The need to lift and tighten our necks becomes more of priority as we age with discoloured and wrinkled or sagging skin starting to appear as we hit the age of 40. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most commonly missed areas with many of us forgetting to take our skincare and treatments down to our necks.
This is detrimental because the skin on our neck and décolletage is prone to premature ageing as it’s three times thinner than the skin on our faces. It also lacks the regenerative ability required to bounce back when damaged.
Environmental factors such as excessive UV exposure and over sensitisation from perfume spraying are key causes for our necks and décolletages ageing before their time. They can also often lead to a condition called poikiloderma.
Poikiloderma sounds serious, and for the thinner skin on your neck and chest, it is. Appearing as reddish, brown skin, poikiloderma causes a rough or ‘chicken skin’ texture. This rough texture is elastosis, resulting from abnormal elastin fibres being produced. This can make the skin appear thickened, wrinkled and sagging.
In addition to poikiloderma, some women can develop an ageing ‘veiny’ appearance to the neck. This is due to a muscle called the platysma becoming more prominent, resulting in platysmal bands. These bands contribute to the ‘turkey neck’ that many women experience as they get older.
Suffering from one or more of the above? Don’t worry, here are our top four treatments that really work to lift and tighten your neck and décolletage:
1. Thermage® or Ultraformer III – to tighten and lift skin
Often referred to as the ‘non-surgical face lift’, skin tightening treatments like Thermage® and Ultraformer III are highly effective in firming and lifting skin with little to no downtime. Thermage® uses radiofrequency energy, to deeply heat the skin. This stimulates collagen that will tighten and rejuvenate. The treatment is tolerable and immediately after your skin is visibly tighter, as the collagen fibres contract. Over the following weeks, the deep heat treatment continues to tighten and firm your skin. After around three to six months, you’ll notice improved definition of contours and jawline, increased firmness, reduction of lines and improved hydration and vitality.
Ultraformer III, meanwhile, utilises micro and macro focused ultrasound (MMFU) technology to precisely target multiple deeper layers of the skin. This includes the SMAS layer in the skin – the layer that surgeons pull back when doing a face lift. Like with Thermage®, Ultraformer III causes new collagen stimulation and provides long-term skin tightening.
2. Laser Genesis™ – to smooth wrinkles
Laser Genesis™ is an innovative, non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that is particularly good for reducing skin redness and rosacea. It also shrinks pores, smooths wrinkles and improves skin texture, tone and the appearance of scars. It works by gently heating the upper layer of skin through distributing laser energy over thousands of micro pulses. This stimulates collagen to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Chin sculpting injections – to reduce a double chin
This type of cosmetic injectable destroys and permanently eliminates fat cells from under the chin. Containing a synthesised deoxycholic acid, which occurs naturally in the body, it works to reduce fat, tighten, rejuvenate and contour your jawline for a slimmer, more refined appearance.
4. Anti-wrinkle injections – to reduce platysmal bands
Injectable anti-wrinkle treatments involve small amounts of toxin being injected into specific areas of the face and neck to weaken the muscle movement. This prevents the muscles from contracting to form wrinkles, or from bulging to form a ‘turkey neck’ appearance.
Book an appointment with our masters today to learn more about how we can tighten and rejuvenate your neck and help you master the artistry of you®.
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