“Turkey neck.” It happens to us all. No matter how fresh looking you’re able to keep your face, the neck will divulge your age. As humorous author Nora Ephron put it in her book, I Feel Bad about My Neck, “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn’t have to if it had a neck.”
Maybe you’ve already tried neck-tightening exercises, the best neck-firming creams… even neck-lift tape? If so, you know that improvement is negligible to null. If you are serious about losing the loose, wrinkled or ropey neck skin, it’s time to consider turkey-neck solutions that only an expert can offer. For the most dramatic results, surgical procedures are usually the best choice. Not ready for surgery? You also have a growing number of exciting non-invasive options for improving turkey neck.
You look in the mirror one day and notice your neck looks a bit droopy and wrinkled. “How did I suddenly get a turkey neck?” you wonder. This sagging skin under the chin is common as we age, though genetics and lifestyle factors can cause it to appear earlier. Understanding the causes can help you find solutions to tighten your neck.
What is Turkey Neck?
“Turkey neck” is the unflattering term for loose, hanging neck skin that resembles the wattle on a turkey. Medically, it’s called ptosis – a drooping or sagging of the neck skin and tissues
As the platysma neck muscles weaken and skin elasticity declines, gravity pulls everything down. This creates extra folds and wrinkling on the neck.
Why Does it Develop?
There are several reasons you may suddenly notice turkey neck one day:
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Aging – Skin naturally loses collagen, elastin and fat with age. This leads to sagging. Most people first see turkey neck in their 40s or 50s.
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Sun damage – UV rays degrade collagen and elastic fibers in skin. A lifetime of sun exposure speeds up turkey neck
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Genetics – Some people inherit tendencies for looser neck skin and muscle. Look at older family members.
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Weight changes – Gaining and losing weight can leave loose skin on the neck.
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Poor posture – Looking down at phones strains neck muscles. So does poor posture like slouching.
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Smoking – Chemicals in smoke weaken skin elasticity and collagen.
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Menopause – Hormone changes lead to thinner, drier, less elastic skin.
Signs of Turkey Neck
How do you know if your neck has become more turkey-like? Signs include:
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Wrinkles – Horizontal creases and folds on the neck.
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Thin skin – Veins and muscles more visible under thinner skin.
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Vertical cords – Bands from lax platysma muscles protruding up from chest.
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Excess fat – Fullness or bulging under the chin.
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Sagging – Jowls and loose skin drooping down.
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Lack of definition along the jawline.
Prevention and Treatment
Once you notice turkey neck, is it too late to fix? Not necessarily! Proper skin care and lifestyle changes can help prevent it from worsening. For improvement, both surgical and nonsurgical options exist.
Prevention
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Use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent further sun damage.
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Moisturize the neck daily to improve skin elasticity. Retinoids boost collagen.
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Maintain good posture and strengthen neck muscles with exercise.
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Eat a healthy diet with antioxidants. Avoid excessive weight fluctuations.
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Quit smoking to protect skin.
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Consider preventive skin tightening treatments like Ultherapy or laser.
Nonsurgical Tightening Options
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Topical creams with peptides, retinoids, or caffeine. Neck creams can temporarily tighten.
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Ultherapy uses ultrasound to stimulate collagen deep in the skin. Takes a few months to see results.
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Lasers and radiofrequency devices heat the dermis to encourage collagen remodeling. Several sessions typically needed.
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Botox can relax the platysma muscle bands on the neck. Results last 3-4 months.
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Kybella injections dissolve fat under the chin. Multiple treatments required.
Surgical Options
For more dramatic improvement, plastic surgery can remove excess skin and tighten underlying structures:
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Neck lift focuses just on the neck, removing loose skin and fat.
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Lower facelift also addresses jowls and sagging along the jawline.
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Platysmaplasty tightens neck muscle bands.
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Liposuction removes stubborn fat under the chin.
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Combination procedures may be recommended for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Consult an Expert
If you don’t like your new turkey neck, don’t just cover it up – seek professional advice on solutions. A board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon can evaluate your skin and determine which treatments are likely to provide the improvements you want. With today’s options, there’s hope for reigning in that wattle!
Whittle down the wattle
Actual CSI patient. Courtesy of Greg S. Morganroth, MD.
Is there extra fat hammocking under your chin? Many non-invasive technologies that are effective for carving away a double chin will also help with this type of turkey neck. Your doctor may recommend a highly targeted procedure to reduce neck fat, such as:
- Kybella – This injectable is formulated to eliminate fat specifically under the chin. It uses deoxycholic acid to break down fat cells, so your body can remove them for long-term, natural-looking improvement.
- CoolSculpting – With its special applicator for the neck, the CoolSculpting machine leaves skin unharmed as it passes through to adipose tissue, destroying fat cells with intense cold.
Why does the neck look older?
As with all skin, factors like genetics, extreme weight loss, collagen and elastin breakdown, and sun exposure can affect how your neck ages. However, there are additional factors that can act specifically on the neck to make it look older than the rest of you.
Thin, weak and delicate skin and muscle cover the neck. Year after year, twisting, stretching, and the pull of gravity and any pockets of subcutaneous fat have a cumulative aging effect. 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.
What you see is turkey neck. You can choose to accept it. You can try to hide it with scarves and turtlenecks. Or you can visit a medical professional for effective treatment, whether surgery or a more conservative approach.
Tips for Preventing Signs of Aging Like ‘Turkey Neck’
FAQ
Can you get rid of a turkey neck?
Will turkey neck go away with weight loss?
Can dehydration cause turkey neck?
What causes a turkey neck?
Dr. Newman says these six factors can cause turkey neck: Aging: Your skin naturally loses elasticity as you get older. “Gravity takes over, and the skin on your cheeks starts to drift down,” explains Dr. Newman. “Your cheek skin then pools underneath your jawline and in your neck.”
What could be the cause of fullness in neck and head?
Some of the reasons for fullness/heaviness in the head and neck are sinusitis, meningitis, middle and inner ear issues, migraine, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, myasthenia gravis, and flu.
Why does my neck look like a Turkey?
Because of the skin’s looseness, it’s often compared to the look of a turkey. For the most part, this condition happens when your neck skin loses its elasticity and collagen. This results in the sagging and folding excess skin. It’s a very common issue that many men and women face as they go through the natural aging process.
What causes a turkey neck to sag?
Turkey neck (also known as neck wattle) is caused by weakened skin under the neck and excess fat in the area, which causes it to sag. Aging and extreme weight loss can cause your skin to lose its elasticity, which is its ability to stay tight and “snap back” to its original shape.