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Neck Lift Without Surgery - What Works?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Philip Solomon, MD
Question viewed 52,489 times
Tags: alternative, non surgical, turkey neck

I have developed a turkey neck look and can't stand how old it makes me look. Plenty of magazines suggest alternatives to getting neck lift surgery.  Do any of these seem worth trying instead of plastic surgery?

  1. tightening cream like L’Oreal’s Collagen Skin Re-Modeller
  2. accent laser
  3. restylane

25 answers to Neck Lift Without Surgery - What Works?

+4

Turkey Necks are best addressed with Surgery

Hello Kym, I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Wallach that the options you listed are only going to end up being a waste of time & money for you. Turkey necks / aging necks are an anatomical problem that occur due to genetics, anatomy and the aging process. As such, in order to really get worthwhile improvement and lasting results surgery is the best option. There are various forms of neck lift surgery. As a basic outline these are your options: 1. Platysmaplasty : a small... more
Kamran Jafri, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3

Non-surgical options for "turkey neck" won't work!

You have asked if a cosmetic, a laser, or an injectable filler will give you improvement for "turkey neck," which is a common description for loose flabby neck skin. Cosmetics will hydrate the outermost layers of the skin--the dead, dry layers at the surface. This makes the skin feel soft and smoother, but will not increase elastic fiber or collagen fiber content within the skin, nor will it tighten the skin (EVEN IF the product has collagen or elastin, etc. in the list of... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+3

Necklift to eliminate the turkey gobbler neck

There is absolutely no way to elimate the loose neck skin and musculature other then surgery. A necklift or neck and facelift are very effective and correcting the loose neck and jawline and creating a nice sharp cervico-mental angle. These procedures are ususally associated with minimal healing of about a week or so but can take a little longer depending on whatever other procedures are done at the same time. Don't waste your time or money on any of the Non-Surgical neck tightening options... more
Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3

For a true turkey gobler neck deformity, surgery is best solution.

The neck is a very difficult area to correct without surgery. A turkey golbler deformity suggests that the problem with neck is due to specific anatomic issues. The three tissue layers that need to be evaluated and addressed are (1) excessive loose skin, (2) excessive neck fat, and (3) seperation of a muscle in the neck ( the platysma muscle). It has been my experience with many patients over the years that conservative, non-invasive, modalities just do not work including all the ones... more
Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

Englewood Plastic Surgeon
+2

Non-surgical options for neck lift

There are non-surgical options for neck lift and they are effective, however, there are certain things that need to be considered. None of the non-surgical options for neck lift are as effective as surgery.  If you elect to proceed with this option, it is important to understand that you are making a compromise. Not all non-invasive options are equivalent.  Ultherapy has a worth it index of 100%  Thermage is 40% There are no miracle treatments.  To... more
Joseph Campanelli, MD

Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Neck lift is the only proven solution for a "turkey neck"

A turkey neck is a combination of loose neck skin, muscle weakening, and sometimes excess fat. Although the procedures you mentioned may improve the neck to an extent, they will not correct it completely. A neck lift is the only procedure that addresses the skin laxity, fat, and muscle weakness.
Frank Agullo, MD

El Paso Plastic Surgeon
+2

Only surgery can correct lax skin and muscle in the neck

Non surgical treatments are becoming more widely available for many cosmetic concerns. Unfortunately if you have lax skin and muscle causing your neck to sag there really is no cream or laser treatment that will be of help. If you pull your neck skin up in front of the mirror you can correct the turkey neck. Think about how much force is required to keep it there. That kind of direct upward pull can’t be achieved by a cream or by passing a laser over the skin. Fortunately... more
Thomas Buonassisi, MD

Vancouver Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Scarless, non-surgical Neck Lifts - What is it?

In the youthful neck, the skin and the underlying Platysma muscle are tightly attached to the underlying deeper neck structures with the line from chin to neck to base of neck creating a sharp acute angle. With age, as the skin loosens, as the muscle loosens and forms visible pillars and as fat may accumulate both over the muscle and under the platysma muscle the angle acuity is gradually lost and replaced with what eventually in extreme cases becomes a straight line - chin to base of neck... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+2

The only solution for a real "turkey neck" is surgery.

Save your money for something that will work. Products and skin treatments will not do anything for a really bad neck. There is usually some combination of loose excess skin, loose hanging muscle, superficial excess fat, and deep excess fat. These tissues neeed to be cleaned up with some form of neck lift. The good news is that this is safe surgery with a relatively short recovery period. And the results are long lasting
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Surgery is probably the best option

If you truly have this much laxity of skin and muscle of your neck, surgery is the best available option today. The noninvasive skin tightening procedures will offer little improvement in such cases. This may change as the technology improves, but for now, surgery is your best investment.
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

Necklifts in a nutshell

The neck has several issues to consider; 1- excess, sagging skin 2-Too much neck fat, or too little if over-treated with liposuction. 3-Turkey Gobblers - This is the result of the muscles in the neck (platysma) sagging and separating in the midline. Treatments for neck issues; Liposuction - for excess neck fat in patients with good skin tone and elasticity.Minimal incisions. Liposuction with platysmaplasty - Liposuction of the neck, correction of the platysmal bands... more
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Turkey neck treatment

Turkey neck deformity are best treated with neck lift surgery. Less invasive technologies are will not provide significant results. Neck lift surgery can dramatically enhance ones appearance and provide long lasting results. Seek out a surgeon who specializes in neck lift surgery for best results. Lasers resurfacing procedures can enhance results of neck lift surgery but if done in isolation will not provide optimal results.
Philip Solomon, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Non-Surgical alternatives for neck lift

Neck sagging is a structural or anatomical problem. None of the methods you've listed would produce any gain and would only waste your money. However, there are a variety of surgical options depending on the severity of your condition, and it is worth investigating them with a board certified plastic surgeon.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Neck lift without surgery?

None of these interventions will work. The only 'step-down' intervention short of a face or neck lift that would have some effect is an energy based intervention. Either infrared energy ie SkinTyte by Sciton delivered externally or slightly more invasive a laser canula delivered energy from underneath the skin. The improvements from these types of interventions are marginal and really help the patients most who need oit the least. These interventions are... more
Rian Maercks, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Neck Lift Without Surgery?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, despite aggressive marketing campaigns telling you otherwise, nonsurgical treatments do not work. The old adage “if it sounds too good to be true it probably is” certainly holds true in this case. I hope this helps.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Necklift without surgery - not many good options; but reconsider smaller surgical options

I am always amazed how much energy and resources are used by patients who don't want surgery, when even small procedures could really bring them close to what they envision. My heart goes out to people in my consultation office who literally ran through all their available resources with unproductive non-surgical procedures, and don't have the means to go forward with any further procedures. What causes the loss in neck contour is a change in the underlying tissues... more
Edward Szachowicz, MD, PhD

Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Turkey Neck Look and Neck lifts

I agree with the comments of most of my colleagues in that the best solution for severe neck sag (turkey neck) would be a surgical correction. There are many different approaches including extensive skin and muscle tightening and fat removal. However, it is important to maintain harmony with the lower face and neck and avoid an unnatural appearance. Therefore for most of these patients I combine a lower facelift with a neck lift utilizing short incisions. It does not... more
Lewis J. Obi, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Neck Lift is the Solution

When a patient develops the aging changes that occur in a "turkey neck", there are no non-surgical alternatives to provide lasting aesthetic benefit. The only options include a limited incision neck lift, or alternatively, a Facelift with platysmaplasty.
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

IGuide necklift for less downtime than having cervicoplasty.

I recently performed the first of these in the Midwest and it is essentially a variation on a neck lift. The early experience limits me from providing any long term insight. To summarize: it is essentialy a neck liposuction proceure that then involves lacing a permanent suture (thread) back and forth under the chin to maintain the results. It uses a lighted fiberoptic guide to place the suture. Hence, the name Iguide.  This is a less invasive procedure than cerivoplasty.  If... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatives to surgical necklift

The alternatives you mention my be helpful for crepey skin and fines lines, but for a turkey neck, surgery is the only effective technique. The cords that form are from laxity of a thin muscle in the neck, the platysma. The front edges of the muscle lose tone and hang down. Unfortunately, exercises have not proven to be of help in alleviating the cords. The cords are repaired by sewing the edges of the muscle together so they no longer hang down. If there is extra skin and... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatives to a Necklift/Facelift

One of the characteristics of facial aging that tends to "age" more than any other is fullness in the lower cheeks (jowls) and upper neck.  Finding an appropriate non-surgical alternative to treat this common problem is the "holy grail" of facial rejuvenation.  To the honest and objective observer, there is no alternative approach that even comes close to the results you can get with surgery.  Not even close!!  I know that surgery can be scary... more
John Bitner, MD

Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nothing non-surgical works for a turkey neck

A turkey neck implies a significant amount of extra skin causing you to lose a youthful angularity of the neck. There is nothing, despite the advertising claims, that will give you a great change other than surgery. Please check my web site and photos on RealSelf for many examples. If this kind of change is what you would like for yourself, properly done surgery is your answer.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Invest for results of neck surgery

I could not agree more with what has been posted. Working in a University plastic surgery center I have access to all the new "toys". We have skin tightening lasers, we had the threads early on (4-5 years ago). The bottom line is that nothing works for the neck other than surgery. That being said, surgery for the neck works great to get rid of the turkey gobbler. The results are long lasting and very dramatic. It may seem like a lot to consider surgery but you are assure dof... more
Benjamin C. Marcus, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

No alternatives to neck lift surgery, such as Restylane

There are no alternatives to neck lift surgery such as Restylane skin rejuvenation, lasers, or tightening creams. The neck has three components: skin, muscle, and fat. The fat has two compartments, one above and below the platysmal muscle, which has to be addressed. Liposuction will only remove the fat. A neck lift involves tightening the neck muscles, called the platysma in the neck, in addition to removing fat above and below the platysma to recreate and define a new jawline. Typically... more
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nothing but the real deal

I fyou really have a true turkery gobbler neck, then you have alot of loose skin.  You can try all the creams/lasers/ etc.. until "the cows come home," but nothing available today will give you the improvement of a neck lift for this problem.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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