As we near middle age, our bodies bear the thousand natural shocks of time. Some of us wake up one day with a dodgy knee or a sore back, while others find it increasingly difficult to get rid of that last two kilos. One of the more common symptoms of ageing is sagging skin, especially around the face, which is why a common question heard around our office is:
“How can I get rid of my turkey neck without surgery?”
The good news is that there are several non-surgical solutions for treating saggy skin around the neck. The better news is that we offer them, and know how to treat jowls safely, gently and with minimally invasive procedures.
We’re going to explain how you can get rid of neck fat and sagging jowls. Let’s get into it.
Victorian Dermal Group specialists offer a wide range of anti-ageing treatments to manage and reduce several signs of ageing. Get in touch for a consultation and a personalised treatment plan.
What are jowls and turkey necks?
The jowls are the loose skin that forms by the jawline at the bottom of the cheek. Common amongst all genders, jowls are a common sign of ageing, though they can also be caused by lifestyle factors, and can give the face a hangdog expression that makes a person seem older than they are.
An important note: we loathe the term ‘turkey neck’. It’s an awfully demeaning term for a perfectly natural and extremely common feature of the body. We prefer terms like ‘jowl’, ‘excess skin’ or ‘loose skin’. It’s fine to want to alter and adjust our features to align with our preferences, but let’s speak directly about the issue and not demean ourselves while we do.
What causes sagging jowls and loose neck skin?
You might have developed sagging jowls for several reasons — understanding these causes can help you discover non-surgical solutions.
The most basic root cause of sagging jowls is a lack of collagen and elastin in the skin. These two proteins are responsible for keeping the skin hydrated, firm and plump. There are multiple reasons why protein production can wind down.
- Ageing is the most common cause of jowls. Our body’s ability to produce the proteins necessary for healthy skin diminishes as we age. Though most develop jowls in their 50s and onward, some develop them in their 30s and 40s.
- Genetics is a significant factor in our skin health. Your genes will determine when your skin begins to age and how quickly. Nothing can be done to stop that process, but we can help mitigate it when it begins.
- Poor diet most assuredly can cause jowls, as fat in the cheeks pools around the jawline.
- Drastic or constant weight fluctuations, both weight gain and weight loss, can stretch the skin around the cheek and leave it loose.
- Smoking significantly blunts collagen and elastin production, speeding up signs of ageing across the body.
- Sun and UV exposure burn and age the skin, leaving it sagging and wrinkled.
Though ageing and genetics and out of your control (and ours, to a degree), you may be able to avoid developed sagging jowls by eating well, getting regular exercise, abstaining from toxins and keeping your skin moisturised and UV protected.
3 ways to get rid of a ‘turkey neck’ without surgery
But you’re not here to learn how to avoid developing jowls — you’ve already developed them, and want to know how to get rid of them without ineffectual neck exercises and invasive surgical procedures. No matter how effective a neck lift may be, it can be painful and scary, not to mention expensive.
Well, before you shell out for a board-certified plastic surgeon, our licensed skincare specialists can offer three minimally invasive treatments for cheek and jaw jowls.
Tighten loose jowl skin with dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are the ideal non-surgical solution for sagging jowls. We inject hyaluronic acid into sagging cheek skin to plump it up. But these injectibles are more than just fillers — hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body to increase skin hydration, and our injections also stimulate collagen production to tighten neck skin. More than a quick fix, this jumpstart keeps your skin firm and healthy.
Plump up deep jowl creases with anti-wrinkle injections
Your genetics can cause laugh lines and cheek wrinkles that can cause or exacerbate your jowls. Our anti-wrinkle injections use botulinum toxin to relax the face and neck muscles causing your deep jowl lines, allowing them to fill and disappear naturally.
Fill cheek and jowl wrinkles early with chemical peels
Chemical peels are one of the best ways to get rid of fine jowl lines without surgery. We apply a chemical face mask that gently removes the topmost layer of skin, taking with it the fine wrinkles and creases that can eventually grow into jowls.
We can reduce fine lines and wrinkles without surgery
As we said, jowls are extremely common among people of all genders and generations, with some even starting to develop jowls in their 20s. But because they’re so common, Victorian Dermal Group’s skincare specialists have plenty of experience getting rid of jowls without resorting to surgery.
