Turkey Neck Exercises and Face Yoga: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Neck exercises and face yoga are popular for turkey neck. What the one pilot trial and a systematic review found, why exercise can't tighten loose skin, and what works instead.
Face yoga and neck exercises promise to firm the neck by strengthening muscles. The short answer: there's very little high-quality evidence. A small pilot study found a facial exercise program was associated with fuller upper and lower cheeks in middle-aged women, but it didn't study the neck, and a systematic review concluded the evidence is insufficient. Exercises can't remove loose skin or under-chin fat.
What the research found
- Pilot study: Middle-aged women who completed a 20-week facial exercise program had modest improvements in rated facial appearance. It was a small pilot without a control group, and the exercise program was developed by a co-author (Alam et al., JAMA Dermatol, 2018).
- Systematic review: the evidence was insufficient to determine whether facial exercises work, and well-designed trials are needed (Van Borsel et al., Aesthet Surg J, 2014).
Why exercise has limits for the neck
| Cause of turkey neck | Can exercise help? |
|---|---|
| Loose skin from collagen and elastin loss | No |
| Platysma bands | Unlikely; tensing the muscle may even accentuate bands |
| Under-chin fat | Not by spot exercise |
| Posture | Possibly helps appearance |
Turkey neck is mostly a skin-and-support problem; see turkey neck causes and treatments.
If you want to try exercises
They're low risk for most people. Common examples:
- Chin lift: tilt your head back slightly and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth for a few seconds.
- Jaw jut: push your lower jaw forward gently and hold.
- Posture reset: bring screens to eye level and draw your chin back.
Stop if you feel pain, and skip them if you have neck or jaw problems.
What works better
- Daily sunscreen and a retinoid for skin quality (Kafi et al., Arch Dermatol, 2007; AAD: wrinkle remedies).
- Radiofrequency or microfocused ultrasound for mild laxity (best treatment for neck lines).
- Botox for bands (Botox for neck bands).
- Surgery for significant loose skin.
Why the evidence is so thin
Exercise studies are hard to blind, since participants know they're exercising, and photos can vary with lighting, posture and expression. The pilot study had no control group. Larger randomized trials with standardized photography and independent raters would be needed to show a real effect, especially on the neck, which has not been specifically studied in a controlled trial that we could find. Until then, think of exercises as a low-risk extra rather than a treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can face yoga get rid of a double chin?
No good evidence shows it reduces under-chin fat.
How long would exercises take?
The pilot program ran 20 weeks. Any effect is likely modest.
Are neck-toning gadgets useful?
There's little independent evidence for jaw-exercise gadgets.
Bottom line
Neck exercises are safe for most people but unproven for turkey neck. Sun protection, retinoids and professional treatments have better evidence.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to a board-certified dermatologist or your doctor about your situation.
Sources
- Alam M et al. Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging. JAMA Dermatol. 2018. PubMed
- Van Borsel J et al. The effectiveness of facial exercises for facial rejuvenation: a systematic review. Aesthet Surg J. 2014. PubMed
- Kafi R et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Arch Dermatol. 2007. PubMed
- American Academy of Dermatology. Wrinkle remedies. aad.org
