Is the skin on your neck beginning to droop and sag? For many of us, developing a “turkey neck” is a frustration because it can be nearly impossible to correct it through diet and exercise. In many cases, a sagging neck can add years to a person’s appearance.
Undergoing plastic surgery to tighten sagging neck skin used to be the only option. In recent years, dedicated research and new advanced technologies have created numerous opportunities to deliver more refined, youthful necks and jawlines without the need of going under the knife to do so.
What Causes Turkey Neck?
The skin on your neck is very susceptible to the signs of aging, much like the skin on your face. Two of the most common signs of aging are sagging skin and turkey neck. Sagging skin affects the surface of your neck and can make the skin look wrinkled and rough like the appearance of the skin on your elbows. Turkey neck, on the other hand, affects the underlying musculature and elasticity of the skin on your neck, resulting in loose, dangling folds of skin that look very much like a turkey’s wattle. Four common factors influence turkey neck.
Skin Elasticity
Your skin has an abundance of collagen and elastin. These two proteins, collagen gives skin its structure, and elastin allows your skin to stretch as you move. As you age, your body loses its natural ability to repair and rejuvenate. This applies to our skin as well and one of the first components that begin to suffer the hands of time is collagen.
Muscle Tightness
The muscles that support your neck, and the skin over the top of it, can weaken with lack of use or simply as you age. As these muscles weaken, they are less and less likely and able to support the skin to which they are attached. This means that your skin won’t be pulled back into place as readily as it was when you were younger. Your muscles may not feel dramatically different, but the visible results are often sagging skin.
Fat Distribution
Obesity and increased neck circumference are risk factors for developing stretched out and loose skin in the neck. Genetics can also make you more likely to naturally carry excess fat under your chin and along the neck. This additional fat can cause your skin to stretch and result in the folds that resemble a turkey neck. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and losing weight slowly rather than drastically can help to decrease these fat deposits and allow the skin on the neck to tighten.
Bone Position
The position of various bones in the neck can affect the skin underneath the chin. If the hyoid is set back away from the front of the neck, the skin will be naturally pulled back onto more of a square angle. If the hyoid bone is set forward, this, in turn, pushes the skin into a more rounded shape. The more forward your hyoid bone is set, the more it can make your neck skin more susceptible to gravity and decreased muscle tightness.
How To Get Rid Of Your Turkey Neck
Here are four simple exercises you can perform anywhere, anytime to give your skin a firmer, more youthful appearance:
- Chewing. You can work the muscles in your neck just by chewing more. You don’t have to be eating to go through the chewing motion with your mouth.
- Raise and turn. Lie on your back and gently raise your head and neck away from the floor. Once the head is raised, turn it to the left and the right in small and controlled movements.
- Stretch. Tilt your head back slightly to stretch your neck. Hold for a count of five, and then return your head to its natural position.
- Kiss the sky. Comfortably tilt your head back until you are looking at the ceiling. Once in position, pucker your lips and “kiss the sky” for a count of five minutes.
Cleansers and Serums
The skin on your neck is just as fragile and delicate as the skin on your face. Taking great care of your neck when you take care of your facial skin is vital. Use cleansers that are thorough, yet gentle. Add serums to your nightly skincare regimen, as they do assist with collagen production. Be sure to moisturize your neck when you are moisturizing the rest of your body.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
- Being active
- Rest
- A healthy diet
- Eliminate alcohol
- Reduce sun exposure
- Staying hydrated
- Quit smoking
Non-Invasive Treatments
With so many skin tightening options like Ultherapy, Thermage, and BTL, it can be difficult to know which treatment is right for you. Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Patel at Radiance Skincare & Laser Medspa and join us at our skin tightening event on November 29th – ALL DAY!