Botox Injections Neck Muscles

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m so glad that I found your website because I’m searching for a surgeon who can answer me this question.I’m a skinny person and I have a 17 inch neck and it looks very thick on me and I don’t like it. It’s just naturally that thick. I don’t know my body fat right now, but I don’t think that I have a lot because I’m already skinny and there is no fat around my neck, it’s all just muscle. So is there a surgery or anything else that can shrink my 17 inch neck to a 16 size? 

For example is it possible to shrink the sternocleidomastoid muscle on both sides by 1 cm? I saw a before and after picture on a website of a woman who shrank her trapezius muscles through Botox injections. If Botox can shrink the trapezius muscle it should also work on other neck muscles like the Sternocleidomastoid muscle. But using Botox on large muscles to shrink them could be dangerous. I really want to lose at least 2 cm from my neck muscles. I know it sounds crazy but it’s really my biggest wish to have a thinner neck. So is it even possible to shrink my genetically large neck muscles?

A: There is no surgical technique to reduce the size of the neck through removal of part of the muscle. While Botox can be injected into any muscle, I have no experience with injecting it into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Like all other muscles treated with Botox, muscle mass will shrink at least temporarily provided the dose of Botox administered is adequate.. I see no reason why the sternocleidomastoid muscle would be any different in this regard.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana