Paula Wolfson, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – When some people think about turkey neck, they are not thinking about the Thanksgiving bird.
It used to be that plastic surgery was the only way to deal with sagging skin, but it is no longer the only option.
Dr. Hootan Chaboki, a plastic surgeon at George Washington University Hospital, says that nowadays there are non-surgical treatments available for those who cannot afford the cost or recovery time that goes along with a face or neck lift.
Liposuction is now being used to remove neck fat in some patients, and others are seeing some improvement from Botox injections in the lower neck, he says.
“The results are not right away, as with Botox for crow’s feet, but it lasts for several months,” Chaboki says.
Lasers are increasingly being used on neck skin with some success, along with heat and ultrasound treatments, although Chaboki notes they, too, need to be repeated on a regular basis.
There are also a number of topical creams available that claim to improve the appearance of the neck. They may improve the skins surface on some patients, “but they really don’t work to lift or tighten the neck,” Chaboki says.
For those plagued with excess fat, sagging muscle and droopy skin on their neck, nothing will replace a visit to a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist to check various options. Chaboki stresses the best results come when the treatment is tailored to the individual patient.
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