What is the difference between turkey neck and a double chin?

double chin is fat only and turkey neck is fat and/or skin.  I suggest you get a formal consultaiton, there are many options for both these.  Sometimes one treatment works to treat both.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Turkey neck is usually a excess of neck skin with or without loose neck muscle (platysma muscle) that hangs underneath the chin making the neck look like the excess of skin present in the turkey' neckDouble chin usually is related with significant excess of fat in the neck underneath the chin that makes the person look like they have tow (double) chin when looking from the front John Mesa MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
New York City (#NYC) & New Jersey (#NJ) 

Interesting question- my take on this is that a 'turkey neck' is from excess skin and muscle that you frequently see in patients 65 and older (look at my website, there are a few in their late 60's/70's with turkey necks). A double chin can be seen in younger patients and is due to extra fat under the skin causing a bulge, it does not necessarily have any extra skin yet. In the younger patients with a double chin, simple liposuction can do the trick to contour the neck- turkey necks usually require some combination of liposuction and removal of extra skin with or without muscle tightening. 

While not true scientific terms in general I think of double chin as mostly excess fat in a younger person and a turkey neck as lose skin and lose platysma muscles in an older person.The operation for each is completely different and a consultation with a board certiifed plastic surgeon is a good place to start the conversation on what you may like to improve. 

 In general a turkey neck is related to loose skin and laxity of the platysma muscle. This gives a loose hanging appearance to the skin under the chin that looks like a turkey's. Double chin is related to excess fat underneath the chin causing a roll when the neck is flexed. Hope that helps! 

The terms turkey neck and double chin are not medical terms. Therefore this answer will not be based on medically research centered data. In layman's terms there is a difference between a turkey neck and a double chin.A turkey neck is the appearance of hanging and excess skin in the middle of the neck going from the chin down to the upper chest. This is typically do to the aging process. Turkey neck gets its name as it gives the similar appearance to the gobbler on a turkey.A double chin refers to the appearance of fullness or extra folding underneath the chin region. This can occur on patients of all ages. It can be due to either excess fat in the neck or a weak or underdeveloped chin or mandible.Generally speaking, these two issues will have different treatment options.I hope you find this answer helpful.

A double chin refers to having excess fat under the chin, which creates more fullness.  A turkey neck refers to having excess skin in the neck, which does not necessarily create more fullness but just hanging skin.  

These are 2 terms that have different physical problems and different ways of helping them.Turkey neck is due to relaxation of the platysma muscle and it gives an appearance of hanging skin on the central neck area. This is more an aging face problem.Double chin is more due to volume fullness of the central area of the neck. This can happen at any age and is due more to the fat content on the area.Both problems require a physical exam by a board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in order to correctly diagnose and treat the problem.Hoe this helps,Dr. Gus Diaz

  Double chin and turkey neck are basically the same thing  and are just  a description for  an unflattering neck. Some patients have fatty deposits located above and below the platysma muscle, neck cords present, and loose skin in the neck. A neck lift procedure is performed on patient's less than 50 years of age who require fatty deposit removal and a platysma plasty. When there is excess skin present in the neck, a lower face and neck lift is performed. The goal of a lower face and neck lift is to tighten loose facial and neck skin,   tighten loose facial and neck muscles, and remove the fatty deposits causing the turkey neck and double chin.  For many examples of both procedures, please see the link and video below

Thank you for the question and if you can picture a turkey it has hanging skin in the neck while a double chin is usually caused but extra fat under the chin frequently in association with a recessive chin.  The treatment might vary in each case so be evaluated by an expert in your area.Dr. Corbin