“Turkey neck” refers to the saggy or wrinkled skin on the neck that develops with aging. A good skin care routine, as well as exercising the neck muscles, can protect the skin and help tighten the neck muscles. But to remove excess skin, you may need surgery.
Turkey neck occurs when your neck muscles begin weakening, and your skin loses its elasticity or ability to stretch and stay tight.
Many facial and neck exercises claim to help alleviate turkey neck. Yet, to date, no reputable studies have analyzed whether or not these exercises actually work.
Exercise is good for your health and can tone your muscles, but it doesn’t eliminate excess skin. So, while exercises might help tighten up your neck muscles, the skin on top of them might not see change.
Turkey neck is a common cosmetic concern that many people experience as they get older. It typically refers to loose, wrinkled, or saggy skin under the chin and on the neck that causes the area to resemble the neck of a turkey. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what turkey neck is, what causes it, and both surgical and nonsurgical ways to improve its appearance.
What Causes Turkey Neck?
Turkey neck occurs due to a loss of elasticity and collagen in the skin of the neck. This leads to sagging, wrinkled, and/or excess skin. There are several factors that contribute to turkey neck
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Aging – As we get older, collagen and elastin production decreases causing the skin to lose elasticity and strength. This natural loss of elasticity over time is the primary cause of turkey neck in older adults.
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Genetics – Some people are just genetically predisposed to developing loose, saggy neck skin. So if your parents had turkey neck, you’re more likely to get it too
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Weight fluctuations – Gaining and losing large amounts of weight can damage collagen and elastin leading to excess skin on the neck.
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Sun exposure – UV radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin causing premature aging and wrinkling of the delicate skin on the neck.
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Smoking – Smoking constricts blood vessels reducing blood flow and nutrients to the skin. This accelerates aging and degrades collagen.
What Does Turkey Neck Look Like?
Some of the most common characteristics of turkey neck include:
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Sagging, loose, or wrinkled skin on the neck
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Vertical neck bands caused by loss of elasticity
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Excess skin or fat under the chin resulting in a double chin
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Jowls or sagging along the jawline
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Horizontal creases and wrinkles on the neck
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Thin, crepey texture to the neck skin
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Loss of defined shape to the jaw and neck
The degree of turkey neck can range from mild crepiness and early jowls to severe wrinkling/sagging with pronounced vertical bands and excess skin. It’s important to note that turkey neck affects each individual differently.
Nonsurgical Ways to Improve Turkey Neck
If you’re looking to get rid of or minimize the appearance of turkey neck, there are several effective nonsurgical options including:
Skin care – Using topical retinoids and products containing antioxidants, peptides, and collagen can help improve skin texture, increase collagen production, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles/crepiness.
Injectables – Botox can relax neck bands and fillers like Juvederm Voluma can add subtle volume to smooth wrinkles and creases on the neck and under the chin.
Energy-based treatments – Non-invasive ultrasound (Ultherapy), radiofrequency, and laser treatments send targeted energy below the skin to boost collagen production and tighten loose neck skin.
Microneedling – Using tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin stimulates collagen and elastin production to smooth and tighten the neck.
Weight loss – Losing excess weight can help reduce fat under the chin and minimize the appearance of jowls/double chin.
Neck exercises – Targeted neck exercises to strengthen the platysma neck muscles can provide mild improvements in neck tightness.
Surgical Options for Turkey Neck
For moderate to severe cases of turkey neck that don’t respond sufficiently to nonsurgical treatments, plastic surgery is an option. Two common surgical procedures used are:
Neck lift – This procedure involves making small incisions behind the ears and under the chin to tighten the platysma neck muscles and remove excess fatty tissue. Excess skin is trimmed away for a smoother neck contour.
Lower facelift – During a facelift, sagging skin, jowls, and fatty deposits are lifted and tightened. It addresses problems like turkey neck by lifting the cheeks and tightening the jawline.
Both procedures require about 2 weeks recovery time but produce longer lasting improvements by surgically removing excess skin and tightening underlying muscle/tissue.
Turkey neck is simply excess, sagging neck skin caused by aging and loss of elasticity. While genetics plays a role, there are many effective options ranging from skin care to plastic surgery to address it for a smoother, tighter, and more youthful looking neck. Discuss your concerns with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to determine which solution is right for you. The good news is turkey neck can be significantly improved, if not eliminated, with today’s technologies.
Four facial exercises for turkey neck
Some commonly suggested facial exercises include:
Forehead push
- Place one hand on your forehead.
- Push your head against your hand without allowing your head to move forward.
- Hold this position for 10 seconds.
- Then, hold both of your hands behind your head, pushing backwards with your neck, and hold for 10 seconds.
Chew
- Sit with your back straight.
- Lift your head back so your chin points toward the ceiling.
- Keep your lips closed and make a chewing motion with your mouth.
- Repeat 20 times.
Kiss
- Sit with your back straight.
- Lift your head so your chin points to the ceiling with your lips closed.
- Pout your lips as if you were giving a kiss.
- Repeat 20 times.
Neck lift
- Lie on your bed with your head hanging over the edge and your face looking toward the ceiling.
- Carefully and slowly lift your head up as high as you can, using your neck muscles.
- Repeat five times.
- Do not continue this exercise if you experience neck pain.
N-acetyl glucosamine, a natural form of the chemical glucosamine, is found in many types of neck and other antiaging creams. There is some research suggesting such creams can help improve the appearance of turkey neck by firming and smoothing the skin while reducing the effects of hyperpigmentation.
In one study, 42 women had continuously improving neck appearances while using a cosmetic cream containing N-acetyl glucosamine over a 16-week period.
In a larger study of 85 women, twice-daily use of a neck cream also improved neck appearance in 94 percent of study subjects.
Surgical procedures are by far the quickest and most effective treatments for turkey neck. Traditional surgeries require cutting and tend to leave scars, while some of the newer treatments are less invasive. Here’s a list of common surgeries and medical procedures that can help get rid of turkey neck:
Tips for Preventing Signs of Aging Like ‘Turkey Neck’
FAQ
Can I get rid of a turkey neck without surgery?
Can losing weight get rid of turkey neck?
What causes turkey neck and how to get rid of it?
At what age does turkey neck start?
What does a turkey neck look like?
Let’s talk turkey — not the bird, but rather the loose skin on your neck that resembles a turkey’s wattle, those wrinkled folds of skin that hang under its beak. “Turkey neck” comes with aging, weight fluctuations and sun exposure, three things that are hard to avoid.
What is a wry neck?
The term “wry neck” is a non-medical description of a condition called torticollis. Torticollis is a twisting of the neck that leaves the head turned or tilted to one side, often with an inability to move the head. The cause is unknown and can be present at birth, presumably related to the position of the fetus in the womb that affects the neck muscles. Other potential causes include sleeping in an unusual position, viral infection, or injury. Neck spasm or scarring of the skin or muscles around the neck (as may occur with burn injuries) may lead to torticollis.
Does aging skin look like turkey neck?
Developing fine lines and wrinkles around the face and neck is a natural part of the aging process that can’t be avoided entirely. However, the appearance of aging skin—like turkey neck—can be treated with a number of aesthetic procedures. This is a noninvasive procedure that involves injecting neurotoxins into sagging neck skin.
Why is it called Turkey Neck?
It’s called turkey neck because it resembles the skin on a turkey’s neck (turkey’s wattle). Turkey neck is common in older adults but can also occur in younger people who have lost a lot of weight. Several treatment options for this condition include creams, diet, exercises, and surgery.