That is, if you found yourself wanting to address the loose or saggy skin in your neck – something that is going to happen to all of us eventually as we age – but hated the idea of surgery… you were in a lose-lose situation. No surgery? Fine. But that meant simply living with whatever change in 
appearance your neck went through. Want to improve the way your neck looks? Fine. That meant surgery.
Today surgery is no longer required to combat some of the effects aging has on your neck. It is, in fact, possible to avoid going under the knife (including liposuction) and address necklace lines, wrinkles, age spots and loose or saggy neck skin.
Laser treatment – Because neck skin is so thin to begin with, the “turkey neck” effect is virtually unavoidable as we get older. Constant exposure to the elements and the sun make the neck prone to sagging and wrinkling. At GLOW Surgical Arts, our cosmetic surgeons are able to use lasers to sculpt and tone the neck, which can reverse much of the aging effect on the neck’s skin and simultaneously tighten the jawline’s appearance as well. You’ll see improvements in your skin’s tone and texture, too, and in the end you’ll take years off the appearance of your neck without a single incision being made. As long as you continue to take good care of your skin, the positive results from laser treatment can last several years.
Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment – Because of its almost 24/7 exposure to the environment, the neck is especially susceptible to developing age spots. Thankfully, IPL treatment is an effective tool for dealing with them. Using short blasts of a polychromatic, high-intensity light that penetrates just below the skin’s surface, the IPL treatment actually damages either the melanin that makes up those age spots or the blood vessels that are creating broken capillaries. Your skin then does what it’s designed to do, repairing the damage and leaving you with a more even skin tone. IPL treatment also stimulates collagen production, helping your skin achieve and maintain a more youthful look. Downtime is minimal and reults are long lasting. At GLOW, we can also help you pair this non-surgical procedure with a specialized skincare regimen to ensure a long lasting result.
Botox for necklace lines – If quick acting and no downtime is what you are looking for, Botox may be the answer. Botox is used to address the negative effects of aging on the neck known as “necklace lines”. Necklace lines are the wrinkles that appear horizontally on the neck with age. Botox injection can relax those lines and result in a much smoother appearance. You will start seeing results within a few days and should enjoy a smoother neck for 4 - 6 months.
Look at it this way: aging is not something we can avoid, but today there are more and more options to at least combat the effects of aging on our bodies. When it comes to the neck, that’s truer than ever. And there is absolutely no longer the prerequisite that surgery is a mandatory part of the equation. Whichever avenue most appeals to you and makes the most sense for your neck, a GLOW cosmetic surgeon will happily walk you through the entire process. You can make an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation any time to come in to our Redwood City surgical clinic and find out more about your options.
Wanting to get rid of the dreaded “turkey neck” look but not wanting surgery used to mean tough luck. Not anymore. Consider it just another reason to look forward to a great New Year!
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