When striving to maintain a youthful appearance, many of us forget the neck. Very often we apply moisturizer to the face and hands, and then neglect the neck. I am certainly guilty of this, as it just comes naturally to not apply product there, and many of us overlook this part of our body. But your neck is like all of the other parts of your body: with time, the skin will lose elasticity and begin to sag (hence the saying “turkey neck”). Without proper care, the neck can become a glaring indicator of old age. Your face may remain youthful, but wrinkles and hyperpigmentation will blotch your neck, revealing your true age. So what are some tips and tricks to keep your neck looking youthful like the rest of your face?

First of all, get rid of as many fine lines and wrinkles as you can! All of the wrinkle prevention methods that you use on your face can be extended to your neck as well. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain a youthful looking neck. Keep your skin hydrated to help mask fine lines and wrinkles, since dry skin will tend to emphasize them. Check your moisturizer to make sure that it includes antioxidants to help to protect your skin and fight against the free radicals that can damage your skin cells. If you haven’t already, incorporate a retinal based product into your skin care regime. A product such as Retin-A (which can be prescribed by your facial plastic surgeon) can reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as help to even out your skin tone.

Another way to combat neck wrinkles is to use­­­ Botox. Botox is a prescription medicine that is used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. When properly administered, Botox can relax the platysma muscle bands of the neck to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You definitely want to choose an experienced facial plastic surgeon for this procedure since there can be potential complications if you choose someone inexperienced (as with any procedure!). However, mo­st facial plastic surgeons will agree that the most effective way to reduce more severe sagging and turkey neck would be a necklift or a midface lift. Sometimes, there is a limit to the effectiveness of nonsurgical treatments.

There are many solutions to help resolve your cosmetic concerns! Sometimes it is best to just visit a facial plastic surgeon for a consultation to see how your concerns can be corrected. Will you qualify for nonsurgical intervention? Or is it more cost efficient to have a surgical procedure? Schedule your free consultation today to learn what you can do to get the look that you desire.