How to Tighten Your Neck without Surgery

If you are bothered by loose skin on your neck or under your chin, you’re not alone. What’s often called a “turkey neck” or a “tech neck” is a common age-related cosmetic concern among both women and men. With time, skin naturally loses its firmness and elasticity, causing sagging, wrinkling, and other visible signs of aging in areas like the neck and chin. Fortunately, however, you don’t have to resort to surgery to get a firmer, more youthful-looking neck.

In this guide, you’ll learn more about what causes sagging skin in the neck area and some of the best skin care ingredients and in-office treatments to achieve firmer, younger-looking skin without committing to a surgical procedure or extensive recovery. 

Spoiler alert: Topical skin care products cannot improve moderate to severe skin sagging. However, skin care products can help prevent sagging.

The primary cause of loose or sagging skin in the neck and chin is the natural decline in collagen and elastin production that happens as we age. Collagen is a structural protein that provides firmness to the skin, while elastin allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape. The body begins to produce fewer of these proteins as early as our 20s, which causes the skin to gradually lose its youthful firmness and elasticity over time. This tends to be especially noticeable in areas with delicate skin like the neck.

Genetics also play a significant role in the development of a turkey neck. Some people are genetically predisposed to weaker connective tissue or a faster breakdown of collagen and elastin, which can cause sagging skin earlier in life. Sun exposure can accelerate skin aging and skin laxity, as UV rays damage skin cells and cause collagen to break down faster, leading to premature aging. Since the skin on your neck is thinner and more exposed to the sun, it is particularly vulnerable to this kind of damage.

Significant weight fluctuations can also contribute to sagging skin on the neck. Repeated cycles of weight gain and loss can stretch the skin, and the skin may lose its ability to bounce back over time.

Lastly, turkey neck is sometimes now called “tech neck” because loose neck skin can also be caused or worsened by the repetitive motion of looking down at our phones, tablets, or laptops, leading to horizontal lines and wrinkles in the neck area. This constant bending can weaken the skin’s elasticity, contributing to the appearance of fine lines and sagging.

The good news is that there are several effective anti-aging ingredients that you can use to start seeing a more youthful-looking neck, whether you are bothered by loose or crepey skin or lines and creases. Some of the best skin care ingredients to look for include:

• Peptides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks for collagen and other proteins. Products with peptides like palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, and others can help to restore the skin’s natural firmness and youthful appearance by restoring higher levels of collagen to the skin. Some peptides form a firm film on the skin's surface that make it feel temporarily firmer.

• Exosomes. Exosomes are cutting-edge anti-aging ingredients that contain RNA and growth factors and perform a variety of key functions such as stimulating collagen and cell regeneration, reducing inflammation, and improving the skin’s natural healing process. Plated SkinScience is a leading brand in exosome-containing skin care and has the most scientific research behind its product formulations, which use exosomes derived from platelets to enhance the skin’s firmness, tightness, and overall appearance (3).

• Retinol.  Retinol  is a derivative of vitamin A and is one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients available. You can use retinol on your neck and décolleté area just like you would use it on your face to help smooth away lines and wrinkles and tighten the skin. Because the skin on your neck is thin and delicate, however, be sure to gradually introduce retinoids to this area to avoid  side effects like dryness and flaking.

•  Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that also plays a crucial role in collagen production in your skin. Thus, consistently using a vitamin C serum on your face and neck can help to protect against damage caused by oxidative stress, as well as improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and loose, crepey skin. 

The best skin care products for your neck should feature one or multiple ingredients mentioned above to improve wrinkles, skin laxity, and crepey skin. Alastin Restorative Neck Complex is specifically formulated with seven peptides to improve signs of aging in the delicate neck area. Some of my other favorites specifically for the neck area include:

While consistent use of the right topical skin care products can be highly effective at making the skin on your neck look and feel younger and smoother, some people choose to combine their personalized anti-aging skin care regimen with in-office treatments to enhance their results. These treatments can yield excellent results and do not require surgery:

• Laser skin treatments

• Microneedling with PRP

• Ultherapy

• Botox for platysmal bands on the neck

A turkey neck or tech neck is a common cosmetic frustration for many people, but the good news is that there are lots of exciting new anti-aging skin care ingredients like exosomes and peptides that can improve signs of aging without surgery. In addition to using a personalized anti-aging skin care regimen, you could also consider non-surgical treatments like lasers or Ultherapy to enhance your results even further.

Additionally, making some easy yet effective lifestyle changes like always wearing sunscreen, drinking enough water, and eating foods rich in antioxidants can help to keep your skin looking and feeling great from the inside out.

To see a personalized anti-aging skin care regimen designed for your unique skin, make sure you take the Baumann Skin Type quiz before spending money on skin care products to ensure they are right for your skin!

1. Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
2. Baumann, L. Ch. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
3. Proffer, S. L., Paradise, C. R., DeGrazia, E., Halaas, Y., Durairaj, K. K., Somenek, M., ... & Wyles, S. P. (2022). Efficacy and Tolerability of Topical Platelet Exosomes for Skin Rejuvenation: Six-Week Results. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 42(10), 1185-1193.
4. Baumann, L. (2018). How to use oral and topical cosmeceuticals to prevent and treat skin aging. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics, 26(4), 407-413.
5. Baumann, L. (2007). Skin ageing and its treatment. The Journal of Pathology: A Journal of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 211(2), 241-251.
6. Alam, M., White, L. E., Martin, N., Witherspoon, J., Yoo, S., & West, D. P. (2010). Ultrasound tightening of facial and neck skin: A rater-blinded prospective cohort study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 62(2), 262–269.