It’s finally happened. Your nana’s sagging jawline has made an unwelcome appearance on your face. What’s started as a little softness under your chin has become a full-fledged gobbler.
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“What’s known as ‘turkey neck’ is a problem with your neck’s skin, fat or underlying muscle, or a combination of the three,” says plastic surgeon Martin Newman, MD. “It’s often a sign of aging, but younger people can experience it, too. There are many ways to address it, depending on the cause and what kind of results you want.”
Dr. Newman explains why turkey neck develops and the many nonsurgical and surgical options available to improve or get rid of it.
A turkey neck refers to loose, wrinkled skin under the chin and along the neck that causes the area to resemble the neck of a turkey. This condition typically results from aging, sun exposure, and loss of elasticity in the skin. While turkey neck can affect anyone, it becomes more common with age. Fortunately there are ways to prevent and improve the appearance of a turkey neck through lifestyle changes, exercises cosmetic procedures, and in some cases, surgery.
What Causes a Turkey Neck?
The main factors that cause turkey neck include:
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Aging – As we get older, collagen production declines naturally, causing the skin to lose elasticity. This allows gravity to pull the facial skin downwards into the neck area.
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Sun exposure – UV radiation from the sun degrades collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. This breakdown contributes to wrinkling sagging, discoloration and overall loss of elasticity over time.
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Genetics – Some people are just prone to carrying extra tissue and fat deposits around the neck and jawline area, leading to a turkey neck appearance.
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Weight fluctuations – Gaining and losing weight can accelerate sagging around the neck. Fat deposits may accumulate in the area, while weight loss leaves behind loose skin.
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Lifestyle factors – Smoking, environmental pollution, poor diet, and other factors can degrade the skin and contribute to turkey neck.
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Muscle weakness – As we age, the platysma muscles along the front of the neck can weaken and separate, affecting neck contours.
How to Prevent Turkey Neck
Although you can’t stop aging, there are ways to slow down and minimize turkey neck:
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Use sunscreen daily to protect your skin from sun damage. Choose a broad spectrum formula with SPF 30 or higher.
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Moisturize the neck area daily to keep your skin hydrated and supple. Look for anti-aging formulas with ingredients like retinol.
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Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These nutrients fight free radical damage to your skin.
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Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Dehydration can exacerbate wrinkles and sagging.
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Don’t smoke, as this accelerates aging of the skin. If you do smoke, make every effort to quit.
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Do facial exercises and neck stretches to strengthen the underlying muscles in this area.
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Maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. Excess fat and weight fluctuations stress the skin.
Medical Treatments for Turkey Neck
If lifestyle measures alone don’t give you the improvement you want, there are medical treatments that can enhance the neck’s appearance. Options range from minimally invasive procedures to surgery:
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Injectables – Dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane can plump up hollow or wrinkled areas. Botox injections relax the platysma neck muscles.
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Energy-based treatments – Devices using ultrasound, radiofrequency, or laser energy heat the deep layers of the skin to stimulate collagen and tighten tissues. Brands like Ultherapy and Thermage work well for mild turkey necks.
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Microneedling – This technique uses tiny needles to puncture the skin, spurring repair and new collagen production.
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Chemical peels and laser resurfacing – These treatments remove the outer damaged layers of skin to improve tone, texture, and sagging. Downtime is longer than simpler options.
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Neck lift surgery – This cosmetic procedure removes excess fat and skin, then tightens underlying muscles and membranes. Results are dramatic but require several weeks of recovery. It’s the most invasive approach.
When considering your choices, have an open discussion with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Make sure you understand the potential risks and downtime involved with each treatment. Multiple sessions are usually needed for the best outcome. Maintenance is also required over time.
Adapting Your Lifestyle
In addition to cosmetic procedures, adapting your lifestyle can keep a turkey neck at bay:
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Do neck strengthening and resistance exercises to tone the muscles. Yoga poses like shoulder and neck rolls help too.
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Use good posture when sitting and standing to work the neck muscles rather than letting your head droop forward.
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Wear wide-brimmed hats and UPF clothing to shade your neck from sun exposure.
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Sleep on your back instead of your side to avoid sleep lines and wrinkling in the neck area. Use a satin pillowcase.
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Invest in wardrobe upgrades like turtlenecks, mock necks, and scarves to camouflage neck wrinkles and sagging temporarily.
When to Seek Medical Treatment
If over-the-counter skin creams and lifestyle changes don’t yield noticeable improvement in your turkey neck, it’s reasonable to consider professional treatment. Signs it may be time to take further action include:
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Neck skin that bunches up significantly when you lift or turn your head
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Deep wrinkles, crepey skin texture, and pronounced loss of elasticity
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Clearly defined neck bands or cords when you move your head
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Excess fat under the chin and jawline, or a “double chin”
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obviously loose, drooping skin obscuring your jawline
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Being bothered by your neck’s appearance in photos and mirrors
Don’t resign yourself to a turkey neck forever. With diligent skin care, healthy lifestyle choices, and in some cases, cosmetic procedures, you can restore definition and a more youthful contour to your neck.
How to get rid of turkey neck
Choosing an effective turkey neck treatment depends on what’s causing it and your goals. Fortunately, there’s a smorgasbord of treatment options available. Dr. Newman breaks them down.
Dr. Newman says some people note a change in the appearance of their neck when they lose weight — but not always. It depends on the character and quality of your skin.
“If you’re young with healthy skin, your skin may retract on its own after weight loss,” he says. “But if you’re older or you smoke and your skin is wrinkled and has lost a lot of elasticity, you may not see much improvement, even after weight loss.”
Nonsurgical treatments for a turkey neck
Many products and minimally invasive procedures can help improve your skin’s elasticity and the appearance of neck fat, including:
Other, more potent options include:
- Deoxycholic acid, or Kybella® injections, which help dissolve neck fat.
- Fat freezing and nonsurgical body sculpting, such as CoolSculpting®, and devices that use laser, radiofrequency or ultrasound energy to destroy fat cells.
To improve your neck’s underlying muscle quality and tone, you can try:
- Turkey neck exercises: Daily neck exercises can strengthen neck muscles, which may help improve your neck’s appearance. For ideas on moves you can try, ask a dermatologist.
- Botox® for turkey neck: As the platysma muscles weaken, vertical bands or cords can appear on your neck. “The muscles become tight and enlarged,” Dr. Newman explains. “Applying Botox (botulinum toxin) helps tone them down and can be very effective.” Before having Botox injections into your neck bands, though, be sure to ask your plastic surgeon about “indications” for this medication (whether it’s safe and recommended for you).
But buyer beware: “The brochures for many nonsurgical treatments commonly promise great results, but often provide subtle changes,” Dr. Newman warns. “And it usually takes several sessions to achieve desired results followed by maintenance.”
He continues: “While they can improve your skin’s character and quality, they all pale in comparison to turkey neck surgery. Nevertheless, many people are happy with their results.”Every facelift surgery is specific to the person’s unique face and goals, so it’s important to have a thorough discussion with your surgeon before your surgery.
Simple Procedure Treats “Turkey Neck” Without Surgery
FAQ
What causes turkey neck in humans?
How do you get rid of a turkey neck?
What is the difference between a double chin and a turkey neck?
What does it mean when someone calls you turkey neck?