Botox…in your neck? Yup.
If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you know I’m not exactly shy about discussing the various beauty procedures I’ve had over the years (which is why the occasional “ADMIT YOU HAD A NOSE JOB, YOU LIARRRRRRR” comment I get here makes me laugh).
Take Botox, for example: I’ve been getting injections above my right eyebrow to help lift my lazy eyelid into a normal-ish position for years, and I’ve written about it pretty extensively, to the point where the magic of SEO has made me the Official Internet Authority on eye asymmetry. (As a sidenote, I get messages nearly every day asking me whether I *really* recommend Botox as a solution for this particular issue, and I do, absolutely – with the caveat that you need to find yourself an excellent aesthetician who’s familiar with this specific usage.)
Watch: Why I Had A Post-Baby Breast Augmentation (A Video Diary)
And so now I need to tell you about the Nefertiti Lift, because I had no idea what it was until a month or so ago…but then I got one, and my mind is officially blown.
Here’s how it went down: I was at my dermatologist’s office, fixing my eye – as one does – and I mentioned as a sort of an aside that my jawline had started to kinda bug me. It wasn’t anything terrible…it just seemed…I don’t know, looser than it used to be. And while it probably isn’t something you’d ever notice in person, the fact that my job requires me to spend at least part of most days staring at images of my face (a pastime that I do not recommend) means that I’m a little extra-aware when something – even something very small – changes.
So. I mentioned this to my dermatologist, and she said “Oh, well, you’re a great candidate for a Nefertiti Lift, if you’d like to try one.”
Obscure, semi-miraculous-sounding, non-invasive medical procedure that doesn’t cost anything extra, since I wasn’t going to use up the entire Botox vial I had already paid for anyway?
SIGN ME UP.
What’s a Nefertiti Lift?
Named after the Egyptian queen with the famously lovely jawline, a Nefertiti Lift is a non-invasive procedure wherein tiny amounts of Botox are injected into the muscles in your neck – specifically the ones that create a downward pull on your jawline.
Curious which muscles these are? Stick out your lower teeth and grimace. Do you look utterly terrifying? You’re doing it right. It takes about a week to start seeing results (as with any Botox procedure), but the point is to see the jawline tighten subtly – a sort of mini-lift.
Note: This procedure doesn’t reduce fat along the jawline, so it’s typically performed on people who are at an average weight for their height.
How much does it cost?
Between $200-$600, depending on your specific needs (and geographical location; I discovered, to my enormous discontent, that Beverly Hills dermatologists tack on extra charges for the zip code. And don’t validate your parking, just to drive in the dagger a little deeper). And definitely ask if you can incorporate it into a Botox treatment you already have scheduled – whenever I get Botox I end up not using the entire vial anyway, so I didn’t have to pay any extra for the Nefertiti Lift.
What were my results?
The effect is definitely subtle, but still noticeable – I look a little more rested, a little more awake. And Francesca confirmed this when she saw me a week after the procedure – she literally asked me if I’d gotten a ton of sleep lately – so it’s not all in my imagination. Like any Botox injection, the effects are temporary – they typically last 3-6 months – but I’ll take 3-6 months of looking like I didn’t spend the night with a child’s foot planted in my face (even though I definitely did).
Do I think you should try one?
No. Because, as I said in this post, I never feel comfortable “recommending” any cosmetic procedures. But I do recommend doing what makes you feel good and happy and like you’re comfortable in your own skin, whatever that means to you. Most of all, I recommend not listening to a blogger’s – or anyone’s – recommendations about what’s right and what’s too much, but rather to yourself. Because I’m also of the mindset that if something bothers you, and you can do something about it, and you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else in the process…why not?
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away! No shyness over here ;).
