Most people notice neck skin beginning to significantly sag and wrinkle around the age of 40. That's also when underlying platysmal muscles start to detach and loosen, their edges showing through thinning skin as vertical bands from the chin to collarbone.
Factors like genetics, sun exposure and the quality of one's skin care routine can cause signs of aging to appear at different times for different patients. However, the majority of people notice that signs of aging like sagging and neck bands appear between the ages of 40 and 60.
One of the main causes of neck sagging is skin laxity due to loss of collagen and elastin. The other is tightening of platysma muscle, as it loses flexibility with age. The Platysma muscle is a long, sheet-like muscle that runs from the jawline down to the décolletage.
The most common signs of an aging neck are the development of vertical muscle bands, sagging skin, and excess fat deposits. Muscle bands occur due to the regular use of the platysma muscle, with the vertical lines representing the muscle edges.
“Turkey neck” happens when the neck muscles begin to weaken and the skin loses elasticity. The loose skin can become droopy and wrinkled, drawing unflattering comparisons to the neck of a turkey. Age and sun exposure are the main culprits of sagging skin.
Most people notice neck skin beginning to significantly sag and wrinkle around the age of 40. That's also when underlying platysmal muscles start to detach and loosen, their edges showing through thinning skin as vertical bands from the chin to collarbone. What you see is turkey neck.
"You can improve tone on the neck, but the amount of collagen and elastin in the neck skin is less than most other areas on the body. You can't really tighten that area up that much, unless you move to the more surgical end of the spectrum."
One of the best ways to tighten neck skin is to exercise regularly. This helps build up the muscles in your neck, which in turn will help support the skin and prevent it from sagging.
When you look down at the floor or up at the ceiling, you are stretching your neck. Over the years, all this stretching, along with the loss of collagen and elastin — two naturally occurring proteins — can cause the neck to age faster than the face.
Moisturizing your neck skin and décolletage, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet filled with antioxidants and vitamins, limiting sun exposure, and getting plenty of quality sleep can help prevent sagging neck skin and other signs of aging.
You can do this by placing your hands on the back of your head, and gently pushing your head backward. Once you feel resistance in the neck, hold that position for up to 10 seconds. Then, release and relax your neck. Repeat 5 times, making sure not to overdo it and cause unnecessary neck pain.
There is no ideal age to get a neck lift, as everyone is different. Generally, people opt for these treatments between the ages of 35 and 65, although there are certainly older and younger candidates. The best way to determine if this treatment is for you is to look at how the skin on your neck is lying.
Sagging skin along the jaw, neck, and décolletage occur over time as collagen and elastin start to break down. And as it ages, the skin doesn't have the ability to bounce back like it used to, says Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist, and creator of Visha Skin Care.
Bottom line: Most people have 1 treatment and feel some tightening right away. It takes time for your body to make collagen, so you'll see the best results in about 6 months. Some people benefit from having more than 1 treatment. Results can last 2 to 3 years with the right skin care.
Sagging skin may also occur after significant weight loss. The skin stretches to accommodate an increased body mass. Over time, however, this can damage the collagen and elastin in the skin. This can lead to sagging after weight loss.
Will Losing Weight Help Turkey Neck? Losing weight might help reduce the appearance of a turkey neck slightly. This is because you'll have less fat beneath your chin and around your neck. However, losing weight might not do much if you don't carry much excess weight and already have a turkey neck.
There are various medical conditions that may contribute to a double chin. Some of these include an underactive thyroid, Cushing's disease, kidney disorders, salivary gland inflammation and a sinus infection.
Nonsurgical treatments for a turkey neck
An anti-aging skin care routine, including neck creams and lotions can help minimize collagen loss and tighten your skin. Laser skin resurfacing uses heat to rejuvenate your skin. Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to lift and tighten your skin.
Most people start to experience skin laxity, or loosening, between the ages of 35 and 40 years . Skin laxity that occurs with age is mostly due to a loss of collagen networks, elastin fibers, and hyaluronic acid — a molecule that helps the skin retain moisture.
The issue often has as much to do with youth as it does with diet and exercise or genetics — which means that some double chins correct themselves: “As we mature, the fat pads under our chin tend to get smaller,” says Whitney Bowe, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Collagen can strengthen and thicken the skin, according to some experts, which can help ward off the causes of turkey neck. But not all collagen supplements are created equal, which is why it's important to do your research to find the best collagen supplement.