Neck Tightening Treatments to Banish ‘Turkey Neck’

American writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron – best known romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally – once wrote: “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth.” And if you are a woman of a ‘certain age’ you no doubt have come to realize that this is indeed the truth.

While lasers, peels, creams, serums, Botox and facial fillers can help keep the years from showing on the face, these treatments simply don’t work on the neck. Not only does neck skin shows age more quickly, it is notoriously hard to treat.

What Causes ‘Turkey Neck’?

The underlying anatomy of the neck — specifically the ‘platysma muscle’— is extremely thin. The platysma is a thin sheet-like muscle that runs from the upper chest and shoulder region to the jaw and the lower face. Unlike other muscles of the body that are deep within the subcutaneous tissue, the platysma sits superficially (near the surface) within the neck’s subcutaneous tissue.

As a person ages, gravity causes laxity from the lower face to extend down to the platysma where the neck muscle becomes apparent through the skin. Additionally, due to gravity and aging, the ligaments that attach the platysma to the underlying structures of the neck loosen. This is what causes the appearance of vertical neck bands.

Further, as one ages, the body loses subcutaneous fat – and the skin stops producing enough collagen and elastin to keep the skin plump, tight, and elastic. This causes the neck to skin to sag – resulting in the dreaded “turkey neck.”

#1. At Home Turkey Neck Treatment: Topical Care

We can’t stop gravity – or turn back the sands of time. But a wholesome diet, good posture, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding sun exposure, smoking and excess alcohol consumption can help delay the onset of turkey neck.

Slouching at the computer or while watching TV – as well as “tech neck” from looking down at your devices – can aggravate a droopy neck. And, while many people remember to apply sunscreen, moisturizers, and serums to their faces, they often neglect to protect their neck skin as well.

Medical grade sunscreens and ‘neck firming’ creams can help ensure that skin is protected and healthy – and help increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen production Our Alastin and Zo Skin Care products contains growth factors, antioxidants, and peptides to help fight sagging and crepiness.

#2. Non-Surgical Turkey Neck Treatment: Radiofrequency Skin Tightening

However, sunscreen and targeted neck creams can only go so far – especially as the years continue to accumulate. Fortunately, AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham, MI offer several minimally invasive in-office neck treatments that can tighten neck skin.

Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening, is a nonsurgical method of tightening the skin that is very effective on the lower face, jowls and ‘turkey neck.’

Skin laxity actually starts to occur around age 35 to 40 when the quantity and quality of the skin’s collagen and elastic production begins to decline. But radiofrequency treatments deliver thermal energy waves to heat the deeper layer of the skin (dermis). This heat stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which thickens and tightens the skin on the neck.

At AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham, MI we offer several of the most advanced radiofrequency skin and neck tightening treatments: Profound,  Morpheus8 RF Microneedling,  C02RE, and ThermiSmooth.

Only local numbing is needed for these treatments and patients generally start to see an improvement in turkey neck in a month or less. Maximum neck tightening results become apparent when the collagen remodeling is complete, usually around 4 to 6 months after treatment. And because it is the body’s own collagen and elastic tissues that has been stimulated, results are very long lasting.

#3. Surgical Turkey Neck Treatment: Neck Lift Surgery

The most truly transformative procedure for a sagging, droopy turkey neck is neck lift surgery. This is because serums, creams and even radiofrequency can only treat the loose skin – but cannot tighten the neck muscles.  Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali is one of the only surgeons in the Birmingham, MI with the skill and experience to perform this life-changing surgery.

During neck lift surgery general anesthetic is administered and the incisions are usually concealed behind the ear. Extra neck skin is removed and naturally re-draped – and the neck muscles are also surgically tightened from the side. When necessary, an additional incision can be made under the chin to tighten the midline neck muscles which will minimize the appearance of neck bands.

Downtime after neck lift surgery is usually only about a week – and results can last well beyond a decade or more. Because neck lift surgery removes excess skin and tightens muscles it is the gold standard in treating ‘turkey neck’ and can easily take ten or 15 years off your appearance.

Turkey Neck Treatment | Birmingham, MI

Schedule a consultation at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham, MI and board certified plastic surgeon will help you determine which treatment or procedure is right to help you get rid of ‘turkey neck’ and take years off your appearance!