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The Best Treatments For Sagging 'Turkey Neck'

best neck creams turkey neck
I was recently asked by a Facebook reader what creams I recommended to improve sagging turkey neck skin.  She wrote:
What can one do for the sagging neck? Is there a moisturizing lotion that will help or are women doomed to have the dreaded 'turkey' look? :-) Deborah T

It's such a great question, and one that most of us women face as we age. There are things we can do to minimize the turkey wattle.  It all depends on exactly how the skin is sagging and how much sag there is.  (Click on any blue titles to read more)

For fine wrinkling of the neck the use of 'wrinkle creams' can help firm and smooth the skin texture. 

Options include

  1. best retinol for turkey neck sagging
    Retinoids such as prescription tretinoin (Retin A) or a really good retinol such as my Retinol Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. Retinoids are used at night and help stop collagen loss and induce collagen renewal - and that equals less wrinkles over time.
  2. Professional L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serums and creams over 10% strength and with an acid pH of about 3. products such as my Vitamin C Professional Anti-Wrinkle Serum. This is a professional level vitamin C product with stabilized and
    best vitamin c serum for turkey neck
    pure 15% L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C.  Vitamin C typically is used alone because it does not combine well with many other ingredients. It lasts at high levels in skin for 4 days before the concentration is reduced by only half. I therefore recommend applying it every 3rd day or night. Apply a retinoid and glycolic acid on non-vitamin C nights and/or Green Tea and Instantly Luminous Serum during the day. 
  3. glycolic acid helps fight turkey neck sagging
    Glycolic acid is an AHA that stimulates collagen renewal to fight wrinkles. My professional Glycolic Acid Ant-Wrinkle Cream is powerful age fighting skin care. You can top Retinol with it or use it alone. 

Pick one of these age fighting ingredients and let your neck skin adjust. Start with twice a week application and work up as your skin adjusts. Some people have sensitive neck skin so you need to be patient. These are powerful products. If irritation starts, take a break then resume. Gradually add another and see how both sagging and wrinkling is improved while skin brightens to a softer and more youthful glow. 

Skin tightening procedures for turkey neck sagging

Energy devices like SkinTyte, which we do in the office, and Ultherapy can help superficial laxity. They don't work for everyone but some people get really great results.

Botox injections can help too if there are long 'bands' of folds running down from the chin.  That's because that small muscle in the neck skin can actually contract longitudinally to create these bands.  Botox injections in the neck need to be done by a doctor with a lot of Botox experience because there are risks. Lastly, there's always plastic surgery.

dermatologist's treatment tips for sagging turkey neck

There is also a small muscle in the neck skin called the platysma that runs up the entire length of the sagging skin. It can be strengthened under the careful supervision of a fitness professional.  Be careful if you have any neck pain or joint problems because some neck exercises can make those problems worse.

I do turkey neck exercises during my yoga practice. I think it helps and I'm really prone to this lovely age issue! I also use all the creams I mentioned above!!

When the waddle is due to more than a superficial amount of skin laxity then sometimes you just need to see the plastic surgeon for a little 'nip and tuck'.

Photo: Thanks and gratitude to Ingrid Taylar