Options for Loose Neck Skin

A soft fold under the chin, or vertical cords that start to show when the neck turns, is the smallest sign that the neck is changing.

Several treatments exist for it, and they work on different causes. The sections below take the causes first, then the options in rising order of invasiveness.

What loose neck skin actually is

Cleveland Clinic quotes a plastic surgeon who says that what is known as turkey neck is a problem with the neck's skin, fat or underlying muscle, or a combination of the three. It is often a sign of aging, but younger people can experience it too, and there are many ways to address it depending on the cause and the results wanted.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery separates two of the causes. Loose skin occurs as skin loses its elasticity, and in cases where individuals have lost a great deal of weight, with sagging usually most apparent along the jowl line. Banding is different: as the muscles of the neck weaken with age, the vertical cords of tissue begin to stretch out of shape, causing bands around the neck.

Because the causes differ, the first check is which one you are looking at. Cleveland Clinic also publishes a list of ways to get rid of turkey neck.

Weight loss and skin that does not bounce back

Weight loss is sometimes expected to fix the problem. Cleveland Clinic quotes a plastic surgeon who says that young people with healthy skin may find their skin retracts on its own after weight loss. For older people, or those who smoke, whose skin is wrinkled and has lost a lot of elasticity, there may not be much improvement even after weight loss.

Nonsurgical options

Cleveland Clinic lists several nonsurgical approaches. An anti-aging skin care routine, including neck creams and lotions, can help minimize collagen loss and tighten the skin. Laser skin resurfacing uses heat to rejuvenate the skin. Focused ultrasound lifts and tightens the skin, microneedling uses tiny needles to stimulate the skin to repair itself, and radiofrequency microneedling uses radiofrequency energy to help collagen grow and tighten the skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology describes radiofrequency in more detail. A thin tube or needles are inserted into the skin to heat the tissue beneath. That allows the dermatologist to provide heat exactly where it is needed to tighten loose skin, and dermatologists often use this procedure to tighten the neck or upper arms. The academy also keeps a page on many ways to firm sagging skin.

For banding, Cleveland Clinic describes a different tool. As the platysma muscles weaken, vertical bands or cords can appear on the neck. A plastic surgeon quoted there says the muscles become tight and enlarged, and that applying botulinum toxin helps tone them down and can be very effective.

What the brochures leave out

Cleveland Clinic carries a warning from the same plastic surgeon: brochures for many nonsurgical treatments commonly promise great results but often provide subtle changes. It usually takes several sessions to achieve desired results, followed by maintenance.

That is the question to carry into any consultation: how subtle is the change, how many sessions does it take, and what does maintenance involve.

Thread lifts

For a lift without surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says a thread lift gives immediate results without the downtime or scarring of a surgical facelift. Dermatologic surgeons also publish a page on sagging skin.

Surgery

Cleveland Clinic quotes a plastic surgeon who calls facelifts and neck lifts the gold standard. By surgically removing the extra skin and fat, and tightening the muscles when needed, that surgeon says you get instant results and a definitive fix.

Putting the options in order

Identify the cause first: loose skin, banding, fat or a mix. Match the option to that cause, and then ask the provider how subtle the nonsurgical change is likely to be and how much maintenance follows. Surgery is the option the plastic surgeon quoted by Cleveland Clinic calls a definitive fix.