The Nefertiti-Lift: A new use for Botox?

As the skin sags with aging, one of the effects is the loss of a well defined jaw line. Often people have one continuous sheet of skin that extends from the cheek to the lower neck. In the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, Dr. Philip Levy, a dermatologist who practices in both Switzerland and France, reports on a new technique for re-contouring the jawline using Botox. He calls this the Nefertiti-Lift.

In his article, Dr. Levy describes placing multiple small injections of Botox along the lower jaw line as well as down the side of the neck along the rear edge of the platysma muscle, the muscle that begins on the lower part of the face and extends as a sheet down the neck on to the upper chest.
The article describes the use of the technique in 130 patients, using 15 to 20 units of Botox per side. He claims success in 126 of the patients, with success being "mildly to highly successful". These terms are not defined. He also describes several infrequent side effects including assymetrical smile and temporary difficulty in swallowing. There are several before and after photos presented in the article. These appear to show some results but unfortunately the pictures are not strictly comparable due to inconsistencies in the lighting and the position of the camera relative to the jaw line.
thus it is possible that the Nefertiti-Lift may represent a new way to use Botox, but it's also possible that these results may not be reproducible.

Gerald N. Bock MD
Stockton, CA
California Skin Laser Center