A firmer neck is possible!As we age, our whole body can change, especially when it comes to our skin. Noticeable neck skin laxity (i.e., “turkey neck” or “tech neck”) can betray your age even if your face looks glowy and firm.

One issue is that many of us forget the neck, especially while doing our skincare routines. But today, we’ve got some excellent news for your neck: There are a lot of non-surgical skin tightening treatments that actually work to tighten neck skin.

In this post, we’ll explain what causes loss of skin firmness, and which treatments work best to fix it when it impacts the neck

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What Causes Neck Skin to Sag

Loss of skin elasticity or the appearance of sagging skin in the neck is largely the result of aging, but there can be other factors at play. To treat your loose neck skin effectively, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re dealing with.

First, as we age, our body slows down its rate of self-renewal while simultaneously experiencing cell death and tissue breakdown.

In the skin, this results in slowed production of skin cells and structural proteins like collagen and elastin. Since those proteins are responsible for supporting the skin and maintaining its structure, their depletion causes the skin to lose the fight against gravity so it sags and wrinkles.

The skin of the neck also suffers an external attack from destructive elements like sun and pollution. These elements cause oxidative damage that speeds skin cell breakdown process, in a process known as extrinsic aging or photoaging.

There are also elements that are not as related to aging that can make the neck seem less toned. A big one is submental fat, which is the fat that collects under the chin and impacts jawline definition. Finally, there are also muscles in the neck that, when overactive, can pull downward on the jaw and lead to wrinkling.

It’s very important to be aware of these factors, so you can choose the best neck tightening treatment for you.

Non-Surgical Neck Tightening Treatments

You can achieve tighter neck skin even without surgery! You’ll see the best results if you start treating the issue early, before the laxity becomes severe. Here are the main non-surgical neck skin tightening treatments you should know about if you’d like to achieve a smoother, younger-looking neck.

Radiofrequency Microneedling

The best neck skin tightening treatment is radiofrequency (RF) microneedling. RF microneedling treatments like Morpheus8 and Potenza are powerful and highly targeted procedures.

They actively repair the underlying “scaffolding” of the skin, reversing the aging process that your skin has gone through. The microneedling aspect of the treatment stimulates a self-healing response while the RF’s thermal energy induces tissue coagulation. Morpheus8, in particular, has deeper treatment settings that allow it to coagulate adipose tissue, to target fat under the chin.

You can expect to see a noticeable improvement in neck skin firmness and neck lines within just a few treatments.

Botox 

A prominent or tight platysma muscle can give the neck a corded look, and they can also pull downwards on the jawline which can seem like sagginess. If that’s the reason why you’re looking for a neck firming treatment, Botox or other neurotoxin injections would be a quick and straightforward fix.

Botox works by limiting the muscle’s ability to tense up. Once the platysma is relaxed, it becomes smoother so the neck looks a lot more youthful.

Radiofrequency

Radiofrequency can also help tighten neck skin. With treatments like Forma, the radiofrequency current penetrates and heats the dermis layer of the skin, stimulating a significant increase in collagen synthesis.

The effects of radiofrequency alone are milder compared to RF microneedling, making these treatments ideal if you prefer a non-invasive option. In fact, Forma is considered one of the best treatments to undergo the day before a special event.

Microneedling

Microneedling treatments like SkinPen can also work well to stimulate neck skin tightening, although not as noticeably as the combination of microneedling and radiofrequency.

That said, microneedling can present a more budget-friendly alternative, especially if you’re dealing with the early signs of loss of firmness. It’s also a great option if you’re more interested in prevention, or you’re more concerned with mild surface lines rather than loss of laxity.

Bio-Stimulating Injectables

One of the most exciting categories of skin firming treatments are bio-stimulating injections. These treatments are injected in the problem areas, where they stimulate repair and renewal.

There are synthetic stimulating injections like Radiesse and Sculptra, and there are natural PRP or PRF injections that use your own biomaterial. At SEV, we favor PRP for its safety profile and quick recovery time. For optimal neck firming results, we pair it with microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling, to enhance their effects and ensure even distribution.

Kybella 

Kybella is a unique injectable that breaks down fat cells. It doesn’t tighten neck skin directly but it’s FDA-approved to eliminate under-the-chin fat that can cause your neck and jawline to lose definition.

Ultrasound Therapy (Ultherapy) 

This popular firming procedure uses ultrasound energy to stimulate a neck skin tightening effect. Compared to other procedures, its side effects can last longer and are usually more severe, but it is an effective option if you’re willing to tolerate a bit of downtime.

Neck Skin Tightener FAQ

Do Neck Skin Tightening Exercises Work? 

Regular exercise is fantastic for your skin, since it has an anti-aging effect on the entire body. However, according to Harvard Health experts, there’s little to no evidence to suggest that localized exercises can tighten the skin in that specific area.

If you’d still like to give neck skin tightening exercises a try, here are some movements you can practice.

  • Pucker: Look up at the ceiling while sitting or standing. Pucker your lips while looking up, to activate jawline and neck muscles.

  • Jaw lift: Stick your lower jaw out as far as it will go. Carefully tilt your head back to intensify the movement.

  • Chew: With your mouth closed, move your jaw as though you were chewing in an exaggerated manner. 

Are Neck Skin Tightening Creams Effective?

Unfortunately, there are no magical neck skin tightener potions that’ll reverse skin laxity. However, topical products like neck skin tightening creams can help when it comes to prevention.

In the daytime, applying sunscreen to your neck will slow the external damage that speeds the skin’s breakdown and aging process. At night, a serum or neck cream with a retinoid could help maintain your skin’s renewal process and slow the rate of aging.

Retinoids can reverse some skin laxity and fine lines at the surface of the skin, but they’re not as effective as clinical treatments like microneedling or Botox.

Book Your Skin Tightening Neck Treatment at SEV

Beauty treatments don’t stop at the face. At select SEV locations, we can help you tighten up your neck. Our roster includes a variety of treatment options to account for all the underlying causes of skin sagging.

Our most powerful neck tightening treatments utilize radiofrequency microneedling, which we can also pair with PRP for even more profound skin renewal. Most of our clients see a magnificent neck transformation within 3-4 treatments.

That said, each patient’s needs are different. We’d love to set you on the right path for dramatic and lasting results, so schedule a consultation at your nearest SEV with one of our rockstar aesthetic nurses.