immediate results. The effects of dermal fillers can last 6 to 18 months, depending on the type of filler used. At Mia Aesthetics, we use Juvéderm brand hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers.

Ultrasound therapy is also available. This treatment uses focused ultrasound energy to penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating collagen production and lifting and tightening the skin. It is effective for neck lines and sagging skin. Typically, one treatment is needed, with results developing over 2-3 months. Maintenance treatments can be done annually.

Laser and Radiofrequency Treatments

Laser treatments, such as fractional laser resurfacing, use focused light energy to stimulate collagen production and resurface the skin. Laser treatments can effectively reduce the appearance of neck lines, tighten the skin, and improve overall skin texture. Depending on the type of laser used, multiple sessions may be required, typically spaced several weeks apart.

Radiofrequency (RF) therapy uses heat energy to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin. RF therapy can help reduce the appearance of neck lines but, like laser treatments, require multiple sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart. After that, maintenance sessions are scheduled as needed.

Surgical Solutions

As you’ve probably noticed, the problem with non-surgical solutions is that none of them are permanent. All require further treatment in a few weeks or months, and these multiple sessions can add up, approaching the cost of a surgery over time. Surgical options, however, easily last up to 15 years.

Neck Lift Surgery

Neck lift surgery involves an incision that begins in the hairline near the sideburn, continues down and around the ear, and ends in the posterior hairline at the back of the head. Working through the incisions, the surgeon tightens the underlying muscles and tissues while removing excess skin and fat.

Neck lifts can address a loss of muscle tone in the neck, neck lines, and sagging skin. This is typically the best procedure for those with deep neck lines. Good candidates are healthy, nonsmokers, who have realistic expectations about what surgery can and can’t do.

Mini Neck Lift for Subtle Improvements

A mini neck lift strives to do much of the same things as a regular neck lift but on a smaller scale. Using smaller incisions, a mini neck lift helps reshape the muscle and remove excess fat for those who have only mild neck lines and minimal fat. This work is achieved through either small incisions behind the ears or a small incision under the chin.

A mini neck lift leads to faster recovery times but allows for only minimal surgical intervention. As such, the results of a mini neck lift won’t last as long as those of a traditional neck lift.

Combining a Neck Lift with a Facelift

Many patients opt to combine their neck lift with a facelift. Doing so offers many advantages, not the least of which is a unified appearance. Doing the neck without the face can lead to a disjointed appearance if both are showing signs of age.

Combining the procedures also means undergoing only one recovery period rather than recovering from two surgeries at different times. You can also save money by combining the procedures, paying any surgical facility or operating room fees only once.

Of course, there are cons to combining the procedures. While it can save you money over time, it means coming up with a bit more money up front. Joining the two procedures can also make for a longer recovery period as well as a more dramatic change. Some patients prefer subtler improvements. Combining the procedures also makes for a longer surgery, which means more time under general anesthesia.

Generally, combining the procedures is best when both your neck and face are showing similar signs of age and you would like to freshen up both. You will need to be healthy enough to undergo a longer anesthesia period, however, and be prepared to devote adequate time to a slightly longer recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Young people can experience neck lines for a variety of reasons. Most often, tech neck or sleeping position are to blame. Sleeping propped on multiple pillows can bend the neck, causing wrinkles in the skin that last for hours every night. But genetics can be a factor, as can a poor diet, UV exposure, and smoking.

Natural interventions can improve the appearance of neck lines, but they won’t reverse them. Only surgery can physically remove them by making adjustments to the skin and underlying structure as necessary. Moisturizer, sunscreen, anti-aging treatments, and neck exercises can all help to soften existing neck lines and slow their progression.

Neck lines usually refer to horizontal lines or wrinkles that run across the front of the neck. Vertical lines are caused by the platysma muscles. These vertical bands are far more rigid than horizontal neck lines. Both horizontal and vertical lines tend to become more prevalent with age but can appear in young people as well. Although each is used to treat both conditions, dermal filler is often chosen for neck lines (horizontal lines) while Botox tends to be preferred for treating platysma bands (vertical lines).

Yes. Neck lines do get worse with age as the skin loses collagen and elastin. If these lines appear later in your life, this fact may not bother you. But those who experience neck lines at a young age are often concerned about their potential progression.

Fine lines in the neck can often be treated with retinoid creams, microneedling, chemical peels, or Botox. Deeper lines require dermal fillers or surgical intervention to improve. When neck lines run deep, a neck lift is the only long-lasting treatment.

Yes — especially if you develop better screen habits before your neck lines appear. But it’s never too late! Improve your posture, hold handheld screens at eye level, and take frequent breaks. These practices reduce the amount of time your neck is bent forward, thereby reducing the amount of time wrinkles are present in the skin.

It can help to think of your neck skin as a sheet of paper. If you fold it in half lightly once or twice, the crease isn’t very deep when you open the paper back up. But if you put more pressure on the fold, the crease will deepen. This is the same thing that happens to your neck skin, with time equating to the pressure placed on the paper.

Neck lines don’t have to be permanent. Treatment can greatly reduce their appearance and even eliminate them. Most treatment options, however, such as Botox or dermal fillers, fix the problem only temporarily. They require ongoing maintenance to be effective in the long term. A neck lift is considered a permanent solution, but be aware that the aging process will continue after your surgery. Lift results can last five to 15 years, but lines could come back eventually.

The neck ages quickly because the skin there is thinner, has fewer oil glands, and produces less collagen and elastin than other skin. Your neck is also exposed to UV rays more often than much of your other skin. Tech neck is also a factor, as it strains the skin in a unique way.

If your neck lines bother you, it’s time to consider treatment. Neck lines are a cosmetic issue rather than a medical one. They won’t hurt you or cause any physical pain. If you have neck lines but they don’t really upset you, then you can absolutely take a “no harm, no foul” approach and leave them be. But if they’re the only thing you can see when you look in the mirror and you worry about them, talk to a plastic surgeon to explore your options.

Botox and fillers can both significantly reduce the appearance of neck lines in some cases, but they are by no means a cure for the problem. They can greatly reduce their appearance, and new, shallow neck lines may practically disappear after treatment. But as the lines deepen over time, these treatments become less effective. The best option for deep neck wrinkles is often a neck lift, which will pull the skin tight again to smooth the wrinkles out.

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