The Nefertiti lift is a non-surgical treatment that uses Botox along the jawline and vertical neck bands to relax the muscle that pulls the lower face downward, creating a subtly lifted, more defined jaw and neck. Named after the Egyptian queen famous for her elegant neckline, it has moved from insider technique to mainstream option, especially since Botox earned FDA approval for neck bands in 2024. Here is how it works, who it suits, and what results to expect.
Updated July 6, 2026 by the Esthetica Medspa clinical team.
The essentials
- The Nefertiti lift relaxes the platysma, the sheet-like neck muscle that tugs the jawline down and creates vertical neck bands.
- In 2024, the FDA approved Botox for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe platysma bands, making it the first neurotoxin approved for the neck.
- Treatment takes about 20-30 minutes with no downtime; results appear over 1-2 weeks.
- Results typically last around 4 months, in line with Botox in other areas.
- It is a refinement treatment, not a surgical neck lift substitute; significant loose skin needs different tools.
What is a Nefertiti lift?
A Nefertiti lift is a pattern of Botox injections placed along the lower jawline and down the vertical bands of the neck. The target is the platysma, a broad, thin muscle that runs from the collarbone up over the jaw. As we age (and as this muscle works during everyday expression), it pulls downward on the lower face, blurring the jawline and cinching the neck into visible vertical cords when you speak or grimace.
Relaxing the platysma does two things at once. It softens those vertical bands, and it releases the downward tug, letting the muscles of the midface hold the jawline with less opposition. The visible result is a cleaner jaw-to-neck angle and a smoother neck at rest and in motion. The effect is real but refined; think “have you been on vacation?” rather than “what did you get done?”
Is the Nefertiti lift FDA approved?
Yes, the underlying use now is. In October 2024, the FDA approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe platysma bands, the first FDA approval of a neurotoxin for the neck area. You can read the manufacturer announcement from AbbVie and consult the product record on Drugs@FDA.
Why does that matter to you as a patient? Approval means the dosing, injection pattern, and safety profile for neck bands were validated in controlled clinical trials, rather than resting only on injector experience. In the approval studies, dosing was individualized to each patient’s anatomy, in the range of 26 to 36 units across the bands. Your total may differ based on your muscle strength and band pattern, which is exactly the kind of judgment call that makes injector experience matter.
How does the treatment work, step by step?
A Nefertiti lift appointment is quick and straightforward:
- Assessment. Your injector asks you to grimace, speak, and jut your chin. This animates the platysma so its bands and pull pattern can be mapped precisely.
- Marking. Injection points are marked along the jawline and down each active band, typically 2-4 points per band.
- Injections. Small, superficial injections with a fine needle. Most patients describe brief pinches. The whole series takes a few minutes.
- Back to your day. No downtime. Avoid rubbing the area, lying flat, or strenuous exercise for the rest of the day.
Results build gradually: you will notice change around day 3-5, with the full effect by two weeks. Since dosing in units drives both outcome and cost here, our explainer on Botox units by treatment area is a useful pre-consultation read.
What results can you realistically expect?
Set expectations like a clinician, not a filter app. Here is what the treatment does and does not do:
| Concern | Nefertiti lift result | Better tool if not |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical neck bands when speaking or grimacing | Visibly softened; the FDA-approved indication | N/A, this is the core strength |
| Blurred or “heavy” jawline | Subtle definition as downward pull releases | Filler for structural definition |
| Early neck skin crepiness | Mild improvement in animated lines | Microneedling or skin boosters for texture |
| Significant loose or sagging skin | Not corrected by muscle relaxation | Surgical consultation is the honest referral |
| Double chin fullness (fat) | Not a fat treatment | Body-contouring options; ask at consultation |
Indications per FDA-approved labeling and standard clinical practice. Retrieved July 2026.
Duration runs about 4 months for most patients, consistent with Botox elsewhere. If you want the deeper story on why the effect fades and what influences longevity, see how long Botox lasts.
Who is a good candidate?
The ideal candidate has visible platysma activity (bands that pop when speaking or grimacing), early jawline softening, and reasonably good skin elasticity. In practice that is often patients in their late 30s through 50s, though band prominence is individual. Some younger patients whose bands show early also benefit; if you are already thinking about prevention, our piece on preventative Botox in your 20s covers how early treatment decisions should actually be made.
You should skip or postpone the treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular disorder, have an infection at the injection sites, or have had swallowing difficulties. Because the platysma sits near muscles involved in swallowing and neck movement, precise placement and conservative dosing are safety-critical. This is a treatment to book with an experienced medical injector, not a bargain menu. At our Botox service, Nefertiti lifts are performed by trained medical professionals after a full anatomy assessment, and we will tell you plainly if a different treatment would serve you better. Results vary person to person.
Why is it called the Nefertiti lift?
The name comes from the famous 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti, whose long, smooth neck and crisply defined jawline have been shorthand for elegant proportions ever since the sculpture was rediscovered. When injectors began using botulinum toxin along the jaw and platysma to recreate that clean neck-to-jaw transition, the nickname stuck, and it communicates the goal better than any clinical term: not a frozen neck, but a poised one.
Behind the marketing-friendly name sits real anatomy. The jawline you see is a tug-of-war between elevator muscles pulling the face up and the platysma pulling it down. Age strengthens the downward side of that contest. By selectively relaxing the platysma’s pull, the treatment shifts the balance back, which is why patients often say their reflection looks “less tired” before they can name what changed.
How does the Nefertiti lift compare to other neck treatments?
The neck collects several distinct aging changes, and each has its own best tool, so it helps to place the Nefertiti lift on the map. Horizontal neck lines (the so-called tech neck creases) are etched into skin, not driven by muscle pull, so they respond better to skin-quality treatments like microneedling or hyaluronic acid skin boosters than to muscle relaxation. Crepey texture across the neck is likewise a skin story, addressed with collagen-stimulating treatments and disciplined sunscreen.
Submental fullness, the pocket of fat under the chin, is a volume problem; muscle relaxation will not shrink it. And significant skin laxity, where tissue visibly hangs, is a structural problem beyond any injectable. The Nefertiti lift owns the remaining category, which happens to be a common one: active platysma bands and the downward pull that blurs the jawline. Many patients ultimately combine two approaches, for example a Nefertiti lift for the bands plus a skin-quality treatment for texture, staged over a couple of visits.
An honest provider will diagnose which of these categories your neck actually falls into before recommending anything, and it is completely fair to ask “which layer are we treating, and why?” at your consultation.
How should you prepare, and what does aftercare involve?
Preparation mirrors any Botox visit. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before treatment and review blood-thinning medications or supplements with your injector to reduce bruising risk (never stop prescriptions on your own). Come with a clean neck, no lotions or makeup on the area.
Aftercare is simple but slightly stricter than for forehead Botox because of the neck’s mobile anatomy: stay upright for about 4 hours, skip strenuous exercise until the next day, and do not rub or massage the treated area, wear tight scarves or high collars, or get a neck massage for several days. Report anything unusual promptly, especially any difficulty swallowing, which is rare with proper technique and dosing but is exactly the kind of thing your provider wants to hear about early. A two-week follow-up lets your injector assess the result at full effect and fine-tune if a band was under-treated.
Frequently asked questions
How many units does a Nefertiti lift use?
In the FDA approval studies, platysma band dosing ranged from 26 to 36 units, individualized to anatomy. Your plan may sit inside or near that range depending on band strength and how much jawline coverage you need.
Does a Nefertiti lift hurt?
Discomfort is brief and mild for most patients. The injections are shallow and quick, and ice beforehand takes the edge off. No numbing is usually needed.
How long does a Nefertiti lift last?
Around 4 months for most patients. With repeat treatments, some patients find results hold more comfortably between visits as the muscle deconditioning builds.
Can it replace a surgical neck lift?
No. It refines muscle-driven banding and early jawline blurring. Significant skin laxity or heavy tissue descent needs surgical correction, and we will say so honestly at consultation.
Can I combine it with other treatments?
Yes, commonly. Pairing with jawline filler sharpens definition further, and skin treatments address texture. Combining in a planned sequence usually beats doing everything the same day.
Curious what your jawline looks like without the downward tug?
Book a consultation at any of our seven Esthetica Medspa locations. Our women-led team will map your platysma activity, confirm whether the Nefertiti lift fits your anatomy, and give you a clear unit-based plan before you commit to anything.
