Neck wrinkles develop as part of the natural ageing process, although the neck often begins to show signs of ageing earlier than other areas because the skin is relatively thin and delicate.

Several factors can contribute:

Natural ageing
Collagen and elastin production reduces over time, causing the skin to become thinner, less firm and more prone to fine lines and crepiness.

Skin quality
The neck has fewer sebaceous glands than many areas of the face, which can contribute to dryness and make changes in skin texture more noticeable.

Sun exposure
Repeated UV exposure damages collagen and elastin and contributes to pigmentation, fine lines and premature skin ageing. Protecting the neck and décolletage with daily SPF is therefore just as important as protecting the face.

Repeated movement
Looking down and repeatedly moving the neck can contribute to horizontal neck lines becoming increasingly visible over time.

Platysma muscle activity
The platysma is a broad superficial muscle extending across the neck. As we age, its vertical bands can become increasingly visible, contributing to lines, pulling and loss of definition around the neck and jawline.

Changes beneath the skin
Loss of structural support, changes in fat distribution and increasing skin laxity can all alter the contour of the neck.

Understanding which of these factors is most important is key to choosing the right treatment.

Platysmal bands are the vertical lines or cords that can become visible at the front and sides of the neck, particularly when speaking, smiling or tightening the neck muscles.

They are caused by activity within the platysma muscle, rather than simply by wrinkles in the skin.

Where appropriate, carefully placed anti-wrinkle injections into the platysma can reduce excessive muscle pull and soften the appearance of these bands.

They can also form part of a wider neck rejuvenation treatment when muscle activity is contributing to loss of jawline or neck definition.

Anti-wrinkle injections can be very useful when visible neck ageing is being caused partly by platysmal muscle activity.

Small amounts of botulinum toxin can be placed strategically into the platysma to soften prominent bands and reduce downward muscular pull.

This is different from treating skin laxity itself. If crepey skin, collagen loss or deeper structural changes are also present, anti-wrinkle treatment may be combined with skin boosters, biostimulation, laser or radiofrequency treatments.

At Thames Skin Clinic, we assess the muscle, skin and underlying structures before deciding whether platysmal band treatment is appropriate.

Yes. Good skincare can improve skin quality, hydration and texture and help protect the collagen already present within the skin.

A consistent routine may include hydration, antioxidants, ingredients supporting healthy cell renewal and daily sun protection.

At Thames Skin Clinic we use ZO Skin Health, a medical-grade skincare range developed by Dr Zein Obagi. Treatment programmes can be adapted for the more delicate skin of the neck and may focus on barrier health, antioxidant protection, pigmentation and supporting collagen and elastin.

Daily broad-spectrum SPF is particularly important. The neck receives considerable incidental UV exposure but is frequently protected less consistently than the face.

Skincare cannot reposition significantly lax tissue, so deeper neck lines or crepey, lax skin may benefit from combining home skincare with in-clinic treatment.

The best treatment depends on what is creating the wrinkle or change in the neck.

At Thames Skin Clinic, treatment options may include:

Profhilo
An injectable hyaluronic acid treatment designed to improve hydration and support skin quality. It can be particularly useful where the neck has become dehydrated or crepey.

JULÄINE
A collagen-stimulating injectable treatment that can be considered where loss of collagen and skin quality are contributing to neck ageing.

Polynucleotides
Regenerative injectable treatments used to support skin quality, hydration and tissue repair.

Anti-wrinkle injections for platysmal bands
Used where excessive platysma activity is creating prominent vertical neck bands or contributing to downward pull.

Laser Genesis
A non-ablative laser treatment used to gradually improve skin quality and support collagen remodelling with minimal downtime.

Secret RF
Radiofrequency microneedling combines controlled microneedling with radiofrequency energy delivered into the deeper skin to stimulate collagen and improve texture, fine lines and laxity.

Secret PRO
Secret PRO allows us to combine radiofrequency microneedling with fractional resurfacing where more intensive treatment of skin texture, wrinkles and laxity is required.

Fotona laser treatment
Fotona provides a number of laser modalities that can be used to target different layers of the neck, supporting collagen remodelling, skin tightening and improvement in surface texture.

The strongest treatment plans often combine treatments working at different tissue depths rather than relying on one procedure alone.

Laser treatment can help improve neck skin where collagen loss, fine lines, crepiness or mild skin laxity are contributing to the appearance.
Different lasers work at different depths.
At Thames Skin Clinic, we may use Laser Genesis to gently stimulate collagen and improve overall skin quality or Fotona laser treatments where deeper collagen remodelling or resurfacing is required.
The appropriate treatment depends on the thickness and quality of the skin, the degree of laxity and whether surface texture also needs to be addressed.
Laser treatment can also be combined with injectables or radiofrequency treatments as part of a more comprehensive neck rejuvenation programme.

Secret RF uses radiofrequency microneedling to deliver controlled energy into the deeper layers of the skin.

This stimulates a healing response and encourages new collagen and elastin formation.

It can be particularly useful for neck concerns including:

• crepey skin
• fine lines
• loss of firmness
• uneven texture
• mild to moderate skin laxity

Results develop gradually as collagen remodels following treatment.

For patients requiring greater resurfacing as well as deeper collagen stimulation, Secret PRO may also be considered.

Profhilo can be particularly helpful where the neck has become dehydrated, thin or crepey.
It contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid and is injected at specific points to improve hydration and support the quality and elasticity of the skin.
Profhilo does not work like dermal filler and is not designed to create volume or physically fill each individual neck line.
Instead, improvement develops gradually as skin hydration and quality improve.
For deeper lines or more significant laxity, Profhilo may form one part of a combination treatment plan.

JULÄINE is a collagen biostimulator and may be considered when reduced collagen production and loss of skin quality are contributing to neck ageing.
Rather than simply hydrating the skin, biostimulation is intended to encourage the skin to produce more of its own structural support over time.
It may be used alone or alongside other treatments depending on the quality and thickness of the skin and the degree of laxity present.

The Thames Neck Lift is a personalised combination approach designed to treat the different factors contributing to neck ageing rather than treating every neck in exactly the same way.
Depending on your anatomy and concerns, treatment may incorporate anti-wrinkle injections for platysmal bands, dermal filler, skin boosters and regenerative or collagen-stimulating treatments.
Where skin quality or laxity also needs improvement, treatments such as Profhilo, JULÄINE, polynucleotides, Secret RF, Secret PRO or Fotona laser may form part of the wider treatment programme.
Your treatment plan is designed following assessment of the skin, muscle activity, tissue support and overall neck and jawline anatomy.

The timeframe depends on the treatment being used and what we are trying to correct.

Anti-wrinkle injections for platysmal bands begin to take effect over the first few days, with the result developing further over approximately two weeks.

Profhilo and polynucleotides work more gradually, with changes in hydration and skin quality developing over the following weeks.

JULÄINE and other collagen-stimulating treatments rely on biological collagen production, so improvement develops progressively over the following weeks and months.

Laser Genesis, Secret RF, Secret PRO and Fotona treatments stimulate collagen remodelling. Some improvement may be noticed earlier, but collagen continues to remodel for several months following treatment.

For this reason, neck rejuvenation should usually be considered a progressive skin restoration process rather than a single instant treatment.

Often, yes.

The neck ages at several different tissue levels. Fine surface lines, dehydration, collagen loss, muscle activity and deeper laxity may all be present at the same time.

For example, a patient may benefit from:

• medical skincare and SPF to improve and protect skin quality
• Profhilo or polynucleotides for hydration and regeneration
• JULÄINE for collagen biostimulation
• anti-wrinkle injections for platysmal bands
• Secret RF or Secret PRO for collagen remodelling and tightening
• Laser Genesis or Fotona laser treatment for further skin quality and tightening

At your consultation at Thames Skin Clinic, we assess the neck as a whole and recommend treatment according to the tissues that actually need treating rather than simply treating the visible wrinkle.