Sagging neck skin, which is sometimes referred to by the term “turkey neck”, is a skin concern that becomes more prevalent as we age, but can also be caused by lifestyle and other factors. How do we get rid of it and tighten neck skin? Let’s take a look at the various solutions available today for tightening the neck.
Why do we get sagging skin on the neck?
Sagging skin on the neck and anywhere else is commonly caused by a loss of elasticity. More specifically, it is related to a loss in collagen and elastin, two proteins responsible for skin tightness, firmness and elasticity. While our body produces these proteins naturally, the production process decreases as we age. In fact, we lose about 1% collagen[1] each year after our mid-20s. As a result, our skin becomes less plump and wrinkles become more visible.
Another reason for sagging neck skin can be weightloss. When a person loses a lot of weight, it can result in excess skin which can lead to sagging around the neck and other parts of the body.[2]
Like with most other things in our body, genetics is also a factor. Sometimes we inherit a certain bone structure or physical features that make us more prone to excess skin[3].
When it comes to lifestyle choices, things like sun damage, eating poorly or smoking can also have effects on skin elasticity as these aggressions break down collagen[4]. Exercising your neck muscles can also be important: they weaken over time and that too can cause your neck skin to appear less firm.
5 ways to tighten neck skin
If sagging is a concern for you, you may be searching for the best way to tighten neck skin, and we have a few popular solutions for you.
Radiofrequency therapy
If needles are not your cup of tea and you are looking for a way to tighten neck skin without surgery, radiofrequency therapy can be very helpful for you as well as it is non-invasive and painless. RF works by using energy waves – known as radio waves– to help boost the proteins that give us tighter and younger-looking skin: collagen and elastin.
When in contact with the epidermis, these waves generate gentle heat, which penetrates into your skin’s deeper layer known as the Dermis. There, it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which results in skin firming.
RF therapy for the neck is performed by professionals in clinics. If you want to do this treatment at home, the NEWA RF wrinkle reduction device is a great alternative and can be used to tighten the jawline from the comfort of your couch. NEWA isn’t suitable for use directly on the neck, however.
According to a clinical study submitted to the FDA with individuals who used NEWA over a period of three months (3 times a week for the first 4 weeks and twice a week for the remaining 8 weeks), the NEWA RF results are clear: 100% of participants showed improvement in overall wrinkle appearance. In addition, 84% showed improvement in skin firmness and 75.6% showed an increase in skin collagen content. No wonder some 300,000 people worldwide have already made it a part of their skincare routine.
Microcurrent
This technology uses low level electrical current that mimics the body’s natural current to stimulate facial muscles under the skin, which can result in a tightening effect. While microcurrent focuses primarily on working the muscles underneath the skin, RF works to stimulate our skin cells. This is one of the most important differences between microcurrent and radio frequency technology.
Exercising your neck
There are exercises you can do daily to exercise your neck muscles. There is much advice online about how “face yoga” can help. Exercises include pinching your neck, moving your jaw and pulling the neck skin back. While this can be beneficial in the long run, it will likely not show you fast results.
Skincare routine to rejuvenate loose neck skin
Some creams can potentially help tighten the skin on your neck. Particularly those containing an ingredient called N-acetyl glucosamine, Research suggests these products can help firm and smooth neck on the skin and improve the appearance of turkey neck[5].
In general, applying all the skincare that you use on your face to your neck as well is a good idea as we tend to neglect the area.
Surgery
A specialized surgeon can perform a rejuvenation procedure known as platysmaplasty or a neck lift. It is basically a way to tighten your neck skin contoured appearance by lifting and tightening your platysma muscle, which enables movement in your lower face. The procedure minimizes neck bands, sagging skin and excess fat. Results can last for years but it will not prevent further effects of aging on the neck skin.[6]
Final words
We all want to prevent or get rid of turkey-neck. Sagging skin, let’s be honest, isn’t a good look for anyone. It can be caused by a myriad of factors including aging and collagen loss. But there are a variety of solutions that can help tighten the skin with or without surgery that are worth trying out if your neck is a concern.[1] all-about-you-med-spa.com
[2] centreforsurgery.com
[3] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[4] yalemedicine.org
[5] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[6] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
