Droopy Jowls - Nefertiti Lift

There are 3 main factors that cause Jowls to develop and they are as follows:

• Gravity: Unfortunately gravity is always acting against us and over many years our cheeks start to sag as a result.
• Loss of elasticity of the skin: As we get older the amount of elastin and collagen in our skin starts to reduce. Both these proteins are essential for the health and elasticity of our skin and as their levels drop, it means our skin is less able to retain its shape and therefore is more susceptible to sagging.
• Skin attachment to muscle: The attachment between the skin and the underlying muscle becomes weaker meaning the skin has less to ‘hang on’ to. This will significantly accelerate the development of sagging jowls.

Nefertiti was a queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She was the Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Between them, Nefertiti and her husband were known for a religious revolution, in which they worshipped one god only, Aten, or the Sun God.

Queen Nefertiti is well-known as an ancient symbol of beauty. In the image above she is depicted with a long slender elegant neckline and a well defined and refined chin line.  Her image is now used as a benchmark for assessing facial beauty.

The Nefertiti Lift aims to re-establish the chin and necklines of the revered Queen Nefertiti.

A Nefertiti Lift is a Non-Surgical and Non-invasive cosmetic procedure that involves injecting muscle relaxing injections into the muscles of the neck and jaw. The goal of these injections is to enhance the jaw and necklines and correct facial proportions. Muscle relaxant injections work by shrinking the jaw/Masseter muscle as well as relaxing the neck Platysmal muscles, creating a sharp and tapered face like Nefertiti herself.

Anti Wrinkle Injections are known to work by relaxing the muscle which causes the muscle to lengthen and hence tightening the skin above.

It does seem strange that muscle relaxing injections work by relaxing muscles yet here they are being used to lift and tighten the face!  The explanation lies in the interplay between different muscle groups. The “depressor” muscle group pulls facial features down while the “elevator” muscle groups pull facial features up.

Muscle relaxing injections are used to relax the “depressor” muscle group.  This leaves the “elevator” muscle group to work un-apposed.  This creates a lifting and tightening effect to pull the jowls back up again.

1. It can reduce the lines around the bottom half of the face
2. Helps to reduce lines and banding on the neck
3. Can help with chin dimpling
4. Can reduce sagging of lower half of the face
5. Improve the symmetry of the lower face, jaw and neck
6. Improves the definition of the jawline.

A Nefertiti lift is a temporary treatment. Its effects can last up to four months.

The platysma neck muscle is a superficial muscle covering the neck, originating from the pectoralis and extending into the chin and jawline. When this muscle contracts, it pulls downward on the mouth corners, neck, and lower face. This repetitive, constrictive movement causes the platysma muscles to move forward, creating more visible neckbands. As we age, we lose skin elasticity and collagen present in the skin, causing the skin around the neck area to become thinner, emphasising fine lines, wrinkles, and platysma neckbands.

Stress and anxiety can also contribute to visible neck bands as the neck, shoulders, and teeth clench or tighten due to stress and anxiety, increasing the constant platysma muscle contractions. High-intensity workouts can also influence the neck area, where certain activities cause the muscles to tense, bracing for overwhelming pressure. In some cases, genetics and weight loss may also affect the appearance of prominent neck bands due to the reduction and accumulation of fat deposits and skin laxity.

Although anti-wrinkle injections/muscle relaxants can lift jowls, their effectiveness really does depend on the extent of the sagging. If you have large drooping jowls then anti-wrinkle injections are unlikely to give you the results that you desire. In such cases, you really would be better off considering a surgical procedure. The main advantage of using anti-wrinkle injections/ muscle relaxants to lift the jowls rather than surgery is the fact that there is no recovery period required. A Nefertiti Lift procedure can be carried out very quickly and it is extremely safe. Muscle relaxing injections side effects are rare and it is far cheaper than surgery, although it does need repeating.

In summary, muscle relaxants can lift jowls although there is a limit to what they can treat. When considering the procedure it is important that you use a practitioner who is experienced in performing the Nefertiti Lift to ensure you get the best possible results.

Muscle relaxant injections are not suitable for those that are breastfeeding, pregnant, neurological conditions, diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis or Eaton-Lambert Syndrome and active infections on the face or neck.

A Systematic review study in 2018, found that the treatment was highly effective and that 88.4% of participants had improvements in the appearance of their neck after having the treatment.

In another study, it was found that the Nefertiti lift was an effective treatment as well as being an effective way to eliminate surgery.

Before patients undergo treatment, a consultation with Dr Targett is conducted to evaluate their suitability, including assessing the neck area, their health, concerns, and desired outcomes for the treatment. Patients with significant sagging skin or fat deposits may not benefit from anti-wrinkle injections in the area and may require more invasive surgery. Dr Targett needs to evaluate this to craft a tailored treatment plan that effectively targets your concerns and contributes to desired outcomes.

The treatment takes less than an hour, and patients find it relatively painless. Anaesthetic or numbing cream is not usually required but can be administered upon request during your consultation. You may be asked to pose so that the neckbands protrude out. Dr Targett will then administer anti-wrinkle injections along the length of each band to block the nerve signals in that area to weaken the platysmal muscles in a controlled manner. In some cases, injections may be around the jawline, depending on the complexity and extent of your concerns. The platysma muscles will begin to relax and recede over time, blending in with your natural neck contour.

You may return to work or head home immediately after your treatment, as minimal recovery is involved. You may experience some tenderness, bruising, swelling, and redness around the injection sites, but this is a normal post-treatment experience that can be mitigated through pre- and post-treatment care, as advised by Dr Targett.

A few days after your treatment, you may notice a visible improvement in your neck as the anti-wrinkle injections start to relax the platysmal muscles. The full results will be seen roughly ten days post-treatment, with skin appearing smoother and more youthful. The platysmal neck bands will have receded fully into the natural contours of your neck and will completely revitalise your lower facial appearance.

Nefertiti lift using muscle relaxants will have limited success for more severe droopy jowls, as depicted in the before and after image below.

Such cases can however be corrected non surgically using dermal fillers placed in the superficial fat plane or alternatively by using facial thread lift.  The image below was corrected using thread lift, achieving a successful result.