“Turkey neck” happens when the neck muscles begin to weaken and the skin loses elasticity. The loose skin can become droopy and wrinkled, drawing unflattering comparisons to the neck of a turkey. Age and sun exposure are the main culprits of sagging skin.
"It can be hereditary, but is most often due to aging, UV damage or weight loss." Dr. Pollack explains that the neck's skin and muscles become loose once we reach age 40. The skin becomes less able to shrink with weight loss, and weakened muscles can create a banded appearance.
The best way to reverse a turkey neck appearance is to encourage the body to create more collagen with a non-surgical neck lift treatment like Ulthera. Ulthera, or Ultherapy, is a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound energy to stimulate tissues deep within the skin.
Surgical procedures are the quickest and most effective treatments for turkey neck, but this requires cutting, scarring and recovery time. Two easy options that offer results include Botox and skin tightening laser therapy.
This excess fat (often called a double chin) can slowly stretch the skin, eventually causing folds that look like a turkey's wattle. A balanced diet, regular exercise routine, and reaching a healthy weight with gradual weight loss can help decrease these fat deposits and help keep the skin on your neck tight.
Most people notice neck skin beginning to significantly sag and wrinkle around the age of 40. That's also when underlying platysmal muscles start to detach and loosen, their edges showing through thinning skin as vertical bands from the chin to collarbone.
You can do this by placing your hands on the back of your head, and gently pushing your head backward. Once you feel resistance in the neck, hold that position for up to 10 seconds. Then, release and relax your neck. Repeat 5 times, making sure not to overdo it and cause unnecessary neck pain.
Ultherapy is the only procedure approved by the FDA for lifting and tightening the skin of the neck and chest without surgery. This non-invasive treatment for turkey neck can be completed in just one ultrasound procedure with no downtime. And it's completely safe.
When you look down at the floor or up at the ceiling, you are stretching your neck. Over the years, all this stretching, along with the loss of collagen and elastin — two naturally occurring proteins — can cause the neck to age faster than the face.
Neck exercises
Just grab a pack of sugar-free chewing gum and chew it twice a day for 10 minutes. Doing so will help build muscle under your chin and in your neck, fighting off that double chin and turkey neck.
Change your sleeping position and lose the double chin!
To further reduce puffiness and facial water retention, sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated. This position allows fluids to drain from your face. Use an extra pillow so that your head is at least a couple inches above your body.
TO PREP THE TURKEY: Remove neck and giblets from turkey main and neck cavities. (These can be discarded or used to make broth for gravy or soup.) If turkey has a metal or plastic clamp holding the legs together, remove and discard it.
One of the best ways to tighten neck skin is to exercise regularly. This helps build up the muscles in your neck, which in turn will help support the skin and prevent it from sagging.
A surgical neck lift averages $5,100. Nonsurgical procedures, on the other hand, range from $400 to $2,000, depending on the treatment. Shorter procedure. In general, most nonsurgical procedures take 30 to 90 minutes, compared with surgical procedures that can take several hours.
How much does a neck lift cost? The average cost of a neck lift is $5,774, according to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This average cost is only part of the total price – it does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.
If you have vertical band-like lines on your neck, Botox or Dysport (i.e., neuromodulator) injections can help by temporarily reducing the activity of the neck muscle and can help the skin appear more relaxed. Treatment takes just a few minutes and requires no recovery time; results generally last three to four months.
“Neurotoxins [like Botox] can be used to soften neck banding, and smaller particle hyaluronic fillers can be used for fine lines and wrinkles in order to soften and rejuvenate the neck," she adds. Lasers and radiofrequency are a less invasive option.
Often referred to as the 'non-surgical face lift', skin tightening treatments like Thermage® and Ultraformer III are highly effective in firming and lifting skin with little to no downtime. Thermage® uses radiofrequency energy, to deeply heat the skin. This stimulates collagen that will tighten and rejuvenate.
The neck lift procedure is highly effective for reducing the signs of aging as it significantly corrects the sagging and drooping of the neck/jowl area. With his years of experience and training, Dr. Furze is able to provide patients with natural, youthful results.
Neck lift recovery is generally not painful. However, you may feel some discomfort. Most patients report feeling a tightness in their neck and not pain. Symptoms after neck lift surgery usually go away about 3 weeks after the procedure.
One of the best ways to eliminate a double chin is to drink plenty of water. It is beneficial to flush out toxins from the body and can help reduce bloating. In addition, drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin hydrated, which can make your chin appear less saggy.
Luckily, there are many non-surgical options that can help rejuvenate the appearance of an aging neck. Thermage, Kybella, Dermal Fillers, Botox, Coolsculpting, and Microneedling are among the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment options for rejuvenating the appearance of the neck area.