Loose skin around the neck is not very pleasant. It can cause folds that are reminiscent of a turkey. Hence the name turkey neck. You probably want to get rid of it if you’ve got it.
Losing weight will help get rid of turkey neck. But it’s not the only thing you can do to get rid of that loose saggy neck skin and double chin. This article reveals the most effective ways to get rid of turkey neck and loose saggy skin after weight loss.
Weight Loss
Turkey’s neck has a direct correlation to weight gain. If you are overweight, you are likely to have a double chin, along with fat deposits under the skin of your neck. This will actually stretch the skin, resulting in excess skin covering the neck muscles. By losing weight and following a healthy lifestyle, you can tighten up the neck muscles, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
In order to lose weight, you need to create a daily caloric deficit. That means that you are burning off more calories each day than you are taking in. You need a two-pronged approach consisting of exercise and reduced caloric intake to accomplish that goal.
A Good Calorie Burning Goal
Make it your aim to burn off a minimum of 250 calories daily through exercise. You can do this with any form of cardio exercise that you are able to sustain for 30 minutes. Choose an activity you enjoy and make it part of your daily routine.
In terms of your food intake, you should plan to reduce it by 250 calories per day below your daily maintenance level. Your maintenance level is the number of calories you need to meet your daily energy needs. Go here to find out what your maintenance level is.
What To Eat For Weight Loss
Make sure that you are also following a healthy diet that is free of processed, sugary carbohydrates. You should include foods in your balanced diet that are high in collagen and promote the body’s natural production of collagen. These include beef bone broth, berries, organ meats, and broccoli.
This combination of diet and exercise will allow you to have a 500 calories deficit per day. That equates to 3500 calories per week, which is roughly the number of calories in a pound of fat.
Keep in mind that you are unable to spot reduced body fat, so you can’t lose fat specifically from your neck area or target your double chin. The weight will come off evenly all over your body, including from the neck.
Some people may experience loose skin after weight loss in the neck area.
Neck Exercises
In addition to the exercises you will be doing to burn calories, you should also do simple exercises to strengthen the neck muscles and help firm up saggy skin. This will help strengthen the neck muscles and eliminate that loose skin.
One of the best exercises you can do to strengthen your neck muscles is to chew gum. Be sure to select a sugar-free version of your favorite gum and get into the habit of chewing twice each day for 10 minutes.
Another good exercise for your neck muscles is the lying neck lift. Here is how to do it:
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and hands on your pelvis.
- Flatten the curve of your neck against the floor. Now lengthen your neck as if you are growing taller.
- Hold for 5 seconds.
Another exercise to help with turkey neck is Active Neck Rotation:
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and hands at your sides.
2. Use your neck muscles to turn your head from side to side until you feel a stretch in the muscles. Keep your shoulders on the floor.
3. Hold for 5 seconds.
Do 10 reps of this exercise.
Performing neck exercises will also help you to eliminate neck pain and help to tighten that loose skin after weight loss.
Using Cosmetics
While cosmetics and skincare products are often used to cover imperfections, there is some evidence that they can also help to improve the health and appearance of the face and neck. A particular ingredient in certain cosmetics called N-acetyl glucosamine has been shown to help women’s necks appear smoother and firmer.
Hyaluronic acid has also been seen to help improve neck skin appearance. Look for cosmetics to include in your skincare regimen that combines N-acetyl glucosamine and hyaluronic acid in their formulations.
Botox
Botox is an injection procedure that stops targeted nerves from contracting. this can have the effect of preventing wrinkles and keeping the skin looking younger.
Botox is not s permanent procedure, requiring repeat treatments every few months. this can get pretty expensive.
Surgery Neck Treatments
The fastest and most permanent way to treat turkey neck is via cosmetic surgery. This will quickly remove excess skin. However, surgical procedures, such as neck lift surgery can be extremely costly. Neck liposuction is one of the most effective turkey neck treatments that will remove fat fast.
They also require quite a long recovery time and will leave scars that may be permanent.
If you decide to go down the plastic surgery route, be sure to only deal with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Summary
While getting down to a healthy weight, doing exercise, and reducing caloric intake will help to lose skin fat, it is the least effective way to get rid of loose skin and necklines. Surgery is the most effective way to go, followed by cosmetic treatments to improve neck skin elasticity.
If you are worried about neck fat, loose neck skin, excess weight, and crepey skin, we suggest talking to your doctor about the most appropriate treatment method for you to get your neck back to its youthful elasticity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have loose skin around my neck?
Wrinkly, drooping skin on the neck is a typical side effect of aging. It happens when your skin loses its elasticity—or capacity to stretch and maintain its tightness—and your neck muscles start to deteriorate. People who are overweight are also likely to have a double chin and excess skin on the neck.
What diet should I follow to improve my neck appearance?
To get rid of neck fat you should eat a diet that is high in protein and healthy fats and low in processed carbohydrates. Cut out sugary drinks, pastries, and other high glycemic index foods. you should also concentrate on foods that are high in foods that promote collagen production, such as bone broth, broccoli, and organ meats.
You should also include cosmetics in your skincare routine that include N-acetyl glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.
References
- Schlessinger J, Green B, Edison BL, Murphy L, Sabherwal Y. A Firming Neck Cream Containing N-Acetyl Glucosamine Significantly Improves Signs of Aging on the Challenging Neck and Décolletage. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016 Jan;15(1):47-52. PMID: 26741381.
- Saxena SJ, Duque D, Schirripa MJ. Assessment of a Comprehensive Anti-Aging Neck Cream. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015 Sep;14(9):997-1002. PMID: 26355619.
- Le Louarn C. Hyo neck lift: Preliminary report. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 2016 Apr;61(2):110-6. doi: 10.1016/j.anplas.2015.12.001. Epub 2016 Jan 11. PMID: 26791743.
- Willoughby D, Hewlings S, Kalman D. Body Composition Changes in Weight Loss: Strategies and Supplementation for Maintaining Lean Body Mass, a Brief Review. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 3;10(12):1876. doi: 10.3390/nu10121876. PMID: 30513859; PMCID: PMC6315740.
