8 methods for tightening saggy neck skin without having to go under the knife
Despite being just as exposed to the world and the elements as our faces, the neck is one of those areas that we often seem to neglect.
And then, suddenly, we wake up one day and feel that our neck has aged way beyond its years, seemingly overnight!
If this is you, you’re not alone. Whether it’s noticeable lines or rings around the neck, heavy jowls and a sagging of the skin under the chin, or an overall loosening and sagging of the whole neck area, the neck is an area that many people struggle with.
There are several factors that cause neck skin to start sagging, and unfortunately, it’s something that is largely unavoidable with age. However, as with all other parts of our appearance, there are lots of things we can do to both prevent premature neck sagging and to improve its appearance once it’s already started. And while surgery is an option, there’s no need to undergo anything quite so invasive.
From things you can do at home to non-invasive neck-tightening treatments, here are our top tips for tightening saggy neck skin.
What causes saggy neck skin?
The skin on our neck and decolletage is three times thinner than the skin on our faces, so it’s an area that actually requires even more care and attention to keep it looking its best for longer.
A weakening of neck muscles combined with a loss of collagen and skin elasticity are the main reasons behind the skin on your neck starting to sag, wrinkle, and generally show signs of aging. As the skin on our neck is so much more delicate, these signs of aging can show up much more quickly on our neck than elsewhere on our body.
Age is one of the primary causes. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen and our skin loses its elasticity, but overexposure to the sun is another major influence, while sudden weight loss is the other main culprit. Our neck skin is particularly poor at retaining its flexibility, so skin that is stretched during weight gain won’t have the same ability to retract following weight loss.
Is neck tightening possible?
The good news is that it is possible to tighten the skin on your neck and reduce its worst signs of aging.
From lifestyle changes to at-home skincare to non-invasive beauty treatments, there are a range of ways you can keep your neck looking youthful for longer.
Prevention is always better than cure, so the earlier you start to focus on looking after the skin on your neck, the better your results will be. But if your neck is already looking older than you feel is fair, don’t fret, there are still things you can do!
8 ways to tighten saggy neck skin without surgery
1. Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle plays an important role in your overall health, which includes your skin health. The following lifestyle habits can make a big difference in preventing sagging neck skin (as well as many other signs of aging on your face and body):
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Eating a healthy diet filled with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.
- Taking supplements that promote skin health, such as collagen and vitamin C.
- Limiting sun exposure and always wearing sunscreen, including on your neck!
- Moisturizing your neck skin as part of your daily routine.
- Getting plenty of quality sleep.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
2. Neck stretches and face yoga
Exercising the muscles in your neck can help tone and strengthen the muscles, which in turn helps tighten the skin.
Often referred to as facial yoga, there are a variety of exercises and neck stretches you can do. We’ll admit, you won’t feel sexy while you’re doing them, but they can make a big difference in tightening the neck skin, so it’s well worth finding a quiet corner for 15 minutes of face yoga every day!
3. Topical treatments and skincare
Given their immediate proximity, everything that can affect the skin on your face will also affect the skin on your neck, so your entire neck plus decolletage should get the same treatment in terms of a quality skincare regime focused on both protection and repair.
Daily sunscreen is a must (ideally mineral-based, such as SkinBetter’s sunbetter range) as these protect against both UVA and UVB rays), and any anti-aging and skin-tightening creams, serums, or moisturizers can – and should – also be used on your neck.
Skincare products with the right ingredients can assist in both preventing premature sagging of the neck skin as well as neck tightening. Look for ingredients that are known to support collagen production, increase cell turnover, and protect against free radicals, such as retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A, C, and E. And when it comes to your neck, make sure you apply products in an upward motion.
4. Prescription retinoids
Retinoids are one of the most effective ingredients in skincare for preventing and reducing the worst signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and skin laxity.
There are six main types of retinoids. Retinol is the most well-known and can be found in most over-the-counter anti-aging skincare products. However, there are more powerful retinoids, such as tretinoin and tazarotene, which are known as prescription retinoids.
Prescription retinoids can be substantially more effective at preventing and reversing signs of aging, but due to their increased strength and potency, it’s important to only use these products if they are right for your individual skin type and condition. For this reason, they are only found in what’s known as “medical-grade skincare”, which is only available from licensed healthcare providers such as dermatologists or medical spas.
Here at BodyTonic Med Spa in Cleveland, we work with medical-grade skincare brands such as Neocutis, iS CLINICAL®, and SkinBetter Science®, all of which offer advanced formulations for the most effective anti-aging skincare products. If you’re based in or around Cleveland, come and see us for a free consultation and we can recommend the ideal products for your skin.
5. Botox
It’s well known as one of the best treatments to combat wrinkles on the face, but Botox is also very effective as a neck-tightening treatment. It works by relaxing the muscles that can cause the skin to fold while also smoothing out existing lines, so it’s particularly effective for reducing the appearance of horizontal neck bands, but also the platysma bands – the two vertical bands of muscle on either side of the neck that create the aging effect known as “turkey neck”.
6. Microneedling
One of the most popular treatments for tightening sagging neck skin is in-office microneedling. This minimally invasive procedure involves puncturing the skin with micro-needles to create controlled microscopic wounds that stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin, making it appear noticeably firmer and tighter.
Another more advanced option is RF microneedling, which combines microneedling and radiofrequency heat to achieve even greater skin-tightening results. This makes it particularly beneficial for people looking for the best neck-tightening results.
7. Laser treatments
Laser skin resurfacing, such as Sciton’s BBL Hero, is another popular way of treating sagging skin on the neck. A gentle and non-invasive treatment, it works by sending wavelengths of light energy deep under the skin. This generates a heat that stimulates cell regeneration and the production of collagen and elastin, which in turn tightens and firms the skin – in addition to a number of other anti-aging benefits.
8. Sculptra
Another highly effective way of tightening a saggy neck is with Sculptra, a unique type of dermal filler that is injected deep into the dermal layer of the skin where it then works in unison with the body to stimulate new collagen production, tighten the skin, and reduce deep-set wrinkles. Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra utilizes the body’s natural processes, so results show gradually over time, continue to improve, and typically last over two years.
Non-surgical neck tightening treatments in Cleveland
For whatever reason, many of us neglect our necks during our daily skincare regimes. As the delicate skin on the neck is already more prone to losing its volume and elasticity, this means it’s often one of the first places to show more severe signs of aging.
But the good news is that it’s never too late to start paying your neck the attention it deserves. Lifestyle changes, face yoga, and quality skincare will all prevent your neck from aging any faster than it should. And if you already have sagging skin or other signs of aging on your neck that you wish you didn’t, in-office treatments will be your best way of turning back the clock.
Here at BodyTonic Med Spa we’ve helped many clients improve the appearance of their necks, so if you live in the Cleveland area and want to explore your options for tightening your neck, come and see us for a completely free, no-obligation consultation.
From botox to microneedling, laser resurfacing, or medical-grade skincare products, we can help get your neck looking years younger.
