How to Tighten Neck Skin and Treat Turkey Neck (surgical vs non-surgical options)

Clint Eastwood. Harrison Ford. Jack Nicholson. Christopher Walken. Tom Hanks. Bill Murray.

All leading Hollywood men for decades.

These fellows also have something else in common – the dreaded turkey neck.

To be fair, the youngest man on this list is 68, so you’re probably willing to give them all a pass for showing some natural signs of aging. It happens. Even so, that doesn’t mean you have to like the way a turkey neck looks, especially when it’s one you’re seeing in your own mirror.

Zoom Gloom & Doom – The Webcam Don’t Lie

Maybe the mirror isn’t the first place you spotted it. It could’ve been on one of those countless Zoom calls you’ve been on since 2020. This isn’t one of those carefully captured selfies that involve holding the phone camera above your face at a more advantageous angle. No, the Zoom camera hits you straight on, and the results you see on the screen can be pretty jarring – any neck wrinkles, double chins, and turkey neck are on full display for all to see.

Many refer to the unflattering nature of everyone staring at themselves on these video calls as the “zoom effect.” TikTokers even have their own contraction to describe the area where the jowls and neck connect: the “jeck.” Rolls beautifully off the tongue, doesn’t it?

Why Do I Even Have This Turkey Neck?

So, how’s your jeck? If it gobbles like a turkey, you’re probably not loving it. What causes turkey neck to happen, anyway? Primarily, it’s a result of the natural aging process. As you get older, your neck muscles naturally start to weaken, and your skin loses some of its elasticity (ability to stretch and retighten) due to a decline in collagen and elastin production. At that point, gravity takes over, and your neck skin begins to sag.

It's not just an age thing, either. Genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors can also accelerate the process, including prolonged sun exposure, pollution exposure, rapid or significant weight loss, smoking, and poor diet.

While men often notice the beginnings of turkey neck development in their late 30s and early 40s, it can even start as early as the 20s, depending on each individual’s unique set of risk factors.

Turkey Neck Self-Treatment

What can you do about that loose neck skin? Some will make a concerted (yet often futile) effort to try and hide it. You could go around keeping your chin pressed down against your chest to hide that wattle when engaging with others. But that can feel pretty awkward, and it makes maintaining eye contact difficult. You could also try sporting a neckerchief or wearing a turtleneck every day, but that might not reflect the style you’re really going for. The Austin heat doesn’t tend to pair very well with sweaty turtlenecks nine months out of the year, either.

So if you can’t hide it, how to prevent turkey neck? Maintaining a proper skin care routine can assist in boosting skin elasticity, and research suggests that certain topical creams have firming and smoothing effects that can help improve the appearance of turkey neck.

If you’d like to learn more about some effective skincare products, Flycatcher offers a full suite of recommended solutions for men in the ATX that our providers would be happy to go over with you!

Some also claim that practicing facial and neck exercises may help alleviate turkey neck. However, no reputable studies have shown that these types of exercises make a significant difference. To be certain, exercise can tighten muscles and provide lots of other health benefits, but you will still likely see little (or no) change in the loose skin covering those muscles you’re toning.

Non-Surgical Options for Addressing Turkey Neck

All that being said, loose neck skin isn’t a look you have to settle for, either. If you have mild to moderate skin laxity under the chin, Flycatcher has a solution for how to get rid of turkey neck. The skin tightening treatments we provide for men are effective, minimally invasive, and most are pain-free with minimal downtime.

Two FDA-approved radiofrequency (RF) technologies we use to achieve facial remodeling (a fancy term for tightening and lifting of skin tissues and contouring the jawline and cheekbones) are delivered by the Define workstation from InMode: Forma RF heat treatments, and Morpheus8 RF microneedling treatments.

forma rf heat treatments

The Forma treatment delivers RF heat to the subdermal layer of skin, causing it to tighten and lift. This is an ideal approach for those with mild wrinkles and skin laxity issues, and who also want to prevent bigger problems in the future. The Forma treatment is non-invasive, pain-free (seriously!), provides natural-looking results, only takes about 30 minutes, and requires no recovery period or downtime. Forma treatments are also safe for all skin tones.

You can see in the before/after images below how the Forma tightened and lifted the skin and smoothed out the mild wrinkles and neck bands.

Forma treatments can be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. A series of six treatments is recommended. Individual treatments for the neck are $300 each or a package of six for $1500.

Morpheus8 RF microneedling treatments

For mild to moderate sagging, we recommend considering our Morpheus8 RF microneedling treatment. It’s the best minimally invasive option for those who don’t need (or aren’t ready for) surgery just yet.

Morpheus8 takes neck skin tightening a step further by combining the benefits of microneedling with advanced radiofrequency (RF) technology. This device uses a series of tiny, gold-plated microneedles to penetrate the skin and deliver RF energy deep below the surface—targeting tissue up to 8mm beneath the skin.

This approach allows Morpheus8 to address both excess fat and skin laxity at the same time. The heat generated by the RF energy melts stubborn subdermal fat deposits beneath the chin and jawline, helping to contour the neck and reduce fullness.

Simultaneously, this controlled heat stimulates your body’s natural healing response, prompting increased production of collagen and elastin. As new collagen forms, the skin gradually becomes firmer, thicker, and more elastic, resulting in a smoother, tighter, and more youthful-looking neck profile.

This dual action—targeting unwanted fat while tightening and rejuvenating the skin—makes Morpheus8 a versatile and highly effective option for treating turkey neck without surgery.

Note that numbing of the treatment area is required before treatment, so a typical Morpheus8 session lasts around 75 to 90 minutes. The amount of discomfort you’ll experience is usually less than you might expect to feel, too. Radiofrequency microneedling is generally fine for all skin types, but we always like to start with a consultation to discuss your specific skin and goals. The neck can be treated on its own, or you can also opt to include the full face in your treatment.

A series of three treatments will be needed for best results, and these should be scheduled four weeks apart. We also recommend annual or twice-a-year follow-up treatments after that. Neck-only treatments can be individually purchased for $500, and discounted packages of 3 are priced at $1300.

Kybella injections

If your issue is more of a double chin than a saggy turkey neck, an injectable solution could be a good option. “Double chin” is a common term describing those who display moderate to severe fat below the chin (known as submental fat).

Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable treatment for reducing a double chin by dissolving fat cells in the submental area. It makes use of deoxycholic acid (a substance naturally produced by the body to aid in fat digestion) to disrupt and eliminate fat cells permanently.

Just note that Kybella only treats the fat, so if you also have sagging skin, you would need to combine that with other skin tightening treatments like Forma or Morpheus8.

Most patients need between 2 to 4 Kybella sessions for optimal results, spaced about 4 to 6 weeks apart, though some may require up to 6 treatments depending on the amount of submental fat. The average cost per Kybella treatment ranges from $600 to $1,200, with total costs varying based on the number of sessions needed to achieve your desired outcome.

Neck Lift Surgical Options

If your turkey neck situation is more pronounced, there are surgical solutions for men as well. According to our friend Dr. Kaimana Chow from Plastic Surgery of Austin, ideal candidates for surgery to address turkey neck are those with moderate to severe skin laxity under the chin as well as banding (sagging of the underlying platysma muscle).

There is no minimum age for a face or neck lift; some people show signs of an aging neck even in their 30’s. That being said, you do need to be in relatively good health, as this surgery is typically done under general anesthesia. Smoking or vaping is prohibited for these candidates, as it puts you at a high risk for skin necrosis, infection, poor scarring, and delayed wound healing.

The best surgical option to treat a turkey neck is a neck lift (formally known as platysmaplasty). As Dr. Chow describes it, an incision is made under the chin and behind both ears. This allows for the removal of excess skin and the tightening up of the underlying muscle layer (the platysma). This is often combined with a facelift to address jowling or sagging of the face. 

Another great option that has gained a lot of popularity is chin/neck liposuction combined with an energy device to tighten the skin. This is an ideal treatment for someone who doesn’t have a lot of loose skin, but rather displays fullness or fat under the chin and neck area. Dr. Chow often sees patients in their 20s-30s for this type of treatment. Another advantage of this option is that it can be done under a light sedation, rather than requiring general anesthesia. This makes the procedure much safer for the patient, and the recovery time is also significantly shorter.

Downtime for a neck lift is about 1 week. Social downtime is closer to 2 weeks, as it’s common to have some swelling and bruising afterwards. You can return to normal activities in about 4-6 weeks.  Downtime for neck liposuction, on the other hand, is only 1-2 days. Since there are no incisions, people can get back to normal activities much faster, with fewer restrictions.

What’s the financial commitment? The average cost of a neck lift is around $10,000. The average cost of neck liposuction is around $5000.

And what can you expect long-term with these sorts of procedures? According to Dr. Chow, a face or neck lift should last you anywhere from 7-12 years. Just note, any type of rejuvenation surgery doesn’t stop the normal aging process; it simply takes us back in time. Genetics, lifestyle, and skincare routines can have a major impact on how each patient heals and how long the results will last. Typically, the better quality skin you have at the time of surgery, the better your results will be. Per Dr. Chow, cosmetic injectables, like Botox, and other non-surgical adjuncts can also help prolong your results.

Let's wrap it up

Tired of looking at that dreaded turkey neck, and tired of others noticing it on you? If you’re an Austinite who’s ready for some neck skin tightening, we’ve got you covered! Flycatcher is located in Spicewood, Texas – just three miles west of The Galleria in Bee Cave – and we proudly serve Spicewood, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and the surrounding areas of Austin and the Texas Hill Country.

Connect with us today to learn more about the helpful aesthetic treatments we offer to enhance the look, function, and health of skin for gentlemen just like you in and around the ATX. You can schedule your consultation and book an appointment online, or simply call or text us at (737) 239-0112 today!