Question:
Will I have 'turkey neck' if I have surgery at 55?

I will be 55 by the time I have the surgery and am worried I will have so much extra skin instead of a double chin. Anyone else have good results, or is plastic surgery the only answer? thanks    — deespol (posted on September 8, 2002)

September 8, 2002
I don't know about the turkey neck (not sure what it is) but I've lost 151.25 pounds (38.75 to goal) and STILL have a double chin. Although it is'nt as bad. I had hoped that would have gone away. When I see myself in the mirror... I still want to say "rivit" (like a frog). lol
   — Danmark

September 8, 2002
Daniel you are so funny. I had my surgery almost 18 months ago at 53 yrs.old. I do have a little loose skin on my neck but nothing like the double chin I had pre-op. My problem is these bat wings I have. Don't worry because everybody is different. I've been doing some neck stretches which seemed to have helped. Good luck
   — socco58

September 8, 2002
I'm 39 and even though now I only have ONE chin, I have excess skin that wrinkles up like a sharpei where my 2nd chin used to be. My plastic surgeon said he could do liposuction and then a platysoplasty(sp?) to tighten the muscles there. The price?? $2000. I just keep yanking the excess skin back myself and trying to "pull" the wrinkles out.
   — Patty H.

September 8, 2002
Great question. I am 43 and have lost 116 pounds and feel very self-concious about my neck! Others says it is not that bad and I rally don't know what I would have looked like at this age without the extra weight then rapid weight loss, you know? My sister is only 18 months older and she has a droopy neck too, although not as bad. Many plastic surgeons do not just do "necks" preferring to do them as part of an entire face lift which runs big bucks! My quote was 10K, therefore it will never happen for me. Maybe you will have better genes and more elastic skin..I hope so. Small price to pay for all of th other great changes in our lives I think.
   — Molly S.

September 9, 2002
I was 55 when I had my open RNY and have lost 141 pounds in 9 months. For a while I had a terrible turkey neck but it it tightening very nicely. It's not perfect but it is much better than the 6 or 8 chins I had before surgery. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don't recognize the person looking back at me.
   — Patty_Butler

September 9, 2002
I just had to let you ladies know about my turkey neck. I have lost only 70 pounds so far (15 weeks post-op) but I have had a big problem with wrinkles on my neck from the loss. I recently switched to ROC skin creams, and they have made a REAL difference. The wrinkles are not gone, but they are noticeably improved. I use the "firming" and the "anti-wrinkle" formulas, day and night treatments for each, mixed them together and put on. Hope this helps!!
   — Sheryl S.

September 9, 2002
I turned 50 the day I left the hospital after my RNY. I lost my weight fairly quickly and had problems with the "wattle." Things improved quite a bit with protein supplementation, lots of water and exercise. I bought a product called a Profile Toner (It's a rubber ball that you use under your chin and do some exercises. Comes with a video to show you how. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond but I know you can do a web search and find them online too.) This has really helped. I also use a toning moisturizer on my face and neck. My weight is stable now (I'm 3 years postop tomorrow!) and NO one believes me when I tell them I'm almost 53. hugs, Ann rny 9/10/99 260/130
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 9, 2002
Hi, I had the open Rny Oct 15,2001 at age 60, and have lost 125 pounds so far, and at first my thin hung, but as time pasted it has firmed up nicely. Everyone says I don't look almost 61 this Nov. Check my before and after photos on wlscenter.com under Patient Success Stories (Susie Meriwether) God Bless you, Susie
   — lostitall