You’re scrolling through your phone, minding your own business, and then you see it. Maybe it’s a candid shot of a celebrity at an awards show or a friend's side-profile selfie. You see that loose, sagging skin under the jawline that everyone—literally everyone—calls "turkey neck." Honestly, looking at a pic of turkey neck can be a bit of a wake-up call. It’s one of those things you don't notice in yourself until you catch your reflection in a deactivated iPad screen.
It happens.
The medical term is submental fullness or platysma muscle laxity, but let’s be real: "turkey neck" is what sticks. It’s that combination of drooping skin, a little extra fat, and muscles that have decided to quit their day job. It’s not just about aging, though that’s the big player. Genetics, sun damage, and even the way you’re holding your phone right now contribute to the look.
Why Does the Skin Give Up?
Gravity is a jerk. But it’s not just gravity. To understand why a pic of turkey neck looks the way it does, you have to look at the anatomy of the neck. The platysma is a broad, thin sheet of muscle that runs from your collarbone up to your jaw. Over time, this muscle weakens and begins to pull apart, creating those vertical bands you see.
At the same time, your body stops producing collagen and elastin like it used to. Think of collagen as the scaffolding of your skin and elastin as the rubber bands. By the time you’re in your 40s, that scaffolding is getting shaky. If you’ve spent years basking in the sun without SPF, the UV rays have likely shredded those elastic fibers even faster. It’s a biological "perfect storm."
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Dr. Shereene Idriss, a well-known dermatologist, often points out that we treat our faces like precious silk but treat our necks like old rags. We apply ten layers of serum to our foreheads and stop right at the jawline. Big mistake. The skin on the neck is thinner and has fewer oil glands than the skin on your face, making it way more prone to wrinkling and sagging.
The "Tech Neck" Reality
You've heard the term. It sounds like a buzzword, but it's a real mechanical issue. When you hunch over your laptop or phone for eight hours a day, you’re folding that neck skin repeatedly. It’s like folding a piece of paper in the same spot over and over. Eventually, the crease stays.
A pic of turkey neck in someone younger is often actually just "tech neck" combined with poor posture. This constant downward gaze puts incredible pressure on the cervical spine and causes the skin to bunch up. It’s not just an aesthetic thing; it’s a structural one.
Can Creams Actually Fix a Pic of Turkey Neck?
Let’s get the hard truth out of the way: no cream is going to perform a surgical facelift. If a product claims to "melt fat" or "instantly lift" sagging skin, it’s probably lying to you. However, that doesn’t mean skincare is useless.
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Topical retinoids are the gold standard for a reason. They speed up cell turnover and can help stimulate some collagen production. Peptides and antioxidants like Vitamin C can also help protect the skin from further breakdown. If you look at a pic of turkey neck before and after using high-quality medical-grade skincare, the "after" usually looks more hydrated and slightly smoother. It won't remove the wattle, but it makes the "envelope" of the skin look healthier.
Hyaluronic acid is another big one. It won't lift, but it plumps. Plump skin hides wrinkles better than dehydrated, crepey skin. Simple as that.
When Skincare Isn't Enough: The Medical Options
If you’re looking at a pic of turkey neck and thinking, "I need more than a lotion," you’re entering the world of "tweakments." This is where things get interesting.
- Kybella: This is an injectable synthetic deoxycholic acid. It literally dissolves fat cells under the chin. It's great for people who have "fullness" but still have decent skin elasticity. If your skin is already very loose, removing the fat might actually make the sagging look worse.
- Ultherapy: This uses ultrasound energy to heat the deep layers of the tissue. It’s meant to jumpstart collagen. It’s famous for being a bit painful, but it’s one of the few non-invasive ways to actually "lift" the area.
- CoolSculpting: Also known as cryolipolysis. It freezes fat cells. Similar to Kybella, it targets the double chin rather than the loose skin itself.
- Botox (The "Nefertiti Lift"): Dermatologists can inject Botox into the platysmal bands. This relaxes the muscles that pull the jawline down, giving a temporary, subtle lift.
The Surgical Route
Sometimes, the "before" pic of turkey neck is just too advanced for lasers or needles. This is when a neck lift (lower rhytidectomy) comes into play. Surgeons like Dr. Andrew Jacono specialize in deep-plane facelifts that address the muscle layer rather than just pulling the skin tight.
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Pulling just the skin creates that "wind tunnel" look that everyone wants to avoid. By repositioning the underlying muscle and removing excess skin, surgeons can recreate a sharp, defined jawline. It’s a major surgery with real downtime, but the results are the only way to truly "delete" the turkey neck look.
What You Can Do Right Now
Stop looking down. Seriously. Raise your monitor. Hold your phone at eye level. This isn't just for your skin; your neck vertebrae will thank you.
Start using your facial skincare on your neck and chest. Every single day. If you use a retinol on your face, buffer it with a moisturizer and apply a small amount to your neck. Be careful, though—the neck is sensitive.
Wear sunscreen. If you’re wearing a V-neck shirt, that exposed "V" on your chest and neck is getting hammered by UV rays. This leads to "poikiloderma of Civatte," which is that reddish-brown, mottled skin texture often seen alongside turkey neck.
Final Practical Steps
Dealing with the appearance of your neck is a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t undo twenty years of sun damage in a week. If you’re genuinely bothered by what you see in a pic of turkey neck, start with the least invasive options first.
- Audit your posture. Adjust your workspace so your chin is parallel to the floor.
- Apply SPF 30+ to your neck every morning, even if you’re staying inside. UV rays come through windows.
- Incorporate a retinoid or a specialized neck cream with peptides at night.
- Consult a board-certified dermatologist. Ask specifically about the difference between skin laxity and submental fat. Knowing which one you have determines whether you need a fat-melter like Kybella or a skin-tightener like Ultherapy.
- Manage expectations. Real life isn't a filtered Instagram post. Everyone has skin folds when they look down. Perfection is a myth, but improvement is totally possible.
Focus on the health of the skin barrier. A hydrated, protected neck will always look younger and more resilient than one left to the elements.