The Nefertiti Lift: How Botox Can Define Your Jawline Without Surgery
Quick answer: The Nefertiti lift is a non-surgical treatment that uses Botox or another neurotoxin, injected along the jawline and into the vertical bands of the neck, to relax the platysma muscle that pulls the lower face downward. With that downward pull switched off, the jawline appears sharper, jowls soften, and neck bands smooth out. There are no incisions and essentially no downtime, and results typically last three to four months. At Accelerated Aesthetics, a medical spa in Elmhurst, IL serving greater Chicagoland, our licensed medical providers perform the Nefertiti lift as a quick in-office treatment.
Here is a pattern we see all the time. Someone takes beautiful care of their face for years. SPF, retinol, regular treatments, the whole routine. Then one day they catch their profile in a photo and realize their neck and jawline never got the memo.
That is not a skincare failure. The lower face and neck age differently than the rest of the face, because a muscle is actively involved. And where a muscle is the problem, a neurotoxin is often the answer. Enter the Nefertiti lift, named for the Egyptian queen whose famously elegant, elongated neckline has been a beauty reference for about 3,300 years.
What is a Nefertiti lift?
The Nefertiti lift is a specific injection technique, not a new product. It uses the same FDA-approved neurotoxins you already know, such as Botox, placed in a strategic pattern along the lower jawline and into the platysmal bands of the neck.
The target is the platysma, a broad, thin sheet of muscle that runs from your collarbone up over your jawline. Every time it contracts, it pulls your lower face down. Over years, that constant downward tug contributes to jowling, a blurred jawline, and those vertical cords that become more visible in the neck with age.
Relax the platysma, and the tug-of-war changes. The lifting muscles of the upper face gain the advantage, and the jawline and neck settle into a smoother, more defined position. Nothing is added and nothing is filled. A downward force is simply turned off.
What does the Nefertiti lift actually improve?
- Jawline definition. The transition from jaw to neck looks cleaner and more sculpted, especially in profile.
- Early jowling. Softening the downward pull reduces the appearance of mild jowls before they become a structural issue.
- Platysmal bands. The vertical neck cords that pop out when you speak or grimace relax and smooth.
- A downturned mouth. Depending on your anatomy, treating the muscles that drag the mouth corners down can be included, which reads as a subtly friendlier resting expression.
What it will not do is tighten significantly loose skin or remove excess fullness under the chin. Those are different problems with different solutions, and an honest consultation will tell you which category you are in. If you are earlier in the aging process, this treatment shines. It pairs naturally with the preventative approach we covered in our guide to when to start Botox.
Why is neck and jawline Botox so popular right now?
Because it sits exactly where patient demand has been heading for years: real results, no surgery, no downtime. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, neuromodulator injections were the most performed minimally invasive cosmetic procedure in the country in 2024, at nearly 9.9 million treatments, up 4 percent from the year before. What has changed is where those injections go. Neurotoxins started as a forehead treatment, and injectors now use them across the lower face and neck, where much of visible aging actually happens.
The Nefertiti lift also answers a question we hear constantly from patients who assume a sagging jawline automatically means a facelift. It usually does not. We wrote a whole piece on why injectable results done well look natural rather than obvious, and the same principle applies here. Relaxing a muscle your face has been fighting does not look done. It looks rested.
What is the treatment like?
Short and unremarkable, in the best way. After a consultation to map your anatomy, your provider places a series of small injections along the jawline and into the neck bands. The appointment takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes, and most people head straight back to their day. You might have small bumps at the injection sites for an hour or so, and occasionally minor bruising.
Results develop gradually as the muscle relaxes, typically becoming visible within a week and fully settled by two weeks. Expect the effect to last three to four months, similar to neurotoxin anywhere else on the face. With repeated treatments, many patients find the effect easier to maintain, because the muscle is no longer reinforcing the downward pattern between visits.
One thing that matters more here than almost anywhere else: injector skill. The neck involves muscles you use for swallowing and speaking, so precise placement and conservative dosing are not optional. This is a treatment to have performed by licensed medical providers who understand the anatomy, not a discount special.
Frequently asked questions about the Nefertiti lift
What is a Nefertiti lift?
A Nefertiti lift is a non-surgical treatment that uses Botox or a similar neurotoxin, injected along the jawline and into the vertical bands of the neck, to relax the platysma muscle. Releasing that muscle’s downward pull sharpens the jawline, softens early jowls, and smooths neck bands without incisions or downtime.
How many units of Botox does a Nefertiti lift take?
Most Nefertiti lifts use somewhere in the range of 20 to 50 units, depending on the strength of the platysma, your anatomy, and how much of the neck and jawline is being treated. Your exact dose is determined at consultation, and conservative dosing on a first treatment is the norm.
How long does a Nefertiti lift last?
Results typically last three to four months. Some patients see longer or shorter duration depending on their metabolism and muscle strength, and consistent maintenance treatments tend to make results easier to sustain over time.
Does a Nefertiti lift hurt?
Most patients describe it as a series of quick pinches. The injections are shallow and use a very fine needle. No numbing is required for most people, though it can be offered, and the whole treatment is finished in well under half an hour.
Is a Nefertiti lift the same as a neck lift?
No. A surgical neck lift removes and repositions skin and tissue under general anesthesia, with weeks of recovery, and it addresses significant skin laxity that no injectable can. A Nefertiti lift relaxes the muscle pulling the lower face down, with no surgery and no recovery period, and suits earlier or milder changes. Accelerated Aesthetics is a medical spa and does not perform surgery, so our recommendations are not steering you toward an operating room.
Who is a good candidate for a Nefertiti lift?
The best candidates have mild to moderate changes: early jowling, softening jawline definition, or visible platysmal bands, with reasonably good skin quality. Patients with significant loose skin or substantial fullness under the chin usually need a different plan, which is exactly what a consultation sorts out.
What are the risks of neck Botox?
When performed by a trained medical provider, the Nefertiti lift has a strong safety profile, with the most common side effects being temporary bruising or tenderness at the injection sites. Because the neck contains muscles involved in swallowing and speech, dosing and placement precision matter, which is why this treatment belongs in medically supervised hands.
What does a Nefertiti lift cost in the Chicago area?
Cost depends on the number of units your anatomy needs, so two patients can have meaningfully different totals. Consultations at Accelerated Aesthetics are complimentary and include a specific unit estimate and pricing before you commit to anything.
Where can I get a Nefertiti lift in Elmhurst or the Chicago area?
Accelerated Aesthetics is a medical spa at 112 S. York Street in downtown Elmhurst, IL, roughly 20 minutes west of downtown Chicago and within easy reach of most of Chicagoland. Patients travel to us from Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Naperville, Wheaton, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, La Grange, Western Springs, Oak Park, Berwyn, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Park Ridge, and the city of Chicago itself, along with communities throughout DuPage, Cook, Kane, and Will Counties. Injectable treatments are performed by licensed medical providers under the supervision of our Medical Director.
Your jawline is one appointment away from a decision.
Bring your profile questions to a free consultation. We will look at what your platysma is actually doing, tell you honestly whether a Nefertiti lift is the right tool, and give you a specific plan with pricing before anything touches your skin.
112 S. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Accelerated Aesthetics is a medical spa in downtown Elmhurst, IL, serving greater Chicagoland: the city of Chicago, the western and northwest suburbs, and communities throughout DuPage, Cook, Kane, and Will Counties.
Last updated August 2026.
