Simple Procedure Uses Ultrasound To Treat 'Turkey Neck' Without Surgery

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Many people who experience sagging skin beneath their chin, known as "turkey neck," wince when they first begin to develop it and would spend large sums of money on surgery to get rid of it.

However, CBS2's Lisa Sigell learned about a simple procedure that can make your neck look much younger without going under the knife.

Studio City resident Julia Vaynerov began noticing her turkey neck when she hit 42. The sudden arrival of the sagging skin made Vaynerov so self-conscious, she even began to develop tricks while taking pictures to reduce its appearance.

She would lift her tongue to the top of her palate, which would lift the area under the chin and make the skin of the neck tighter.

Vaynerov then decided to give ultherapy a try.

Dermatologist Gene Rubinstein describes ultherapy as the use of ultrasound to improve the appearance of turkey neck.

"It's going to lift the neck, it's going to improve the jowls, it's going to sharpen the jawline," Rubinstein described. "We focus energy on the inner part of the skin, we heat up the skin, which then causes new collagen to come in and reform the skin."

The procedure itself, which costs about $2,000, takes about an hour, and its results last about two years. Further, it avoids impacting other areas of the body, making for an easier procedure.

"When the image is good, we can actually see the layer of skin that we're treating," Rubinstein said as he pointed to a monitor. "So, we can avoid things like nerves and bone."

While it does not provide a tightening effect like a facelift, Rubinstein says it's a good nonsurgical option that provides a natural look for both men and women.

After going through with the treatment, Vaynerov was more than satisfied with the result, continuing to show improvement six months after her ultherapy.

Ultherapy may result in some light bruising and tingling for a few weeks, and Rubinstein says people with mild-to-moderate sagging skin experience the best results.

For more information about ultherapy, visit Rubinstein's website here.