- Turkey neck is a common sign of aging in which the skin loses elasticity because of a lack of collagen.
- Exercising the muscles in and around your neck can help keep skin tight and smooth and reduce sagging.
- Anti-wrinkle creams will keep skin hydrated and keep skin from sagging.
- Some medical procedures like Botox or laser resurfacing may be beneficial for people experiencing extreme sagging.
Why do people get a turkey neck?
Table of Contents
If you’ve heard the term “turkey neck” being thrown around, you may be wondering what it means. Turkey neck is a rather unpleasant descriptor for skin that’s sagging around the neck. So why does your skin sag like this?
As we get older, our bodies start producing less of a protein called collagen. Collagen[1] is the most abundant protein in our bodies and is responsible for the structural integrity of our skin, bones, and tissue. As our collagen levels start to decrease, our skin begins to lose its elasticity. This, of course, results in sagging skin in areas like the neck.
It’s possible to reduce the appearance of a turkey neck, but the best thing to do is be proactive. Using products like anti-wrinkle creams, exercising the area, or speaking to your doctor can help prevent and reduce the appearance of turkey neck.
9 Ways to Prevent and Fix Turkey Neck
Whether you’re trying to find ways to minimize the look of your turkey neck, or you’re looking for ways to prevent it, there are plenty of options. Here are nine ways to prevent turkey neck.
Chewing
Chewing can help strengthen the muscles in your neck, which will keep skin looking tighter and smoother. You can chew on a piece of gum, or just mimic the process of chewing.
To get the most benefits from this exercise, sit with your back straight and look up at the ceiling. Then, with your lips staying closed, make a chewing motion. Do this about twenty times for the best results.
Neck Lift Exercise
This exercise will help you tone the muscles in your neck, as well as keep them strong and healthy. Like chewing, it’s also easy to do.
Lie back on your bed with your head over the edge. Slowly and carefully use your neck to lift your head as high up as it will go. Try repeating this exercise four or five times, and stop if you experience any pain in your neck.
Kissing
You don’t need a partner to perform this “kissing” exercise! All you need to do is look up towards the ceiling, pushing out your lips like you’re giving a kiss. Repeat this action 20 or so times to help strengthen your neck muscles.
Moisturize Your Neck
One of the best ways to prevent turkey neck is to keep your neck hydrated. Moisturizing your skin frequently will help your skin stay elastic, as well as hydrate and soften skin. It will also help your skin maintain its natural protective barrier, which means you’ll experience less damage due to sun exposure and general aging.
If you don’t already have a face washing and moisturizing routine, consider starting one right away. Wash your face in the morning and night, and apply a moisturizer with SPF every day. Make sure to apply some of that moisturizer to your neck. Furthermore, try finding anti-wrinkle creams that contain N-acetyl glucosamine[2].
Try Ultherapy
Ultherapy is still a relatively new procedure, but it may be helpful for those looking to tighten up the skin around the neck without surgery.
Ultherapy uses pulsing heat energy to lift and tighten the skin around the face and neck. It helps stimulate your body’s production of collagen, which allows your skin to regain its elasticity.
One of the major benefits of Ultherapy is that it requires minimal preparation and recovery time, and there’s no anesthesia or surgery involved.
Botox
Botox gets a bit of a bad reputation, but as long as you visit a skilled practitioner, Botox can be a great and safe way to tighten and firm the skin on your neck.
If you’re considering getting Botox, make sure you do your research and find a highly-reviewed and rated botox clinic nearby your area.
If you’re looking for Botox in Limerick then Alexandra Aesthetics is just what you need.
Retinoids
Retinoid creams can help hydrate and soften skin. They are compounds that come from vitamin A and can help stimulate your skin’s production of collagen[3]. This, in turn, results in softer and smoother-looking skin.
Get a Neck Lift
If the skin on your neck is already sagging and you’re looking for a way to reduce this major sign of aging, getting a neck lift may be beneficial. Neck lifts can firm and tighten the skin on your neck and are usually performed at the same time as a lower facelift.
Make sure you talk to your doctor if you’d like to get a facelift. Your doctor will be able to refer you to a physician that can perform this procedure properly.
Laser Resurfacing
This procedure involves using a CO2 laser, which destroys damaged skin cells and encourages your body to regenerate healthy cells more quickly. It takes about 5 to 21 days to recover from laser resurfacing, depending on the intensity required to fix the area.
BONUS: Cosmetics or Products that Treat Turkey Neck
If you’re looking to reduce the appearance of a turkey neck, then using cosmetics can be helpful. There are lots of anti-wrinkle creams available on the market, but do your research and speak to your dermatologist to find the right cream for you.
One example is Cold Plasma Sub-D, which is a firming cream. Cold Plasma Sub-D reviews demonstrate that this product may be helpful for some users who are experiencing minimal sagging in the neck area.
Conclusion
A turkey neck can be an embarrassing sign of aging. Although it’s normal for skin to lose elasticity as you get older, it doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to prevent and treat problems like a turkey neck.
Exercising the muscles in your neck, keeping the skin hydrated, or visiting your doctor or dermatologist to discuss methods like laser resurfacing or Botox are all great ways to minimize the appearance of a turkey neck and keep you looking and feeling young.
