Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Good evening Dr. Lam,

So now my face looks great (thank you very much) and I am obsessing about my neck.

Is there any application w/Botox you might use to reduce (for lack of better description) this cordy look?

I have read that there is, perhaps, a risk to the vocal cords. DH assures me this is a risk I am willing to take.

Welcome home and happy birthday!!!

Botox is very safe for the neck. It won't affect the vocal cords unless you are aiming very very very very deep and trying to hit the cords for a condition like spasmodic dysphonia. You are 50 miles away from the cords so there really is no conceivable risk for the vocal cords.

As far as the neck is concerned, there are two areas that people have used Botox to treat: the vertical lines in the middle that are due to the presence of the platysma muscle or the horizontal creases in the neck. I have had great success with treating the platysmal bands but I have never tried to treat the horizontal wrinkles. Having spoken with some dermatologist colleagues of mine, treating the horizontal wrinkles is very disappointing.

Now as to who is a candidate for Botox in the neck: usually the person who has very bounding muscles especially during animation, talking, etc. is a great candidate for treatment. The older patient, say over 55 (no offense to all out there) who has more of a sagging neck, the Botox can actually worsen the neck.

If you are in your 30's and 40's (I have done into the 50's) and have more of a dynamic problem with your platysma muscle, Botox can greatly help.

Thanks for the birthday wishes!
Best,
SML