The 5 Best Treatments to Lift and Tighten an Ageing Neck

When our appearance begins to age, one of the areas that can show wrinkles and fine lines the most is our neck and decolletagé area. From the age of 30 onwards it can begin to accumulate fat cells as our collagen production slows down and from the age of 40 many of us will begin to see looser skin, wrinkles and ‘necklace lines’ as the muscles begin to weaken.

There are a variety of ways to help soften the signs of ageing including exercises, a good skincare routine and aesthetic treatments to help lift and tighten the neck area.

Understanding an Ageing or Sagging Neck

The neck as it ages can lose its youthful appearance as loose skin or sagging begins, as well as seeing fine lines and wrinkles and even sometimes the start of a double chin.

All of these signs of ageing happen as part of the natural ageing process although our lifestyles can accelerate the signs due to diet, sun exposure and weight gain or loss.

A sagging neck or looser skin can also be seen due to the loss of elasticity in the skin, which comes as the platysmal muscles detach and loosen with age resulting in vertical bands from the chin to collarbone¹.

A double chin can be another sign of age around the neck area and comes as our collagen production rate slows down with age and fat cells accumulate in the neck area with the skin’s natural elasticity.

A final factor that can mean signs of ageing or sagging in the neck can end up more prominent is the position of the hyoid bone (a U-shaped bone in the neck). This small bone can sometimes be placed further forward reducing the length of the chin, which gives more of a sagging and aged appearance.

1. Neck Lift Surgery

One option which can bring about permanent change to our appearance and help remove signs of ageing is to consider cosmetic surgery procedures such as a facelift to lift and tighten skin, giving a more youthful appearance.

During a neck lift procedure, a plastic surgeon will tighten and lift the skin around the neck to visibly remove the signs of ageing such as loose skin, wrinkles and necklace lines that come with getting older.

This is a fairly common cosmetic procedure, and people often return to daily activities and work within two weeks of the surgery².

Like any surgery procedure, neck lift surgery can come with risks including bleeding under the skin, also known as hematoma, scarring, infection, injury to the nerves and a reaction to the aesthetic.

2. Non-surgical Neck Tightening Treatments

Instead of surgery, there are plenty of non-surgical options for neck tightening that can stop the signs of ageing and soften them to give a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.

One of the main focuses of non-surgical neck tightening treatments is to encourage and stimulate better collagen production, which can help the skin to reduce the signs of ageing.

Non-invasive skin treatments offered here by Dr. Nyla’s expert Medispas that can help with sagging skin and ageing at the neck, include:

• Ultherapy
• NuEra Tight
• Skin microneedling
• Nefertiti Neck Lift
• Neck Botox

3. Botox and Fillers

Botox is commonly used for anti-ageing treatments and whilst many procedures look to target the face and wrinkles on the forehead, at the eyes or even the mouth area, it can also be used at the neck to give a smoother appearance.

After a consultation of whether botox and fillers can be suitable, an aesthetics practitioner will administer multiple wrinkle injections which are placed along the lower jawline, as well as the neck along the platysma muscles.

By administering injections in specific areas, it is possible to improve jawline definition, rebalance underlying muscles, and lift the neck and jawline.

Botox, like any aesthetics procedure, comes with its own risks which can include:

• a reaction at the injection site including minor bruising and redness
• muscle weakness where the botox has been injected
• flu-like symptoms such as fever, nausea, and achy muscles

Results after a botox treatment can show as soon as four days after the procedure and last for over five months.

Regular maintenance is required to maintain a youthful look, as it’s not a treatment that comes with a lifetime guarantee due to the body metabolising the botox chemical which means it eventually dissipates over time.

4. Neck Creams and Serums

Alongside surgical and non-surgical options to help prevent ageing in the neck area, there are a huge array of creams, serums and moisturisers that all promise to lift, tone, tighten and smooth the neck.

Having A  good skincare routine is an essential part of looking younger and maintaining the appearance and the ingredients of your skincare routine can be instrumental in slowing down the signs of ageing.

Many anti-ageing products will use key ingredients such as N-acetyl glucosamine and retinoids to help battle wrinkles, loss of elasticity and sagging³. There is some evidence to show that topical skincare products like these can leave the skin appearing rejuvenated and hydrated, however, they can’t fully eliminate the signs of ageing on their own.

5. Neck Exercises

There are a variety of neck exercises that can also help with an ageing neck, as they target the neck muscles to strengthen and tighten them.

Whilst these exercises won’t remove any excess or loose skin, they can help to build a stronger neck and jawline by improving the muscles which can help prevent further sagging.

Regular exercises that can help to strengthen and tighten the neck muscles, include:

• Forehead push
  Push your forehead against your hand without moving your head forward, and hold for ten seconds.
  Place both hands on the back of your head, push backwards with your neck and hold for ten seconds.
• Chewing
  Sit up straight and lift your head back so your chin points to the ceiling.
  With your lips closed make a chewing motion with your mouth and repeat 20 times.
• Kissing
  Sit up straight and lift your head back so your chin points to the ceiling.
  Keeping your mouth closed, pout your lips as though kissing and repeat 20 times.
• Neck lift
  Lie flat on a bed or sofa with your head hanging over the edge.
  Using your neck muscles, slowly lift your head as high as you can before lowering again.
  Repeat five times.

Whilst these exercises can’t completely remove the signs of ageing, completing them regularly or even daily can help to improve the overall appearance of the neck area and prevent it from ageing further

Choosing the Right Treatment for You

When it comes to removing the signs of ageing, it’s completely down to personal preference and what feels like the right option for you.

Consulting the advice of a registered professional, whether it’s for surgery, non-surgical treatments or even topical skincare, means you can discuss your individual goals as well as factors that could affect the outcome of your treatment such as your age, your skin condition, your lifestyle and your medical history.

A consultation can lay out all the options and their potential outcomes as well as the risks and benefits involved, and help you to decide which treatment will be the right option for you.

Often non-surgical options can be an excellent starting point for reducing the signs of ageing before considering going under the knife, which can be a more daunting prospect if you’re only just beginning to consider your options.

Sources

1. California Skin Institute
   https://www.californiaskininstitute.com/a-reason-to-be-thankful-turkey-neck-treatments-that-work/
2. Rowden.A:2023
   https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/neck-lift-surgery#:~:text=During%20a%20neck%20lift%2C%20a,2%20weeks%20of%20the%20surgery.
3. Cirino E. (2023). Can You Treat Turkey Neck?
   https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/turkey-neck