Tackling the Turkey Neck (Why Your Neck Is Giving Your Age Away - and How to Stop It)

We’re getting older all the time (sorry, thought I’d get that little bombshell out of the way), but many of us, nowadays, spend a lot of time, effort and money to slow down the signs of ageing. You buy good cleansers, vitamin Cs, moisturisers, SPFs and retinols, and you really take the time to follow our skincare routines, AM and PM. You see aesthetic practitioners (AKA skin magicians) for treatments like wrinkle relaxing and fillers can both be used to reduce lines and smooth skin. However, there’s probably one thing you’ve neglected that may well be starting to give away your age - your neck.

So, how do we slow down the signs of ageing when it comes to our necks? What treatments are available for neck rejuvenation, and how can we avoid the ‘turkey neck’ for as long as possible, without going under the knife?

Why does our neck show signs of ageing?

Aside from the fact that we’re probably all guilty of forgetting to invite our necks to the skincare party, there are also several other reasons it can look older than we actually feel.

You see, the skin on our necks is actually much thinner than that on our faces. We’re constantly bending, twisting and tilting them, so there’s no wonder they age so fast. But that doesn’t mean we need to live with a neck that looks disproportionately older than the rest of us.

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What non-surgical aesthetic treatments can help reduce signs of turkey neck?

Fortunately, there are several aesthetic treatments available for the treatment of turkey necks - from non-invasive HIFU, to the new kid on the treatment block, polynucleotides. Let's take a look at each in more detail...

HIFU

When it comes to treating an ageing neck (think crepey skin), HIFU is one of the most popular treatments out there. No needles. No downtime. No discomfort.

So, how does HIFU work on the neck?

Well, focused ultrasound energy delivers heat down through the skin and into the neck muscles. This causes intentional damage that forces the body to produce more collagen. As a consequence you end up with lifted, tightened skin, as well as a reduction in the visibility of those pesky bands we often find around the neck.

The main benefits of this treatment is that it is quick and there is no downtime, though you’ll likely have some redness and bruising for a few hours afterwards. There is some discomfort with this treatment though. However, you’ll see some results straight away and - get this - you’ll continue to see results over the next few months. Win! So, how long do the results of Ultherapy last? Up to 18 months, so you can stay looking rejuvenated for plenty of time.

Radiofrequency

Another option for treating an ageing neck (I don’t really like the term ‘turkey neck’, is radiofrequency technology. This is similar to microwave energy but at a much lower level (so, no - you won’t be able to cook that jacket potato at the same time), and it is basically used to heat the tissue below the skin. Why? To cause intentional thermal damage. Sounds strange, right? And it sort of is. The idea of causing intentional damage is generally considered to be silly, but in the case of collagen, it can be a good thing (only if done by a medical expert who is extremely well trained in this treatment!). So, as I was saying, tissue below the skin is heated and this gets those collagen molecules all toasty. When we damage collagen in this type of scenario, we force the body to produce more, which leads to a younger-looking, stronger neck structure. Beautiful!

So, we know the main benefits - rejuvenation, rejuvenation, rejuvenation (that’s surprisingly hard to say!). It’s a speedy treatment, the effects can be seen quickly, and, similar to HIFU, the results will continue to show for the next few months.

There's also an even more effective version of this treatment, when it's combined with microneedling - RF microneedling. The collagen stimulation with this combo is NOT to be sniffed at!!

Thread lift

Ok, so we’ve talked about the trusty thread lift before and yep, I’m about to go there again. This article gives you the low-down when it comes to the treatment overall, but what about when it comes to thread lifts specifically for the neck? Well, essentially, what happens is fine threads (either made from polylactic acid or polydioxanone) are inserted superficially under the skin, using a needle or cannula. They are then hooked into place (sounds horrific, isn’t actually) and pulled to give lovely taut skin. Now you can understand why it’s often deemed the lunchtime facelift.

The downside is that you’re looking at a few days of downtime - up to around five - as you’ll have some bruising. So, don’t go making any plans for the evening of your thread lift treatment. On the plus side, though, the results are often fantastic, leaving you with a younger looking neck in not much time at all. And, best of all, the results last up to 18 months.

Profhilo

If you haven’t heard of Profhilo, where have you been? This bioremodeller is an injectable treatment that uses hyaluronic acid to give gorgeous, glowing skin from within. This treatment can work wonders on the neck as it specialises in tackling skin laxity, remodelling tissue that has begun ageing and sagging, and gets to work on boosting collagen. Now that’s what we like to hear.

The cons - it does sting, but the sensation is brief and the whole procedure only takes a few minutes. The pros - it’s quick and not only will you see results immediately, but they’ll continue to come for the next couple of months. You can probably expect the effects of Profhilo to last around 6 months. Not bad!

Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides are an injectable, regenerative treatment that have been used in medicine since the 1980’s to treat joint issues. In recent years, aesthetic practitioners have harnessed the regenerative properties to give skin a brilliant boost!

Polynucleotides are made up of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They are injected into the skin to improve skin texture and elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. They do this by providing instant hydration whilst also promoting fibroblast proliferation and boosting collagen synthesis.

What does this mean for your neck? Well, essentially, your skin rebuilds itself from the inside, out. Smoothing lines, reducing crepeyness, evening out tone and texture.

Anti-wrinkle injections

On your neck? I know - the anti-wrinkle treatment is full of hidden talents. If you find that you have rings around the front of your neck, Botox might be the solution. Injected into the area Botox can create a big impact, reducing lines and creating an altogether fresher looking neck. What happens is the injector will treat the platysmal band - the long vertical muscles in the front of the neck that start to protrude out as we age). Botox is injected around this area and helps relax the muscles, preventing them from standing out quite so much. It’s also great for tackling the circular lines, or bracelet lines, that you often find on the neck.

Many of you will already know the drill when it comes to Botox. It’s quick and effective. It’ll take up to two weeks to kick in and it’ll last between three and nine months, depending on how quickly you metabolise it.

So if you’re determined to tackle the turkey neck, there are plenty of options to choose from that will help you stay looking younger for longer and keep the turkey for festive holidays only.

Ready to tackle the turkey neck? Check out the hundreds of medically qualified aesthetic practitioners listed on Glowday available for no-obligation consultations.