“Turkey neck” refers to the saggy or wrinkled skin on the neck that develops with aging. A good skin care routine, as well as exercising the neck muscles, can protect the skin and help tighten the neck muscles. But to remove excess skin, you may need surgery.
Turkey neck occurs when your neck muscles begin weakening, and your skin loses its elasticity or ability to stretch and stay tight.
Many facial and neck exercises claim to help alleviate turkey neck. Yet, to date, no reputable studies have analyzed whether or not these exercises actually work.
Exercise is good for your health and can tone your muscles, but it doesn’t eliminate excess skin. So, while exercises might help tighten up your neck muscles, the skin on top of them might not see change.
Four facial exercises for turkey neck
Some commonly suggested facial exercises include:
Forehead push
- Place one hand on your forehead.
- Push your head against your hand without allowing your head to move forward.
- Hold this position for 10 seconds.
- Then, hold both of your hands behind your head, pushing backwards with your neck, and hold for 10 seconds.
Chew
- Sit with your back straight.
- Lift your head back so your chin points toward the ceiling.
- Keep your lips closed and make a chewing motion with your mouth.
- Repeat 20 times.
Kiss
- Sit with your back straight.
- Lift your head so your chin points to the ceiling with your lips closed.
- Pout your lips as if you were giving a kiss.
- Repeat 20 times.
Neck lift
- Lie on your bed with your head hanging over the edge and your face looking toward the ceiling.
- Carefully and slowly lift your head up as high as you can, using your neck muscles.
- Repeat five times.
- Do not continue this exercise if you experience neck pain.
N-acetyl glucosamine, a natural form of the chemical glucosamine, is found in many types of neck and other antiaging creams. There is some research suggesting such creams can help improve the appearance of turkey neck by firming and smoothing the skin while reducing the effects of hyperpigmentation.
In one
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Surgical procedures are by far the quickest and most effective treatments for turkey neck. Traditional surgeries require cutting and tend to leave scars, while some of the newer treatments are less invasive. Here’s a list of common surgeries and medical procedures that can help get rid of turkey neck:
Botox (botulinum toxin type A)
Botox isn’t surgery by definition, but it is a time-consuming treatment done by specialists. It’s noninvasive and requires no recovery time. Results last about 3 to 4 months, and repeated injections are necessary to maintain firm skin.
Hyo neck lift
This is a relatively new surgical neck lift procedure that helps tighten and smooth neck skin. Recent
MST operation
This surgery is a minimally invasive technique that involves rejuvenating the neck by tightening the skin with barbed threads. The surgery leaves only small scars.
Skin tightening laser
Various medical devices can heat and tighten the skin. A laser is a noninvasive treatment producing mild to moderate results. Repeated treatments over 4 to 6 months are necessary for results. The benefit is that there is no recovery time involved for this procedure.
Z-plasty
Also called anterior cervicoplasty, this surgery was introduced in the 1970s. It involves direct excision of the neck’s excess skin. It’s fast and effective, but leaves a visible scar on the back of the neck.
The outlook for someone with turkey neck is dependent on which type of treatment or treatments that person uses. Neck exercises appear to be the least effective type of treatment, while surgeries and medical procedures are most effective, and cosmetic creams fall somewhere in the middle.
If you’re concerned about your turkey neck, talk to your doctor, who can recommend the treatment or treatments that are most appropriate for you.