From radiofrequency to face yoga, we look at how to tighten neck skin with seven ways to improve the appearance of your decolletage
Words: Rachel Tompkins | Images: Shutterstock
Getting older has lots of benefits – more wisdom (one hopes!), life experience and a chance to reinvent yourself midlife. And while the passage of time will naturally change how we look, there are ways we can delay this process through a combination of looking after ourselves from the inside out, as well as external products and procedures we can access to help keep our skin looking good.
One of the areas that ages fastest is the neck – along with the hands – so it’s surprising that in the past, skincare companies only really focused on our faces. However, this has now changed, and the number of searches for, and interest in, chin- and jaw-focused “tweakments” has risen rapidly – we spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on our mobiles and even more on laptops. Not only does looking down do us no favours in the saggy chin department, the blue light adds to the issue of ageing.
‘Ageing slows down the production of collagen, an essential structural protein that gives skin its foundation, elasticity and firmness,’ says plastic surgeon Dr Paul Banwell (paulebanwell.com). ‘Collagen loss with age is a major cause of ageing in the neck, and results in sagging skin and wrinkles.’
However, there is a lot we can do to combat tech neck and unwanted sagging skin…
To reduce fine lines on the neck: Try Profhilo
Profhilo is an injectable skin remodelling treatment containing one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the market, and is especially formulated for people whose skin lacks volume and elasticity. ‘When used on the jawline, it can be very effective at strengthening and thickening skin, smoothing wrinkles and restoring proper skin tension to lift the jawline and upper part of the neck,’ says cosmetic injectables nurse Nina Prisk.
‘After just one treatment, your jawline will have more definition, which is largely down to increased hydration and lift. Thanks to the intensive boost of hyaluronic acid, improved skin quality can last for up to six months,’ she adds.
To improve texture and skin quality: Try Baby face
‘While your skin does a fantastic job at keeping the harmful things out, it also forms a barrier against topical treatments,’ says celebrity facialist Natasha Clancy. ‘This means serums and creams are only partially absorbed, which limits their effectiveness.’
So what can be done? ‘Baby Face with LaseMD is a new, intelligent skin rejuvenation treatment from Lutronic UK that uses laser technology to make micro-channels and small reservoirs underneath the surface of the skin. Unique serums are then applied that aim to treat a multitude of concerns, from pigmentation to fine lines.’ You can expect to see glowing skin, a unified skin tone, improved skin laxity and a healthy, refreshed appearance after just one treatment.
To sculpt the jawline: Try Fillers
A natural part of the ageing process is the loss of volume in the chin area and under the jawline, leading saggy jowls. ‘Your jawline may no longer be as shapely or tight, and you’ll start to lose that youthful triangular shape,’ says injectables nurse Nina Prisk.
Through clever use of fillers, this loss of volume can be replaced and definition returned. ‘Whilst injectable dermal fillers are most commonly associated with lips, they can also work well on the jawline. We can also restore lost volume in the cheeks and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.’
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For crepey, loose skin: Try Thermage FLX
‘The changes to the neck and decolletage we see as a result of looking down at a screen, include creases, folds, fine lines and wrinkles caused by laxity of muscular support and the cumulative effects of photodamage and gravity,’ says plastic surgeon Dr Angelica Kavouni. ‘These contribute to the loss of definition, sagging and redundancy of the skin, along with an increase in platysmal band visibility,’ she adds.
In layman’s terms, we start to see a loosening of the lower third of the face as the muscles weaken and skin sags. As a result, the lower third of your face may appear loosened and untoned, which can diminish the “heart-shaped” facial structure widely associated with youth and beauty.
‘The delicate skin of your neck and decolletage may develop deeply etched horizontal and vertical lines. Thermage FLX offers a great treatment option as it aims to tighten the lower face and neck, as well as tone and improve skin elasticity in the long term,’ says Dr Kavouni.
To strengthen your jawline: Try face yoga
Facial exercise, aka face yoga, doesn’t cost anything to do, and can help strengthen the underlying muscles in your face to help it stay lifted for longer. ‘For good results, you need to perform the exercises three-to-five times a week for 20 minutes,’ says wellness expert Penny Weston (pennyweston.com).
‘Suck your cheeks and lips inwards, making a pout or “fish lips”. Hold the position for a while and then try to smile. Repeat the exercise throughout the day,’ she says. ‘Another simple exercise to strengthen your jawline is to place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Force your tongue against it until you feel a stretch in your neck. Also, puff out your cheeks, moving air from one side to the other, and hold for five seconds.’
An additional exercise is chin lifts. ‘Throw your head back and stretch your neck. Keep your eyes focused on the ceiling and move your lower lip up over the upper lip, while smiling widely. Try holding for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times a day – it may reduce a double chin,’ suggests Penny.
To treat sun damage: Try retinal
It’s not only injectables and procedures that can help. If you’re not keen on the sound of them, or your budget won’t stretch to such procedures, try retinal – the big sister to retinol. ‘Even though there are many natural factors that contribute to ageing in the neck area, for many women it’s an area that isn’t given much attention,’ says cosmetic doctor and co-founder of E.S.K Skincare, Dr Ginni Mansberg.
While many of us have heard of retinol (a form of vitamin A), retinal is now coming to the fore. ‘Retinal night cream, a topical vitamin A, helps build new collagen,’ says Dr Mansberg.
In studies, it has been shown to block the enzymes that cause collagen degradation. It also helps you grow new, tiny blood vessels in the deeper skin layers to help nourish your complexion and create thicker skin, while it also reduces fine lines and sallowness.
‘Another good thing about retinal is it’s as effective as retinoic acid, which is the prescription form of vitamin A, but is still very well tolerated, i.e. it doesn’t lead to dryness or itchy, red inflamed skin, as can happen with retinoic acid and retinols,’ adds Dr Mansberg.
For the next best thing to surgery: Try a thread lift
‘A thread lift can be used to create the results of a facelift but without the need for general aesthetic or downtime,’ says cosmetic doctor Dr Shirin Lakhani. A jowl thread lift involves having local anaesthetic applied topically onto your skin and then a cannula inserted under the skin, through which a biodegradable thread is inserted. Normally, a few threads are used on each side and once they have been inserted into the jawline area they are then pulled up to lift the jowls and remove sagging across the jaw. ‘It takes 45-60 minutes and creates a defined but natural jaw and with minimal downtime. Results usually last up to two years,’ says Dr Lakhani. Thread lifts for the neck and jawline can be used to create a structural lift as well as rejuvenating the tissues for localised skin tightening.
