How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck And Tighten The Skin?

You roll out of bed, get into the bathroom, and start brushing. Like every other morning. In the middle of it, you look into the mirror and stare at yourself. And you notice the skin on your neck getting saggy. Or the skin is wrinkling with creases, folds, and ridges. You stop brushing and take a closer look at the mirror to realize that you never noticed the neck waddle before! Now, the only thing on your mind is how to get rid of turkey neck.

Turkey gobble neck, although common among humans after a certain age, is not welcomed with open hands like wisdom is. For the most part, it is the sign of aging gracefully. But you need to know how to get rid of turkey neck because who prefers sagging neck over firm neck skin? Turkeys.

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck Fast?

Turkey neck is a slang term used for saggy and loose skin under your neck. The name comes from the bird turkey since the red wattles that hang down from its beak resemble the saggy neck of humans. And you cannot blame those people who want to hide their turkey neck with turtlenecks and scarves because it is not exactly flattering. To get rid of the jowls and turkey neck, you need to tighten the neck fat and loose skin. There are a few different ways to help you get rid of the turkey skin on the neck. But unfortunately, not every treatment is effective. 

One common doubt people share is the similarity of a turkey neck with a double chin and crepey skin. Is turkey neck the same as double chin? No, the difference between a turkey neck and a double chin is the cause of them. While a double chin appears due to the excess fat deposits around the chin, a turkey neck is usually the result of aging. Crepey skin, on the other hand, affects the surface of your neck and makes it look crinkly and rough, just like your elbows. The skin on your neck has all the ability to make it look older than the rest of you. 

Before we focus on the turkey neck treatments, let’s see the causes of it. Because you need to be cautious and prevent it, right? Apart from aging, what are the causes of turkey neck?

What Are The Causes Of A Turkey Neck?

A turkey neck can be caused by the result of a combination of factors. As you are already aware of how your neck muscles begin weakening after a certain age, your skin will start to lose its elasticity along with it. The underlying musculature and the inability of the skin to stretch and stay tight result in dangling skin.

But it doesn’t stop just there. Other factors including genetics, extreme weight loss, fat distribution, bone position, collagen breakdown, sun exposure, and other environmental factors play vital roles in turkey skin on your neck. Let’s dig deeper.

Flaccid Muscles

The skin and muscle that covers the neck are thin, delicate, and weak. But with years of twisting, turning, and stretching together with the pull of gravity and sacs of subcutaneous fat have a combined effect on aging. Since your neck skin is supported by muscles, their weakening with the passage of time or lack of use can weaken their ability to support the skin to which they are attached.

Meaning, your skin won’t be pulled back into place like before. Although your muscles won’t feel any different, the visible saggy skin is the result. But this is also considered good because you can do certain exercises to strengthen the muscles, increase circulation, and tighten the sagginess on your neck.

Skin Elasticity

Our skin loses the ability to repair itself and rejuvenate as we age. Unfortunately, collagen is the first to suffer the wipeout because of time. Collagen is the protein present in the skin’s middle layer, which is the dermis, that is responsible for providing structure and support for the tissue on top of it. But over time, collagen production starts to slow down and the already existing collagen is susceptible to a serious breakdown.

The reason for breakdown could be anything from the sun’s harmful UV rays, free radicals that build up in your skin, or by lack of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Because of this collagen breakdown, your skin’s youthful elasticity it once had will begin to lose.

Fat Distribution

While some people naturally have skin without extra fat, some people are more inclined to carry extra fat under their chin and along the neck. The excess fat contributes to the cause of your turkey neck. As excess fat residues, it causes your skin to stretch and, as a result, you get a neck waddle that resembles a turkey. 

But this is no bad news either. A healthy diet, exercise, and slowly losing weight (extreme weight loss causes turkey neck) can help you decrease the fat deposits and tighten the skin on the neck. 

Bone Position

The position of bones in the neck is another cause of turkey neck. For instance, the hyoid which is the strip of white just below the jaw can affect the skin underneath the chin and along the neck. The hyoid bone is naturally set back away from the front of the neck. Consequently, the skin is pulled back into more of a square angle (ninety-degree). But for some people, the hyoid bone(1) is naturally set forward.

As a result, the skin underneath the chin and along the neck is pushed into a flatter and more rounded shape. Thus, the rounded neck makes your neck skin more susceptible to gravity as well as the looseness that comes with age along with a decrease in muscle tightness. All of which contributes to sagging turkey neck.

Other Causes

The lack of glands on your neck causes dryness, which in turn accelerates the aging process and makes your neck appear more weathered. Along with the daily twisting and turning, the neck skin has a tendency toward laxity which adds to the crepey texture with finely lined and saggy skin.

Also, the contraction of the underlying platysma muscle (the muscle that runs roughly underneath your chin to the sternum) starts to detach and loosen, thus, it may cause the vertical cords of the neck to look prominent from the chin to collarbone. Another factor is, of course, the damaging UV rays that add to the elasticity and collagen breakdown. 

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck?

Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the banded appearance forever. There are different ways you can try to tighten loose skin under the neck and get rid of the turkey neck.

There are a good number of exercises, topical treatments, and natural beauty supplements you can try without resorting to surgery. But if you want more effective treatment, you can always choose surgeries or a more conservative approach. 

How To Tighten Loose Skin Under The Chin Without Surgery?

Exercises 

Neck and facial exercises for turkey neck, if you are consistent, can help build them back up while improving blood circulation in your neck. As a result, you get a tighter and more firm appearance.

Though these exercises claim to help mitigate the turkey neck, there is no reputable study to show evidence of the effectiveness of it. But exercise is necessary for a healthy body and toned muscles(2). So, tighten the loose skin under your chin by trying these commonly recommended exercises:

Forehead Push

1. Place one hand on your forehead
2. Push your head to your hand without letting your head move forward.
3. Hold this forward momentum position and tension for a slow count of 10 seconds. 
4. Then, reverse the motion by placing both of your hands behind your head and push your head back into your hands, hold for 10 seconds.
5. Repeat three to five times a week.

Smooch

1. Sit with your back straight. 
2. Tilt your head toward the ceiling.
3. Pout your lips to make a kissing face toward the ceiling.
4. Send 20 air smooches.
5. Repeat three to five times a week. 

Chew

1. Sit back with your back straight, with your mouth and lips closed.
2. Tilt your head back so your chin points toward the ceiling.
3. While keeping your mouth shut, slowly make a chewing motion with your mouth. 
4. Slowly do the chewing motion 20 times.
5. Repeat three to five times a week.

Neck Lift

Facedown neck lift

1. Lie facedown with your head hanging over the edge of your bed and relax your body.
2. Slowly and carefully lift your head up using your neck muscles so that you are parallel to the floor.
3. Repeat 5 times and do not continue if you feel any pain.
4. Since this is a small and controlled movement, do not twist or jerk your neck.
5. Repeat three to five times a week. 

Neck lift on your back

1. Lie on your back.
2. Raise your head and neck slowly and gently, slightly off the ground.
3. Turn your head slowly to the right and then to the left.
4. Face forward again and lower your head back to the ground. 
5. Repeat this small and controlled movement as many times as you can while maintaining good control. Stop immediately if you feel any pain.
6. Repeat three to five times a week. 

Gulping Fish

1. Look up at the ceiling.
2. Place one hand at your collarbone and apply gentle pressure (downward).
3. Stick out your lower jaw and lip toward the ceiling. You will know that you are doing it right if you feel a slight pull down across your neck.
4. Repeat 5 times, switch hands and repeat 5 times more.
5. Repeat three to five times a week.

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck? Cosmetic Solutions

There are many turkey neck creams available in the market. The cosmetic creams, such as neck creams and other anti-aging creams, with N-acetyl glucosamine, a natural form of the chemical glucosamine, as an ingredient has proved to help with turkey necks.

According to a study(3) of 82 women, the use of a neck cream twice a day improved their neck appearance. They help improve the appearance of the turkey neck by smoothing and firming the skin. As per the opinion of dermatologists, face creams shouldn’t have to be just for the face. You can apply them to your neck, too. But neck creams, in specific, tend to have gentler active ingredients and be richer than face creams. 

Non-surgical Approaches 

• VelaShape: This non-surgical procedure uses infrared light technology and radiofrequency to painlessly tighten the saggy neck skin. This will tone your neck area and help you get rid of your turkey neck. 
• Profound RF: This turkey neck treatment produces up to ⅓ of the effect of a surgical facelift. If you are not ready for a surgical facelift, choose Profound RF to lift your sagging neck. It helps by stimulating the production of three essentials namely elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. 
• Ultherapy: By using ultrasound waves to target neck tissue to stimulate new collagen production, this cosmetic procedure strengthens and tightens your sagging neck skin. 
• Thermage: This is another treatment to stimulate new collagen production by using radiofrequency therapy. 
• INTRAcel: By addressing skin laxity with radiofrequency therapy together with micro-needling, INTRAcel (4)helps get rid of the turkey neck.
• Non-ablative lasers: Instead of removing the skin at the top layers, this method makes several devices send intense laser light below the surface of the skin to help build collagen. These non-ablative laser treatments include Fraxel Restore, N-Lite Pulsed Dye Laser, among others.
• Kybella injections: It can kill fat cells and help get rid of the turkey gobble neck in a matter of weeks and last for years.  

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck With Surgery?

Surgical procedures are the most direct and quickest solution for your turkey neck. And far by, the most effective treatment. The surgical procedures for the turkey neck are basically a combination of removing excess skin (cervicoplasty) and tightening loose neck muscles (platysmaplasty). Sadly, traditional surgeries require cutting the skin so it will leave scars.

But the good news for women with long hair is that you can cover them with your hair. Thankfully, there are less invasive treatments now. Besides freezing fat, the following are the common surgeries to get rid of turkey neck:

Botulinum Toxin type A

Neck Botox can relax the muscles of your neck and tighten the skin while reducing sagging skin. The purpose of neck botox is to paralyze the neck muscles to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It is a non-invasive but time-consuming treatment done by specialists that require no recovery time. But the result will only last 3 to 4 months, you need to repeat the injections to maintain the firm skin. 

How To Get Rid of Turkey Neck with a Neck Lift

Another effective way to remove excess, sagging skin under the chin is neck lifting. This is a new surgical neck lift(5) procedure that pulls the sagging skin upward to an incision behind the ears. It is commonly performed along with a lower facelift as the neck and lower face share muscles and skin structures. However, if you go to experienced physicians, they can perform the two procedures using the same incision.

MST Operation

Although this surgery leaves scars (only small scars), the surgery is minimally invasive. It involves rejuvenating your neck by tightening the skin along the neck with barbed threads. 

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck with Skin Tightening Laser

There are many medical devices that heat and tighten the skin. They exfoliate damaged outer layers of skin and promote collagen production. This particular procedure is non-invasive and produces mild to moderate results. However, it is necessary for you to get repeated treatments over 4 to 6 months but with no recovery time. The result is smoother and firmer skin because of the production of collagen. 

Z-Plasty

If you have longer than shoulder-length hair, you can choose this treatment for turkey neck. It is fast and effective but leaves a visible scar on the back of your neck. This surgery was introduced in the 1970s to directly excise the excess skin from the neck. It is also known as anterior cervicoplasty. 

Neck-band Surgery

Relax and soften the appearance of your platysmal bands with the help of this surgery. The procedure is to bring together the edges of platysma muscles to flatten their appearance as subcutaneous cords from the chin to collarbone. They are commonly performed along with neck lift, facelift, and neck liposuction. 

How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck? Microdermabrasion

This is a high-tech resurfacing option for your neck as well as your chest. It uses a device to painlessly remove the superficial layers of the neck skin. Since it is not a one-time treatment, you have to repeat the treatment at intervals. 

Neck Liposuction

Liposuction helps the neckline to chisel by extracting extra fat in pockets under the chin and along the neck.

Lower Facelift

This surgery can remove jowls and turkey neck by further contouring(6) the chin area. 

Chin Implant

This is an advanced surgery to augment your chin but it can reduce the neck waddle and sagging skin. It is a quick procedure by placing a custom-shaped implant through a tiny incision under the chin. 

It is no lie that surgical treatments are the most effective treatment for the turkey neck. But aside from the fact that they are pretty expensive, you cannot overlook the risk factor of side effects that could become permanent (like wrinkle fillers).

Although these side effects may only occur in extreme cases, you must be aware of the possible risks before getting on the table. You should always consult a plastic surgeon or dermatologist before turning to invasive options like surgery.  

Can You Prevent A Turkey Neck?

Although there is nothing you can do to stop aging, you can try to prevent turkey neck. The tips mentioned below will be helpful for you to prevent the neck waddle:

• Maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated.
• Exercise regularly to avoid extreme weight gain and loss.
• Limit your time in the sun.
• Always use sunscreen with an SPF of no less than 30 on your neck skin every day before you go out. 
• Use skincare products like exfoliators and moisturizers to improve the appearance of your skin along the neck. 
• Wear wide-brimmed hats when you are outdoors to avoid overexposure to the sun.
• Avoid smoking.