Will Losing Weight Help Turkey Neck?
Reading Time: 11 minutes It has one of the least flattering names ever created, but turkey neck is a very common issue that can affect people’s mental health in a variety of different ways.
Today we’re going to look at the question of will losing weight helps turkey neck.
Growing older is tougher. We have to work harder to get in shape, we experience aches and pains in places we didn’t even know existed, and we find that everything starts to head south, especially as our skin starts to lose elasticity.
Just because people grow older, however, that doesn’t mean that they can’t take pride in their appearance.
Heck, there are numerous celebrities out there who, decades later, arguably look better than they did in the 80s and 90s.
If you are self-conscious about your appearance and find yourself dealing with turkey neck, you’ll likely be looking for all manner of different ways to get rid of it.
Some claim that weight loss is the answer.
Others, however, claim the exact opposite. So what is the truth? Will losing weight help Turkey neck? Keep reading for the answer.
What Exactly Is Turkey Neck?
It sounds gross, weird, and a little insulting for that matter, but what exactly is the condition known as turkey neck, and is it serious?
Well, the good news is that, no, as far as physical health is concerned, turkey neck is not serious. From a mental health perspective, however, it can be pretty serious as it can leave people feeling self-conscious about their appearance.
As people grow older, they find that the skin begins to sag and droop as it loses its elasticity. Whereas people once had tight and plump skin, as elastin and collagen stores deplete as we age, the skin loses its elasticity and fullness and starts to sag, droop, and wrinkle.
When the skin around the neck and under the chin starts to sag and droop, it causes folds that can resemble those found on turkeys.
See, we told you it sounded a little bizarre and insulting, but the fact of the matter is that it’s true. The skin on the neck and under the chin does sometimes look like that of a turkey’s, which is why it’s called ‘turkey neck’.
But will losing weight help turkey neck?
Some say yes, and some say the exact opposite.
We’ll look at both sides of this argument in today’s article, while also looking at several effective ways of getting rid of a double chin and the loose, wrinkled, saggy skin that goes with it.
What Causes Turkey Neck?
First and foremost, what we call ‘turkey neck’ is not an official illness, disease, or medical issue. You can’t for example, be diagnosed with turkey neck.
The simple fact of the matter, however, is that there are plenty of people who suffer from turkey neck same as people who’s suffering from side boob fat.
But why?
It turns out that there are a plethora of different things that cause turkey neck, including the following:
Age
Starting with the most obvious and most common cause of turkey neck, we have aging.
Whereas there are plenty of inevitabilities in life, one of the most frustrating is the effects of Old Father Time on our bodies.
Whereas some people age like fine wine and seem to somehow look younger than they did decades ago (yes, Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves, we’re looking at you) most people find their skin sagging and wrinkling as they age.
As we grow older, elasticity in the skin begins to dwindle and eventually gravity takes hold.
The skin on your neck and cheeks starts to droop and sag. It then collects under the jawline and sags down, creating what we know as a turkey neck.
Unhealthy Lifestyles
If you take a look at people who regularly exercise, drink alcohol in moderation, eat healthily, drink water, don’t smoke, and don’t use drugs, you’ll see that they generally look far healthier, and younger, than those that lead unhealthy lifestyles.
People who smoke, binge drink regularly, eat junk and don’t exercise not only look unhealthier, but their bodies also break down quicker and they’ll look old before their time. This can cause relatively young people to suffer from turkey neck.
Excess sun, drinking, smoking, and a lack of nutrition cause the skin to lose elasticity and to look saggy and wrinkled. For a lot of people, this means that they’re afflicted with turkey neck.
Weight Gain
Gaining too much body fat is never beneficial. Not only is it dangerous and bad for your health, but it can also affect you mentally as well, and leave you feeling self-conscious about your appearance.
Will losing weight help turkey neck?
Well, we’ll cover that shortly, but first, we’ll look at where weight gain factors into the mix.
When people start to gain excess body fat, often they’ll find that it causes them to gain fat around the jawline and the neck.
This not only creates a double chin, which in itself is unsightly, but it can also cause people to suffer with turkey neck.
Genetics
Whereas we can lose weight if we are overweight and carrying too much fat, one thing that we can’t change (not yet at least, but who knows with how modern science is going) is our genetics.
The simple fact of the matter is that some people are genetically prone to carry more skin around the neck and jawline.
Furthermore, they may be genetically prone to find that the skin becomes loose and saggy.
If a member of your biological family has/had turkey neck, then unfortunately there is a pretty strong possibility that you too will suffer from turkey neck, especially as you begin to grow older.
Poor Neck Muscles
Generally, people who have lifted weights for a while and have built up a decent amount of muscle in their necks and traps likely won’t suffer with turkey neck.
On the flip side, those with weak neck muscles will.
Located at the front of your neck you will find two unique muscles known as your ‘platysma muscles’. If these muscles are separated or become weak, as you grow older you’ll be prone to a lot of loose and sagging skin, which in turn will lead to turkey neck.
Medications
Another surprisingly common cause of turkey neck, and sometimes of weight gain in general for that matter, is the use of prescription drugs and/or medications.
Some drugs and medications can cause fat to be unevenly distributed around your body. You may find, therefore, that they cause you to store fat on and around your neck.
For example, those taking medication for HIV may suffer from a condition known as ‘HIV Lipodystrophy’.
This causes fat to collect primarily in and around the neck and be distributed unevenly.
Those on steroids, either anabolic or corticosteroids, may also find that they cause weight gain, as well as bloating and water retention.
This can often manifest itself in the form of a bloated, puffy face and then sagging skin, which causes a turkey neck.
Weight Loss
Like most things in life, however, things aren’t quite that black and white.
Losing weight may get rid of turkey neck (more on that later) but it can also cause turkey neck, and here’s how.
When people carry a lot of excess body fat and they lose weight relatively quickly, this can sometimes cause them to suffer from loose and sagging skin.
People that once had double chins and a lot of fat on and around the face and neck, may develop turkey neck if they lose that fat, particularly if they lose it quickly.
While this may sound daunting, you must remember that being obese can put a strain on your heart and your major internal organs, while also leaving you susceptible to all kinds of illnesses and ailments, so you should always lose weight safely if you are carrying too much fat.
How To Get Rid Of Turkey Neck?
If so, how impressive will the results be, and are there any other things we can do to speed up the process?
Here’s a look at several ways to help get rid of turkey neck once and for all.
Lose weight
Yes, it will, so that’s that mystery solved.
People who are overweight are more likely to store fat on their faces and necks, causing a double chin. This is not only unsightly but it also causes the skin to stretch, which causes excess skin surrounding the neck muscles to become weaker and looser.
If you lose weight slowly and healthily, you can get rid of excess fat in the neck and reduce your double chin, and therefore get rid of your turkey neck as well.
Lose weight with a small calorie deficit
Far too many people starve themselves and crash diet when trying to lose weight, and are then left dealing with excess loose and sagging skin. The best way to lose weight safely and healthily is to do so via a small calorie deficit.
A calorie deficit is when you consume fewer calories than your body needs to function efficiently. If for example, your body requires 2500 calories for maintenance, if you consumed 2300 calories in a day, this would be a calorie deficit of 200 calories.
The key to healthy and sustainable weight loss is to create a small deficit instead of starving yourself. Aim to consume around 250 – 500 calories below maintenance per day. This will help you to slowly lose weight instead of losing it too quickly. This will help your skin to fall back in place, instead of becoming all saggy and loose and causing a turkey neck.
You can easily track your calories via apps, or the old-fashioned way by writing things down, and you can also find out how many calories you need for maintenance, by using any number of free online tools and calculators.
Eat healthy produce
In order to lose weight you need to create a calorie deficit. It’s also important, however, to ensure that you are eating healthy produce.
If you eat foods rich in healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and complex carbs, your body will thank you. Not only will you be healthier and feel better, but you’ll also look better too.
Many beauty creams and serums will contain minerals such as zinc, and vitamin D which are commonly found in healthy produce.
Eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink water, get your fats from healthy sources, and avoid unhealthy processed junk food.
Train Your Neck
Remember how we said that those with weak neck muscles were more likely to suffer from turkey neck? Well, the best way to build up and strengthen your muscles is to work them. This is where neck exercises can be useful.
Simple neck exercises will not only help to strengthen and tone the neck muscles, they’ll also help to burn fat and will help to firm up the skin too.
Believe it or not, chewing gum is a great way to work your neck and jaw muscles, for obvious reasons. Just ensure you stick with sugar-free gum, otherwise, you will take in extra calories thanks to the sugars found in regular gum.
You can also do neck rotations, which is where you lay on your back with your hands by your sides, and slowly rotate your neck from side to side, with your shoulders on the floor.
If you lift weights, dumbbell shrugs are also very effective for working your neck muscles.
Cosmetic creams
Whereas there are a lot of cosmetic products and beauty creams out there that are designed to smooth the skin and slow the effects of aging, some are more effective than others.
If you are looking to firm up the skin on the neck and jawline, some cosmetic creams from reputable brands may help. For example, some of these creams will use a chemical known as N-acetyl glucosamine, which is a natural form of glucosamine that is added to many anti-wrinkle and anti-aging creams.
This particular ingredient has been found to help firm up the skin, while also helping to moisturize the skin and remove blemishes and discoloration, that can make turkey neck look worse than it actually is.
While these creams don’t work miracles, if you do use them in conjunction with a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle, studies have found that they can certainly help.
Botox
Botox, or, Botulinum Toxin, is arguably the most famous compound used in the world of health and beauty.
Botox injections have been found to smooth out the skin and reduce and remove wrinkles and lines by freezing the muscles. To be more precise, Botox prevents specific nerves from contracting. This helps prevent wear and tear on the skin and causes it to remain firm and look younger for longer.
Studies have found that Botox injections can help to prevent turkey neck and keep the skin looking youthful and feeling firmer and fuller.
Surgery
Despite the fact that you can indeed help to prevent turkey neck and get rid of it in some instances, for some people, the only viable option is surgery.
Yes, as far as will losing weight get rid of turkey neck, for the most part, the answer is yes. However, if people are afflicted with a particularly bad case of turkey neck, the only real option is surgery.
A facelift or a neck lift will involve surgeons getting rid of excess skin on and around the face, neck, and jaw. This helps the remaining skin to tighten and leaves muscle and other tissue intact.
If you’ve tried everything and you can’t seem to get rid of your turkey neck, no matter how hard you try, a facelift, a neck lift, or maybe even both, could give you exactly what you need. Of course. If you do have one/both of these procedures, you will need more time to recover, plus they can be costly, so make sure you consider that.
Final thoughts:
Okay, so, will losing weight help turkey neck? Well, amongst other things, yes it will.
Turkey neck is caused by all manner of different things, but if you lose weight in a safe, healthy, and controlled manner you can get rid of it or at the very least, reduce it considerably.
If turkey neck is making you self-conscious, rest assured that you do have options and it’s never too late to do something about it.
