Laser or surgery for crepey neck? (photos)

Thank you for your question and for submitting your photograph.

In general, the degree of improvement achieved by non-surgical treatments is relatively modest on laxity and relatively thin neck skin. This is because the ability of the skin to recover following the trauma of treatments is much less in the neck region compared to the face, where stronger treatments can be used successfully.

Depending on the degree of improvement that you wish to achieve, it sounds like the neck lift intervention is most likely the treatment of choice.

Thank you for providing a photo along with your question. Based on your photo, your degree of skin laxity may not be addressed with one procedure alone. Perhaps, you may benefit from a combination of treatments, including Botox, dermal fillers, Profound RF (RF microneedling), and lasers. But of course, an in-person consultation with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon is the best way to determine the best procedure(s) for you and ensure the best possible results. If the non-surgical approach won’t suffice, you may be a candidate for a neck lift, which will revitalize the appearance of your neck and throat. Compared to a mini-lift or traditional facelift, this neck tightening surgery is considered less invasive as it requires smaller incisions and targets the neck alone. You’ll find out the best approach once your surgeon does a proper evaluation of your skin and profile.

As a board certified plastic surgeon, I am asked questions like yours all the time. Patients often want the quick fix, the non-surgical solution -- but this is often based on a misunderstanding of how long it takes to recover from actual surgery. I see that you have already had microneedling, and I’m guessing that it might have been with radio frequency. Filler won’t do anything to fix crepey skin, and neither will Botox. My best advice is that you might need a combination of laser resurfacing and a neck lift. The laser resurfacing addresses the crepey texture of the skin. The surgery addresses the excess skin that contributes to the problem. The best part of this is that you will not need two full week off of work. If you have a desk job, one week could suffice. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and expectations.