When it comes to the battle against aging, most people prioritize smoothing lines and correcting volume loss on the face, forgetting that the neck is also a tell-tale sign of the aging process.
The skin on your neck is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your face and can become saggy and wrinkled due to a combination of factors such as aging, sun exposure, and even weight loss. This can result in the excess fat and skin under the chin, often referred to as having a “turkey neck” or the “wattle.”
While the slang words for an aging neck are humorous, for those with sagging and crepey neck skin, it’s certainly not a laughing matter and can be a source of low self-esteem.
In this blog, we’ll explore the various causes of the “wattle” and the benefits of choosing a neck lift over a facial procedure for targeting concerns in the neck area. We’ll also discuss various nonsurgical options for neck tightening to help you determine the best approach for achieving a more defined, youthful neckline.
What Is The “Wattle”?
The wattle, also known as “turkey neck,” is the sagging skin that hangs below the chin. It’s a common concern for those that are aging or have loose skin after significant weight loss. If you have the “wattle,” you probably feel self-conscious about your appearance and may avoid wearing certain clothes or jewelry that draw attention to the neck area, or you may find yourself constantly adjusting your posture to try to hide it.
Saggy neck skin is a frustrating problem that can affect your confidence and how you feel about yourself. In fact, one plastic surgeon from Manhattan recently explained that many of his female patients are actually more concerned about the sagging skin around this area than the fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss on their faces.
“Women generally pay the most attention to their faces, taking care to protect them with skin cream and SPF. Meanwhile, the neck is neglected, which can exacerbate collagen loss as well as the appearance of creping and wrinkling,” said Dr. Sam Rizk in a recent press release.
After years of overlooking this area, Dr. Rizk noted that a number of his patients initially consult him about neck lifts and other treatments that can enhance the definition along their jaw and do away with the crepiness
Displeasure with the neck is also a trend we see here at The Surgical Clinic. While many joke about their “turkey neck,” dealing with a “wattle” is painful for many individuals, causing them to feel self-conscious and embarrassed. Luckily, several cosmetic procedures are specifically designed to lift and tighten the neck area.
Choosing a Neck Lift Treatment Over a Facelift
If you’re interested in cosmetic surgery, you may be considering a facelift or a neck lift to enhance your youthful appearance. While both procedures can make you look younger by tightening and lifting your skin, they are very different from each other.
Facelift
Facelifts can be divided into two types: a full facelift and a mini facelift. The former treats the entire face and involves lifting both the upper and deeper layers of skin and muscles, while the latter is a less invasive option that focuses on correcting signs of aging in the lower half of the face.
Face-lift surgeries are best if you want to correct the following:
- Sagging facial skin in the lower two-thirds of your face
- Deep smile lines
- Deep folds around your nose or corners of your mouth
- Sagging skin and volume loss in your cheeks and along your jawline
Necklift
If you are troubled by sagging skin and fat accumulation, a neck lift can help address the “turkey neck” look and make you look younger. In fact, some people feel that a neck lift provides a more youthful appearance than a facelift since it can improve the jawline and neck. A facelift, on the other hand, mainly focuses on the lower part of the face.
Compared to a facelift, a neck lift is less invasive and requires less recovery time. Many women also find that a neck lift provides better results in restoring a youthful appearance to the face. This surgery can redefine the jawline and create a firmer, more youthful profile. It’s an excellent option for those looking to improve the appearance of deep wrinkles, excess fat, or “crepey” skin on the neck.
Overall, the benefits of a neck lift surgery include:
- Improved appearance of wrinkles and crepey skin
- Removal of the wattle
- Minimal scarring
- A more youthful profile
- A firmer and more defined jawline
- Improved confidence
In short, a facelift focuses on rejuvenating the lower two-thirds of the face by lifting and adjusting the skin and muscles, whereas a neck lift specifically targets sagging skin and excess fat below the chin.
Ultimately, choosing between a facelift and a neck lift depends on each patient’s unique needs and goals. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon at The Surgical Clinic can help determine the best approach for achieving your desired results.
Can You Combine A Facelift And Neck Lift?
Absolutely! Unless you aren’t experiencing any aging on your face, or vice versa, combining a facelift and neck lift together can enhance your overall outcome and allow you to achieve a more balanced and natural-looking facial contour.
Another advantage of combining a facelift and neck lift is that it can result in longer-lasting outcomes, with many patients enjoying the benefits for 8-15 years. Throw in proper sun protection, skincare, and other cosmetic treatments like filler, botox, and lasers, and you can prolong the results even further.
Combining these procedures also reduces recovery time. Recovery from each procedure can take up to 2-3 weeks, depending on your overall health. Combining the procedures can cut recovery time in half, allowing most patients to return to work within two weeks.
Lastly, if you have a facelift and neck lift performed in only one surgery, you are only put to sleep once. This reduces both risks and costs compared to having them done separately.
When combining a facelift and neck lift into one surgery, it is crucial to choose an experienced facial rejuvenation surgeon, like our board-certified plastic surgeons at The Surgical Clinic, who can create a personalized treatment plan to meet your individual needs.
What Non-Surgical Treatments Help With Sagging Skin Under The Neck?
Sagging skin under the neck is a cosmetic concern for many people, but not everyone wants or has the finances to have a facelift or neck lift. Fortunately, there are many nonsurgical treatments available that can help improve this issue.
For example, laser therapy and radiofrequency therapy can tighten the skin by boosting collagen production, resulting in a more youthful appearance. Injectable fillers can add volume to the skin, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and creases. And there is also PDO threading, a newer cosmetic treatment that promotes new collagen growth and is becoming increasingly popular.
Here is some information on each nonsurgical neck tightening and lifting procedure to help you determine which might be best for you.
Laser Therapy
If you’re looking to improve the firmness and elasticity of your neck skin, laser therapy may be the solution you’re looking for. By using concentrated light to encourage the production of collagen and elastin, this treatment can help you achieve a more youthful appearance. While multiple sessions may be necessary for optimal results, many people notice a visible improvement after just a few treatments.
At The Surgical Clinic, we offer a variety of advanced laser therapy options that can effectively treat sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines. Best of all, this treatment is both safe and effective and requires little to no downtime.
Radiofrequency Therapy
Radiofrequency therapy is an excellent choice if you wish to reduce sagging skin and wrinkles on your neck without surgery. This non-invasive therapy utilizes radio waves to heat the underlying tissues, causing the body to produce more collagen, a protein that keeps the skin firm and elastic. The result is smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
Radiofrequency therapy is usually performed as a series of treatments and typically requires no downtime. As a result, it is a great option for people who want to improve their skin’s appearance without taking time off from work or other activities.
We have several neck tightening techniques that use radiofrequency therapy here at The Surgical Clinic. Among the most popular are Fractora and FaceTite.
Fractora is a type of radiofrequency therapy that uses a handheld device to deliver energy to the skin through tiny pins, creating small micro-lesions that stimulate collagen production. The treatment can be customized to target specific skin concerns, such as fine lines, deep wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
FaceTite is another form of radiofrequency therapy that uses a small wand-like device to deliver heat energy to the skin. The device is inserted under the skin and works to tighten the underlying tissue and stimulate collagen production. It is an excellent option for those who want to improve their neck’s appearance without surgery.
Fillers
When you hear the word “filler,” you probably think of plumping up the lips, smoothing out nasolabial folds, or adding volume to cheeks. However, some fillers can also be an excellent nonsurgical solution for rejuvenating the neck.
Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), also known as Sculptra, is one of the most popular fillers used for neck rejuvenation. Sculptra works by stimulating collagen production in the skin, which helps to improve skin thickness and elasticity, resulting in a smoother, more youthful-looking neck.
Unlike other fillers that are primarily used for contouring or adding volume, Sculptra is specifically designed to treat skin laxity and volume loss in the neck region. In addition, Sculptra can also be used to inject other areas of the face that have lost volume, such as the cheeks or temples.
As we age, it is not uncommon for our skin to lose its elasticity and firmness, including the skin on the neck. However, with Sculptra, you can enjoy long-lasting results that help you look and feel your best.
PDO Threading
One of the latest options for men and women seeking a neck lift is a nonsurgical procedure known as PDO threading. This revolutionary minimally invasive treatment offers an alternative to traditional surgical neck lifts that offer instant lifting of the neckline with minimal to no downtime.
PDO threading is excellent for lifting and tightening the entire face but is particularly effective in tightening the jowls and upper neck area, where loose skin and sagging can occur due to aging or weight loss.
The fast and relatively painless procedure uses polydioxanone (PDO) threads, which are safe, effective, and made of the same biodegradable material used in surgical sutures. The threads are placed beneath the skin using a fine needle, creating a mesh-like structure that supports the skin and provides an immediate lifting effect. The procedure takes less than an hour, and results last up to two years!
In addition to their instant lifting effect, PDO threads stimulate collagen production, which helps tighten and firm the skin even more over time. This makes PDO threading an excellent choice for patients wanting to achieve a more youthful appearance without undergoing surgery or experiencing downtime.
There are three types of PDO threads– mono threads, cog threads, and screw threads. Each offers a different level of lift and support and are chosen based on each patient’s individual needs.
At The Surgical Clinic, we use only the highest quality PDO threads and employ trained medical professionals skilled in performing the procedure with precision and care. With PDO threading, patients can achieve a more youthful and lifted appearance without the risks and downtime associated with traditional surgical neck lifts.
Book a Consultation For Neck Rejuvenation
Even the most confident women probably have one or two physical features they’d change if they could – whether it’s “turkey neck,” wrinkles, volume loss, the perennial bags under their eyes, or the weight they carry on their hips.
Whatever attributes you’re concerned with, you have options to restore your youthful appearance, and our trusted and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lett is on hand to help. Contact The Lett Center in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon, TN, today to discuss your options.
Related: Should I Get a Face Lift or Something Less Invasive? | Dr. Dwayne Lett