With age, skin loses its elasticity and our collagen production slows down. One of the first areas that begins to show the signs of aging is underneath the chin. Sagging neck skin also becomes more apparent following weight loss. While exercise to tighten the muscles on the neck can help to firm up the area somewhat, there are cosmetic procedures aimed at relieving the appearance of a turkey neck.
Thermage
Thermage is a treatment that uses radio frequencies to heat up the lower levels of the epidermis to tighten up collagen and stimulate additional collagen production. Collagen contracts and tightens right away, giving many patients immediate results.
According to Dr. Brandith Irwin at the Madison Skin and Laser Center in Seattle, the procedure produces striking results gradually within about six months. The benefits of Thermage last for an average of two years, before natural aging and continued sun damage once again take their toll.
The treatment takes about one to two hours and can be performed without sedation in a doctor's office. Mild swelling usually dissipates with a day or two. Patients over the age of 50 usually require multiple treatments over a six-month period and boosters every two years.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is one of the most effective treatments for sagging neck skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Treatments involve removing excess fat, cutting away sagging skin and then tightening the underlying muscles. A neck lift, or cervocoplasty, typically is performed on an outpatient basis under intravenous or general anesthesia.
Swelling and bruising commonly last for about a week. Patients usually wear a bandage to hold up the neck muscles for up to a month. Final results are seen in about four to six months and the effects are permanent as long as the patient doesn't gain weight.
A less invasive neck lift called a submentoplasty requires a small incision in the neck through which the muscles are tightened. Liposuction typically is not required because patients who receive the treatment usually are at their ideal weight and merely want to get rid of excess sagging.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, laser skin resurfacing can effectively treat mild sagging under the neck. The procedure utilizes intense beams of light to dissolve the outer layer of skin and stimulate collagen production. The new skin grows in tighter and firmer and can remain that way when followed up by facial exercises, reduced sun exposure and diet.
The treatment is performed in the doctor's office, often with a mild local anesthetic. Some burning may occur and leave redness and blisters that usually disappear in a few days. Results from laser resurfacing typically are immediate and can last for up to a year, when it must be redone to maintain the effects.
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