A Nefertiti neck lift is a marketing name for neurotoxin injections placed along the platysma muscle in the neck and lower face. BOTOX Cosmetic holds one FDA approval here, granted on October 18, 2024, for moderate to severe platysma bands. Using it for jawline definition or a broader neck lift is off-label.
Key takeaways
Written by Jen, BSN, RN, Clinical Aesthetics Injector. Medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director. Published August 2026. Last updated August 2026.
Medical disclaimer: this article is general education and is not medical advice. Botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine and requires an in person assessment by a licensed clinician. Individual results vary.
The platysma is a thin, broad muscle that covers the front of the neck and extends up over the lower face. When it contracts, it can raise vertical cords on the neck and pull downward near the jaw.
A Nefertiti lift uses small injections to relax selected parts of that muscle. The name references Queen Nefertiti’s defined neck and jawline. It is not an FDA term. It describes an injection pattern used in aesthetic practice, not an approved result, and it cannot promise that the neck will look lifted.
On October 18, 2024, the FDA approved BOTOX Cosmetic for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe vertical bands connecting the jaw and neck, known as platysma bands, in adults.
That made platysma bands the fourth aesthetic indication for BOTOX Cosmetic, after frown lines, crow’s feet lines and forehead lines, and the first one outside the face.
Because the platysma runs up over the lower jaw, the approved technique does place injections along the jawline as well as the neck. That is a real part of the labelled method. The approved claim, though, covers the appearance of the bands. It does not cover a neck lift, skin tightening, fat reduction or jawline contouring. Understand that line before you book Botox at InjectCo.
Off-label means a clinician uses an approved medicine for a purpose outside its approved labelling. The FDA explains that health care providers may generally prescribe an approved drug off-label when they judge it medically appropriate. It is legal, common and clinician led.
The phrase “Nefertiti lift” appears in no FDA labelling. It was coined in practice, not in regulation. Using a neurotoxin to define the jawline or lift the neck is therefore an off-label use. A doctor may lawfully make that choice. A clinic may not advertise it as an approved one, which is why this page is worded the way it is.
The same distinction applies to other lower face neurotoxin uses, including masseter Botox. Off-label does not mean inappropriate. It means the decision rests on clinical assessment rather than on a label, and your injector should be able to explain it.
Find out whether muscle, loose skin, fat or lost structure is driving the change in your neck and jawline.
BOTOX Cosmetic is the only neurotoxin with an FDA approved indication for moderate to severe platysma bands. The current United States labelling for Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau and Daxxify does not name platysma bands as a cosmetic indication.
A clinician may still choose one of those products for the neck. That is an off-label choice they should be able to explain to you. It does not make them unsafe or inferior. Their indications and their units are simply different, and units are not interchangeable between botulinum toxin products.
A full appointment usually runs about 30 minutes, covering assessment, photographs, marking and the injections themselves. The injections feel like brief pinches. You will be given aftercare instructions to follow the same day.
For the approved platysma bands indication, the BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information sets three dose levels by band severity:
Units for an off-label jawline pattern are not standardised and depend on your injector’s assessment of your movement and anatomy. Changes can begin within several days, but the full result is judged at about 14 days. Do not expect a same day change.
At InjectCo’s rate of $12 per unit, those three approved doses come to $312, $372 or $432. At the $9 member rate they come to $234, $279 or $324. Your final price follows the clinical assessment, not a price list.
Results generally last around three to four months. Duration shifts with dose, muscle activity, metabolism and the injection pattern used.
The neck often runs at the shorter end of that range because the platysma is large and constantly in use. Maintenance means budgeting for repeat assessments as movement and bands return. The prescribing information notes that dosing more frequently than every three months has not been studied for safety and effectiveness, so treatments are spaced accordingly.
Neurotoxin relaxes muscle. It does not tighten loose skin, remove fat beneath the chin or restore lost structural support. This is the section that saves people money, so read it before you book anything.
A visible cord that stands out more when you tense your neck is muscle driven, and that is what responds. Heavy submental fullness, significant skin laxity or established jowling is a different problem and needs a different answer. Working out which one you have is the point of the assessment.
| Option | What it treats | Typical downtime | How long it lasts | What it will not fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platysma band BOTOX Cosmetic | Muscle driven vertical neck bands | Usually minimal | About three to four months | Loose skin, excess fat or established jowling |
| Surgical neck lift | Significant loose skin, deeper tissue laxity and selected fat concerns | Often several weeks | Long lasting, although ageing continues | Dynamic bands may still need separate evaluation |
| Energy based skin tightening | Selected cases of mild skin laxity | Varies by device | Varies by treatment and maintenance plan | Heavy fat, strong muscle bands or advanced laxity |
If skin quality or laxity is the main issue, look at non surgical neck lift options instead. If the jaw itself lacks structural definition, jawline filler is the more relevant conversation. Significant laxity may justify a plastic surgery consultation, and we will tell you when that is the case.
A poor neck result can mean an uneven smile, neck weakness or trouble swallowing. Product placed too deeply or in the wrong plane can affect movement and function. Dose, depth and placement all matter, which is why the experience of our injectors is a fair thing to ask about before treatment.
All botulinum toxin products carry a boxed warning about distant spread of toxin effect. The BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information states that the effects may spread from the injection area to produce symptoms including generalised muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, voice changes, slurred speech, urinary incontinence and breathing difficulties. These have been reported hours to weeks after injection. Swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life threatening, and there have been reports of death.
Call the clinic promptly for new smile asymmetry or unusual neck weakness. Seek urgent medical care immediately for difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing. Generalised weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, hoarseness, loss of bladder control or trouble forming words also need urgent evaluation.
Do not wait to see whether a symptom settles on its own. Tell the clinician which product you received, when, and where it was injected. Most poor outcomes trace back to injector technique and dose, which is the single strongest argument for choosing carefully rather than cheaply.
“Nefertiti lift” sounds elegant, but a name cannot tell you whether the treatment fits your anatomy. Visible platysma bands can respond well to properly selected BOTOX Cosmetic treatment. Loose skin, submental fat and lost jaw support need something else entirely.
The strongest result starts with an honest diagnosis, a clearly explained product and dose, and expectations set before the first injection rather than after it.
These are the questions our injectors hear most often about neck Botox, and the answers reflect what the labelling supports rather than what the treatment name suggests.
Nefertiti lift is a marketing term for an off-label injection pattern, not an FDA approved indication. BOTOX Cosmetic is approved for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe platysma bands in adults. Using it for broader jawline definition, neck lifting, skin tightening or general contouring remains off-label.
Neurotoxin can relax muscle driven platysma bands and may reduce downward pull near the jawline. It cannot remove excess skin, reduce significant submental fat or reposition deeper tissue. Advanced laxity, heavy jowling or a goal of substantial lifting needs assessment by a qualified plastic surgeon.
A poor result may include smile asymmetry, visible imbalance, neck weakness or difficulty holding the head comfortably. New swallowing problems, speech changes, breathing difficulty, generalised weakness or vision symptoms can signal toxin spread and need urgent medical evaluation. Contact the treating clinic promptly for any unexpected functional change.
A clinician may use Dysport or Xeomin in the neck off-label after assessing anatomy and muscle movement. Neither product carries an FDA approved cosmetic indication for platysma bands. Their units are not interchangeable with BOTOX Cosmetic units, so product choice and dosing need a clear explanation before you agree to treatment.
Some people notice reduced muscle activity within several days, but the result usually continues developing for about 14 days. Swelling, movement patterns and individual response affect how the early result looks. Wait until your injector’s recommended review point before judging symmetry or asking for an adjustment.
Find out whether neck Botox can improve the concern you actually see, or whether another treatment is the smarter next step.
Dr. Allen earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency with Texas A&M. As Medical Director, he reviews InjectCo’s treatments, protocols, and patient education content for accuracy and safety across all nine Texas locations.
