[By Mavis Sim]
As society progresses and women need not conform to style of dressing dictated by their age, the neck and décolletage become one of the focal points to come under close scrutiny for signs of aging. These areas are well exposed to the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun, making them easy targets for skin wrinkling and sun spots. Ravages of time including weight gain and gravity can result in a double chin, fine lines and saggy skin. Necks, like the growth rings of a tree, can reveal age. The easiest idiot-proof way to get round this is to make sure any creams you put on your face get the chance to travel south towards the collar bones to cover the neck and upper chest to stave off sun damage and premature aging. But we now know that much more can be done, extending the best of our age-proofing efforts beyond our faces to the neck. Short of going under the knife for a surgical necklift, here are the latest FDA-approved medical treatments to give any aging neck a new lease of life. ReadySetBeauty speaks to Dr. Chua Han Boon, senior medical consultant from the SW1 Clinic, a one stop destination for medical spa, cosmetics dermatology and cutting edge aesthetics surgery in Singapore, to weigh in on these options, to see how best we can treat our neck in time to come if not now!
RSB: Hi Dr. Chua! What are the commonest features of an aging neck that bother women?
Dr. Chua: The most common issue affecting a woman’s neck is the sag of the upper one third of the neck from the jawbone down. This blurs the jawline definition and the common complaint is that they don’t have a “neck” or they have a fat one. In other words, a well-defined jawline to delineate the face from the neck region is an important aesthetics feature to have.
RSB: What are the current non-surgical treatments available to restore the aging neck?
Dr. Chua: Ulthera and Thermage for the jaw and neck are currently the two most popular non-invasive treatment for effective tightening of sagging neck skin. Ulthera uses focused ultrasound which penetrates deep into the dermis to stimulate the deeper layers of collagen located there for deep tissue lifting; while Thermage engages patented monopolar radiofrequency waves as an energy source for collagen remodeling and regeneration in the more superficial layer of the skin with resultant skin tightening.
For patients with more advanced signs of aging or desire a more obvious lift, the Infinity Neck Threadlift whereby threads are carefully inserted into the fatty layer of the skin to provide architectural support and lifting, is an option to consider.
And if crepey, wrinkled skin is your major concern and you wish to rejuvenate it, I would highly recommend a series of Rejuran DNA Resurgence micro-injectable treatments to re-program your skin cells to behave and present themselves in a youthful manner.
Read More: I Tried Rejuran – Here’s What Happened
RSB: What are the differences between Thermage, Ulthera, Infinity Neck Thread Lift and Rejuran DNA Resurgence for the neck area?
We have summarized key differences as explained by Dr. Chua in a table below. Click here to view as image.
Differences between Anti-Aging Treatments
| Differences / Treatments | Thermage | Ulthera | Infinity Neck Threadlift | Rejuran DNA Resurgence |
| Purpose | Skin rejuvenation using non-invasive energy devices | Skin rejuvenation using non-invasive energy devices | Skin lifting via a minimally invasive procedure | Skin rejuvenation via microinjections |
| Method | Radio Frequency (RF) waves are emitted to penetrate deep into the skin | Focused-ultrasound energy delivered to reach the SMAS, the exact layer of tissue that plastic surgeons target in an open surgical facelift | Fine 100% bio-absorbable PDO threads are inserted under the skin of the neck to anchor and provide traction at places needed | Salmon DNA extracts which possess anti-inflammatory and skin rejuvenating properties to make up for our own diminished DNA synthesis as we aged are injected directly into the superficial layers of the skin |
| Effect | Thermage stimulates collagen remodeling and renewal for effective skin tightening | Ulthera stimulates collagen regeneration for deep tissue lifting | Infinity Neck Threadlift achieves an instant facelift effect | Rejuran DNA Resurgencejolts skin’s healing capability, improved skin’s elasticity, suppleness with overall brightening |
| When will Result be Expected? | Gradual improvement with time | Gradual improvement with time | Dramatic improvement quickly | Improves with time |
| Timeframe to Expect Best Result | 3 to 6 months onwards | 3 to 6 months onwards | Within 2 weeks | As quickly as 2 weeks |
| Any Downtime? | No downtime while some patients may experience very mild, transient puffiness and swelling in the treated area(s) | No downtime except for some mild redness in skin that should disappear in a matter of hours. In some cases, soreness and skin numbness which resolve spontaneously with no further treatment is described | Minimal downtime as with all minimally invasive procedures, some bruising and mild swelling to be expected | No downtime except for tiny pin-prick marks that resolve in a day or two |
RSB: What is the procedure for Thermage and Ulthera Neck like?
Dr. Chua: With adequate prior numbing with a strong topical anaesthetic cream, both procedures are fairly bearable. The latest 3rd generation Thermage (CPT) Comfort Pulsed Tip with an in-built cooling system further improves patients’ comfort level by lowering skin surface temperature while delivering intense heating for effective collagen remodeling and renewal, providing reliable treatment at a therapeutic level that can be easily tolerated.
Read More: How to Get Flawless Skin like These Beauty Icons
RSB: What is the procedure for Infinity Neck Thread Lift like?
Dr. Chua: Topical numbing cream is first applied to the neck and left on for about 10 minutes. Local anesthetic injections are subsequently given to ensure minimal discomfort during the procedure. Depending on each individual’s requirement as determined by the degree of skin laxity, 4 to 8 threads are inserted to give the best outcome. The treated area is then taped overnight to ensure the quickest recovery time possible. At the SW1 Clinic, we performed the Infinity Neck Threadlift with 100% bio-absorbable PDO threads which unlike older generation threads, will completely disappear in 6 months’ time; but not before they cleverly stimulate your body to produce its own collagen to form a strong supporting latticework to secure the lifting effects well beyond the longevity of the threads inserted.
Read More: 40岁女人的救星埋线拉皮让你重获童颜
RSB: What is the procedure for Rejuran DNA Resurgence like?
Dr. Chua: The areas to be injected is first cleaned and then numbed for approximately 10 minutes. Rejuran DNA Resurgence is then delivered via microinjections directly into the superficial layers of the skin using a very small and fine needle. It is recommended that patients stop blood-thinning medications about 2 days prior to treatment, and refrain from drinking alcohol 24 hours before and after to minimize the risk of bruising.
Read More: I Tried Chin Filler— Here’s What Happened
RSB: Can one combine the above treatments?
Dr. Chua: A combination of both Thermage and Ulthera will be the ultimate youth reviving experience to turn back the aging clock with synergistic effects that translate to overall improvement greater than the sum of its parts.The results achieved with a neck threadlift can be further enhanced with Thermage, a well- established, FDA approved procedure which utilizes patented monopolar radiofrequency technology to stimulate collagen remodeling and regeneration for overall skin tightening. Thermage can be safely performed 2 to 4 weeks before, or 6 to 8 weeks after a thread lift that involves the same area(s). Most, if not all cases will benefit from combined treatment with Rejuran DNA Resurgence to improve on texture, tone and overall skin quality.
Read more: Which is Better: Thermage or Ulthera
Dr. Chua Han Boon obtained his medical degree and post graduate family Medicine qualification at the National University of Singapore and completed his post graduate diploma in Dermatology at Cardiff University, UK. With more than 12 years of experience in the field of cosmetics dermatology, Dr. Chua is trained in the use of non-invasive procedures and has attained certification of competence in cosmetic lasers, Botox injections and filler procedures which are recognized by Singapore Medical Council’s Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee.
