How to Get Rid of a Turkey Neck Without Surgery

Written by Jessica McCahon

11 December, 2018

Your neck is supported by muscles and, like any other muscle in your body, they can weaken with age and lack of use. This means the thin skin that lies over the top of the neck muscles isn’t adequately supported and is likely to sag, giving you what is known as a turkey neck. As you age, your skin also loses elasticity, which is another common cause of loose skin on the neck. The good news is that regular exercises can subtly build the muscles in the neck and improve circulation to give a firmer appearance.

Strengthen your neck muscles. Lie on your back and raise your head and neck very slightly off the floor, says the Anti Aging Skin Care Guide website. Gently turn your head to the right then to the left then relax your head down to the floor. Repeat this exercise as many times as you can, but make sure you don’t jerk your neck at any point during this exercise--the movements should be small and controlled. You should feel the muscles at the front and sides of your neck working, but stop immediately if you feel any pain. By building your neck muscles, you will tighten the skin over the top of them and diminish the appearance of folds and wrinkles 1.

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Stretch and tone your neck muscles. Position your hand across your collar bones at the base of your neck, palm facing down, says Carolyn’s Facial Fitness website 2. Apply gentle pressure with your hand as you gently tilt your head back to stretch your neck. Don’t throw your head all the way back--you should be looking at a point on the ceiling that is slightly in front of you, not directly above. Reach your bottom lip up towards the ceiling, and slightly over your top lip. Hold for a few seconds then return your lower lip to its normal position and repeat the movement 10 times. Try not to swallow while your lower lip is extended and swap hands on your collar bones halfway through your repetitions.

Chew more often. Sit up straight and, with your lips closed, tilt your chin up towards the ceiling, says the Face Lift Advice website 3. Keeping your mouth shut, bring your teeth together and apart as if you were slowly chewing a stick of gum. If you place a hand lightly on your neck, you will feel the muscles working. Do 20 chews, making sure to keep your lips together throughout the exercise.