Platysmal Bands & Neck Lines Treatment in Newport Beach
The neck ages differently than the face — and responds differently to treatment. Getting it right requires understanding which concern you’re actually looking at, and choosing the right tool for each one.
Neck aging presents in two distinct ways. Vertical platysmal bands — the rope-like cords that become visible when you tense your neck — are a muscle problem. Horizontal neck lines — the creases that run across the neck, sometimes called necklace lines — are a skin and volume problem. They look different, they develop for different reasons, and they respond to different treatments.
At Plump Medical Spa in Newport Beach, Dr. Amir Mortazavi, MD evaluates each patient’s neck individually and selects the appropriate treatment — or combination of treatments — based on what is actually present. Neurotoxin, filler, Sculptra, laser resurfacing, and skin tightening are all tools in this approach, used independently or together depending on what the patient needs.
Not all neck concerns are the same. Platysmal bands and horizontal neck lines are two different problems requiring different approaches. Dr. Mortazavi assesses both at consultation and recommends a plan specific to what he finds — not a one-size protocol applied to every neck.
Understanding the two concerns
Platysmal bands
Vertical cords that run from the jaw down the neck, caused by the platysma muscle becoming more prominent with age and laxity. They become especially visible when the neck is tensed or the mouth is opened wide. Botulinum toxin injected along the bands relaxes them, reducing their visibility at rest and during movement. Also called “turkey neck” bands or neck cords.
Horizontal neck lines
Transverse creases that run across the neck, often called necklace lines. These are partly structural — most people have natural neck folds — but they deepen with time as skin thins and volume is lost. Treatment depends on depth and cause: neurotoxin for dynamic lines, filler or Sculptra for volume-related deepening, laser or RF for skin quality improvement.
Many patients present with both. A neck with prominent platysmal bands and deepening horizontal lines requires a layered approach — addressing the muscle, the skin quality, and potentially the volume simultaneously.
Dr. Mortazavi’s approach
Because neck concerns vary so significantly between patients — in type, severity, and underlying cause — Dr. Mortazavi assesses each patient before recommending any treatment. The tools available at Plump cover the full range of what neck rejuvenation may require.
Botulinum toxin — platysmal bands & dynamic lines
The primary treatment for visible platysmal bands and dynamic horizontal lines that deepen with movement. Neurotoxin is injected directly into the platysma muscle along each band, and along horizontal lines where muscle activity is contributing to their depth. Results are typically visible within 1 to 2 weeks.
Filler or Sculptra — volume-related deepening
For horizontal neck lines that have deepened significantly due to volume loss rather than muscle activity alone, hyaluronic acid filler or Sculptra can restore structure beneath the crease. This is not appropriate for all patients — it depends on skin quality and the degree of laxity present.
CO2 laser or RF microneedling — skin quality
When skin thinning and texture are contributing factors — common in patients whose neck lines are partly due to photoaging or collagen loss — laser resurfacing or radiofrequency microneedling improves skin quality and tightens the surface. Often combined with neurotoxin for the most comprehensive result.
Combination protocols
Patients with multiple concurrent neck concerns often benefit most from a staged combination approach — neurotoxin first to address the muscle component, followed by skin treatment once the tissue has settled. Dr. Mortazavi sequences treatments to maximize safety and result.
What to expect
Consultation
Dr. Mortazavi evaluates the neck at rest and during muscle activation, assesses skin quality, and determines which concern or combination of concerns is present. The treatment plan is built from this assessment — not decided before he sees you.
Neurotoxin treatment
Botulinum toxin injections for platysmal bands or horizontal neck lines take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. A fine needle is used along the bands or crease lines. Most patients find the procedure very tolerable. Results appear within 1 to 2 weeks and typically last 3 to 4 months.
Combined treatments
When laser, RF microneedling, or filler are included in the plan, Dr. Mortazavi will discuss sequencing and timing at consultation. Some modalities can be performed in the same session; others are staged for optimal results and safety.
Aftercare
For neurotoxin treatments, standard post-injection guidelines apply: avoid strenuous activity for 4 hours, avoid lying flat for 4 hours, and do not massage the treated area. Aftercare for combined treatments will be outlined at consultation depending on what is performed.
The neck is one of the most undertreated areas in aesthetic medicine — most practices focus on the face and apply a single protocol to every neck concern. Dr. Mortazavi evaluates each patient’s neck individually and combines neurotoxin, filler, biostimulators, and laser based on what is actually present. Every treatment is performed personally. No nurses or assistants.
Frequently asked questions
What are platysmal bands?
Platysmal bands are the vertical cord-like structures that become visible on the neck with age, particularly when the neck is tensed. They are caused by the platysma muscle — a thin sheet of muscle running from the jaw down to the chest — becoming more prominent as the overlying skin loses elasticity and the muscle itself changes with age. They are sometimes called neck cords or turkey neck bands.
What causes horizontal neck lines?
Most people have natural horizontal neck folds from head movement and positioning — these are called necklace lines. They deepen over time as skin thins, collagen decreases, and volume is lost in the neck. Looking down at phones and screens repeatedly can also contribute to their prominence. The depth and cause vary significantly between patients, which is why treatment approach varies too.
Can Botox fix neck bands?
Yes. Botulinum toxin injected along the platysmal bands relaxes the muscle, reducing the visibility of the cords at rest and during movement. It is the primary non-surgical treatment for platysmal bands. Results typically last 3 to 4 months. In patients with significant skin laxity in addition to prominent bands, combining neurotoxin with a skin tightening treatment produces a more comprehensive result.
Is filler used for neck lines?
In select patients, yes. Hyaluronic acid filler or Sculptra can soften deep horizontal neck lines where volume loss is a contributing factor. This is not appropriate for everyone — it depends on skin quality, the depth of the lines, and how much laxity is present. Dr. Mortazavi evaluates this at consultation and will recommend filler only when it is clinically appropriate for your specific neck anatomy.
How is this different from a neck lift?
A surgical neck lift addresses significant skin laxity and muscle changes through excision and repositioning — it produces more dramatic results but requires surgery, anesthesia, and recovery time. Non-surgical neck treatments with neurotoxin, filler, and laser are appropriate for patients with mild to moderate concerns who want improvement without surgery. Dr. Mortazavi will give you an honest assessment of what non-surgical treatment can and cannot achieve for your specific anatomy.
How much does platysmal band or neck line treatment cost?
Botulinum toxin treatment for platysmal bands or horizontal neck lines is $550 per area. If both are treated in the same session, each is priced at $550. When additional modalities such as filler, Sculptra, CO2 laser, or RF microneedling are included, those are priced based on what is performed and discussed at consultation.
Do you treat patients whose previous neck treatments didn’t work?
Yes. Patients who have had neurotoxin for neck bands elsewhere without satisfying results often benefit from a re-evaluation of what is driving their concern. In some cases, the issue is dosing or placement. In others, the concern requires a different or additional modality. Dr. Mortazavi assesses each patient’s history and anatomy before recommending a new approach.
Schedule a consultation
Platysmal band and neck line treatments are available at Plump Medical Spa in Newport Beach, serving patients throughout Orange County and Southern California.
4667 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 310 — Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 568-7544 — info@plumpmedicalspa.com
Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm — By Appointment Only