If you are unsure of how old a woman is, should you look at her face as a gauge? With so many procedures and beauty products available now that can lift and tuck or blur signs of aging, anyone can easily shave off a couple of years with the right treatments. There are other parts of the body, however, where age is more difficult to hide. Specifically the neck. Ironically, our necks need sun protection and moisturizing more because neck skin is thinner than the skin on the face.
When we slather sunblock in the morning or serums and moisturizers at night, chances are, the spreading stops at the chin level. The focus is always on what is happening on the face. Ironically, our necks need sun protection and moisturizing more because neck skin is thinner than the skin on the face. Similar to the skin at the back of our hands and the skin below the eyes, the neck’s dermis is prone to wrinkling with age. To slow down or halt this process, make sure to cleanse the neck as thoroughly as you would the face, and then apply sunscreen, serums, and moisturizer all the way down to the decolletage.
Why is having thin skin, not a good thing? Thinner layers mean significantly less collagen, which leads to reduced elasticity or bounce in these areas. With age and sun exposure, therefore, necks are prone to sagging, forming horizontal creases, or developing vertical bands. The latter is the result of the weakening of the platysma muscle, which causes a layer of musculature to protrude in the neck.
So how exactly does one stop the clock on the neck damage?
Dra. Windie Hayano of Skin Inc. recommends tackling the battle on many fronts since spot treatments could end up creating an unbalanced, odd-looking face. If fat melting injections are applied to one area, fatty deposits may appear in other parts. Or if certain muscles are stilled by botox, other muscles may then overcompensate for weakness in the first area and alter the shape of one’s face. The exact term Dr. Windie used for the unintended result of an unbalanced approach was “chipmunky,” clearly a look that most people would want to avoid. She recommends taking an approach that considers everything in totality – the skin and what lies beneath it.
People with higher than recommended Body Mass Indexes (BMI) or heavier faces are prone to even more sagging because the ligaments and the muscles that carry the extra weight and submental fat grow slacker and more limp with time. To reduce the weight being carried, one can opt for liposuction or laser treatments that tighten such as radiofrequency, more commonly referred to as RF. Another popular combination is combining lasers with injectables such as in microneedling with RF.
Dra. Mary Anne Luciano-Amon or Dra. Amon of Derma 360* usually recommends Profhilo, an injectable treatment that reduces wrinkles by tightening and firming the skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which can hydrate the skin from within by boosting its structural framework.
“I also recommend Ultherapy, an FDA-cleared and non-invasive treatment to lift and improve skin laxity on the neck,” Dra. Amon said. “The focused ultrasound energy targets areas under the skin of the chin to support regeneration of collagen.”
In my case, because RF was not compatible with the metal implants in my leg, the best option was to begin with a session with the Ultraformer MPT (Micro Profiling Transducer) machine to lift and tighten the muscles under the skin. Although Dr. Windie explained that this was a less painful treatment than Ulthera, it was not exactly painless. Thankfully, the attentive Skin Inc. staff had slathered my face and neck with topical anesthetic cream even before my consultation with Dr. Windie had begun, so I was ready for anything. The pain was generally tolerable, a 7/10 in my book, with only a couple of moments that prompted me to wince or yelp.
When the musculature below the dermis had been jolted into attention, it was time for the injections.
One of Skin Inc.’s signature products is Rejuran, a polynucleotide that was formed from the DNA of salmon. Known to make the dermis thicker, Rejuran was shown in tests to last longer and have more collagen synthesis than just plain hyaluronic acid.
Dr. Windie explained the injections would be only intradermal or between layers of skin, so they would be like ant bites at worst. Again, not painless but still tolerable. What surprised me the most was how my neck looked after the shots. The Rejuran injections on the horizontal creases around my neck had transformed into four strands of flesh-colored pearls, each of which was the size of a mosquito bite. One look in the mirror and I instantly canceled my plans to go for happy hour at the Stardust Lounge. My new neck debut would have to wait a few days.
It has been over two weeks now and I’m happy to report that the skin on my neck has increased elasticity and sags less. When it comes to the neck, turning back the clock, while not painless, is nevertheless possible.
In need of a skin revival?
Here is the 411 on the popular skin booster, Rejuran, which can be used to treat signs of aging on the face and neck.
What is Rejuran and why is it called a “healer”?
Rejuran, developed in Korea, is a concentrated injectable polynucleotide (PN) extract from wild salmon DNA that stimulates collagen, rejuvenates the skin, and improves signs of aging. It’s called “healer” as it is literally quite what it does: restore skin to health. It brings the skin back to”normal,” or how it looked like at the peak of its health, before it was damaged by UV rays or other factors.
What is it used for?
Rejuran gained popularity when it was revealed to be the “secret” to achieving glass skin. Rejuran can be used for treating dehydrated skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, dull skin, freckles, blemishes, and dark spots; minimizing acne scars; restoring skin and making it younger-looking; reducing fine wrinkles on all parts of the face; and tightening the pores for better-textured skin.
What areas can Rejuran treat?
It can best target and treat deep wrinkles on the face, cheek lines, wrinkles around the eyes and lips, and other areas on the face (and neck, of course) that need improved elasticity.
Who can use Rejuran?
As it is composed of highly biocompatible DNA fragments with no adverse reaction, Rejuran is essentially safe to use by a wide margin of age groups, from those in their 20s to those in their golden years. It would be best, of course, to get a consultation with your dermatologist.
How does it work?
It is injected into the skin, to begin the process of rejuvenating or replacing damaged, deteriorated skin cells. It provides continuous regeneration (restoring and creating new cells) processes as the polynucleotide connects to tiny blood vessels in the cells to repair damaged or deteriorated skin tissue. The process also helps stimulate skin tissue regeneration, create collagen and rejuvenate the skin, restore water and oil balance, improve skin elasticity, reduce oiliness, shrink pores, and provide long-lasting healing and tissue regeneration effects.
Results can be seen as early as 2 to 5 days after treatment. An overall improved skin condition can be visibly noticed in 4 to 6 weeks.
