Turtlenecks might be on trend, but that doesn’t mean you want to wear one every single day of the year. Sometimes, you want to break out your V-neck or boatneck tops, too. But, if you’re started to notice some signs of aging in the neck area, such as loose, droopy skin, crepiness, or neck bands, you might be doing what you can to cover up. Since turtlenecks won’t be cool forever and because some days you want to give the look a rest, there are many other ways to deal with an aging neck area.

Caring for the Neck

Whether you’ve started to notice changes in the neck area or not, one of the best things you can do for it is to start giving it as much care and attention as you give your face. If you aren’t already moisturizing the area daily, get in the habit of doing so. The neck area doesn’t have as many oil glands as the face, so the skin there is going to get drier, faster.

It’s OK to use an anti-aging product designed for your face on the neck, particularly if that product also happens to contain sunscreen. Even though your neck is often shielded by clothing or scarves or by your chin, it’s still important to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 everyday. Although it’s perfect fine to use a facial product on your neck, you might find that a specialized neck cream gives you even better results. Lotions and creams designed with the neck area in mind tend to be thicker and usually have a higher dose of active ingredients, making them slightly more effective.

Minimizing Bands and Wrinkles

Crepiness and drooping skin are the only changes that take place in the neck area as you age. One common sign of aging in that area is the development of so-called neck bands. These bands are created by the platysma muscle, which runs up and down the neck. As you get older, the bands are more likely to protrude from the neck. They are particularly common in women.

Although it has been approved by the FDA for use in the neck area just yet, a number of surgeons will use Botox to help minimize the appearance of those bands, at least temporarily. Just as it does when it’s injected into the brow area or to treat the crow’s feet, Botox helps relax the muscle, so that the two vertical bands are smoothed out. Typically, the treatment lasts for about three months. After that, you can repeat it as needed.

Lifting Drooping Skin

The development of jowls or sagging skin in the neck area is another common sign of aging. Caring for your skin at home or seeking out injectables won’t do much when it comes to coping with loose skin on your neck. Usually, the best option for lifting and tightening sagging skin is surgery.

You have a few options when it comes to surgical procedures. A mini facelift can be an appropriate option if you have a mild amount of droopiness. During the surgery, a surgeon makes a relatively small incision and lifts and redrapes a small amount of skin. The results might not be that dramatic, but when you’ve only got a bit of looseness, they might be all you need.

Another major benefit of a mini facelift is that the recovery time is fairly short. You might need just a couple of days at home to rest up afterwards, though some people do need a full week. Results are visible pretty much right away, too.

More sagging calls for a more involved surgery, like a full facelift. A full facelift typically involves larger incision and a more involved process of tightening the skin and muscle. Although it can correct sagging in the neck area, it also helps minimize sagging and looseness in the cheeks and other parts of the lower face.

Recovery time does take considerably longer, with many patients needing up to two full weeks off from work. But, after that, the results also tend to last much longer, with many people enjoying results for 10 years or longer.

If you’re concerned about how your neck is starting to look, one of the best things to do is to make an appointment with a facial plastic surgeon, who can give you the full details on the various treatment options available. In Ohio , Dr. Stephen Smith is a fourth generation facial plastic surgeon who offers a range of treatments to patients. To learn more about your neck and what you can do to help minimize the signs of aging on it, call 614-678-7180 for a consultation today.