Turkey Neck Correction | Neck Lift and Platysmaplasty

Patient Overview

• Patient: Michael

• Age: 67 years old

• Gender: Male

• Procedures: Neck lift, platysmaplasty (turkey neck correction)

• After photos taken at: 5 days post-surgery

• Origin: United States of America

• Location: Istanbul, Turkey

What Causes Turkey Neck and Why Diet and Exercise Cannot Fix It

The term turkey neck describes a specific deformity of the lower face and neck where loose skin, separated neck muscles, and accumulated fat create a hanging, drooping appearance beneath the chin and along the jawline. It is one of the most common complaints among men over 60, and one of the most frustrating because no amount of weight loss, exercise, or skincare can reverse it. The underlying cause is not simply excess fat. It is a structural breakdown involving multiple tissue layers that can only be corrected surgically. For Michael, a 67-year-old man who travelled from the United States to Istanbul, the turkey neck had progressively worsened over the past decade, obscuring the jawline he once had and ageing his appearance beyond how he actually felt. His surgery was performed by Dr. Cem Berkay Sinaci, a Fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS) and active member of ISAPS and ASPS.

Watch Michael's full patient story and video testimonial here.

Understanding the Anatomy Behind Turkey Neck Deformity

To understand why turkey neck develops, it helps to know what sits beneath the skin of the neck. The platysma is a thin, broad muscle that extends from the collarbone up to the lower face. In youth, the two halves of the platysma sit close together in the midline, creating a smooth, taut neck contour. With ageing, these muscle bands separate and sag, creating visible vertical cords that run from the chin to the collarbone. At the same time, the skin loses elasticity and begins to drape loosely over the weakened muscle, while fat deposits can accumulate both above and below the platysma.

This triple breakdown — muscle separation, skin laxity, and fat accumulation — is what produces the characteristic turkey neck appearance. Treating only one of these three components produces an incomplete result. Liposuction alone removes fat but leaves the separated muscles and loose skin untreated. Skin tightening alone cannot correct muscle banding. A comprehensive neck lift with platysmaplasty addresses all three layers simultaneously, which is exactly what Michael's procedure involved.

What Platysmaplasty Does That a Standard Neck Lift Does Not

A standard neck lift typically involves removing excess skin and tightening the remaining skin envelope. While this improves the appearance, it does not address the separated platysma bands that are often the primary source of the turkey neck deformity. Platysmaplasty is the additional step that makes the difference between a good result and an excellent one.

During Michael's platysmaplasty, Dr. Sinaci sutured the separated edges of the platysma muscle back together in the midline, recreating the smooth, continuous muscle sling that had weakened over decades. This is sometimes called a corset platysmaplasty because the technique effectively cinches the muscle bands together like the lacing of a corset, restoring tension across the entire front of the neck. Once the muscle layer was repaired, excess fat was removed from above and below the platysma to further refine the contour, and the redundant skin was trimmed and redraped over the newly tightened foundation.

The result is a neck contour that is supported by a strong underlying muscular structure, not just tightened skin. This structural repair is what gives platysmaplasty results their longevity and prevents the early recurrence of banding that can occur when muscle repair is omitted.

Neck Lift Surgery for Male Patients Over 60

Male neck lift surgery carries specific considerations that differ from female patients. Men have thicker skin, greater blood supply to the face and neck, and different aesthetic goals. While women often seek a slender, tapered neck contour, men typically want a strong, defined cervicomental angle — the sharp angle between the chin and neck — without an overly tightened or feminised appearance.

Michael's anatomy at 67 presented the classic male pattern of turkey neck: prominent platysmal bands, submental fat accumulation, and significant skin redundancy along the jawline and neck. Dr. Sinaci's surgical plan accounted for the thicker male skin, which requires more aggressive muscle tightening to achieve a visible contour change, and the need to preserve masculine neck proportions throughout the procedure. The incisions were placed strategically to remain concealed within the natural creases around the ear and beneath the chin, where they are easily hidden even with short male hairstyles.

Five Days After Turkey Neck Surgery — What to Expect

Michael's before and after photographs were taken just five days following surgery, which makes them particularly striking. At five days, the patient is still in the early acute phase of recovery. A compression garment is typically worn around the neck and chin to support the tissues, minimise swelling, and help the redraped skin adhere to the newly tightened muscle layer beneath. Some bruising is expected, particularly along the jawline and upper neck, and swelling is still present though already beginning to subside.

What is remarkable about Michael's five-day photographs is how much visible improvement is already apparent despite the early stage. The platysmal bands that defined his turkey neck are gone. The jawline has reappeared with clear definition, and the hanging skin that previously obscured the neck contour has been replaced by a smooth, continuous line from chin to collarbone. These early results will continue to improve over the following weeks as swelling resolves and the tissues settle into their final position. The full result of a neck lift and platysmaplasty typically matures over three to six months.

The Recovery Timeline After Neck Lift and Platysmaplasty

The first 48 hours after surgery are the most intensive phase of recovery. Patients wear a head and neck compression garment continuously, and mild to moderate discomfort is managed with prescribed medication. Drains may be placed beneath the skin to prevent fluid accumulation, and these are typically removed within the first two to three days. By day five, when Michael's photographs were taken, most patients are mobile, able to care for themselves independently, and experiencing only mild tightness rather than significant pain.

Sutures are removed between days seven and ten. By the end of week two, bruising has largely faded and swelling has decreased to the point where the result is clearly visible to others. Most patients return to desk-based work within two weeks and resume full physical activity by week four to six. The compression garment is worn for progressively shorter periods over the first few weeks, transitioning from full-time to overnight wear.

Why American Patients Travel to Istanbul for Neck Lift Surgery

Michael is one of a growing number of patients from the United States who choose Istanbul for their facial surgery. The decision is driven by a combination of factors beyond cost considerations. Istanbul's position as a global centre for plastic surgery means that patients have access to surgeons who perform high volumes of these procedures, developing the technical skill that comes with extensive experience. Dr. Sinaci's background includes fellowship training with world-renowned plastic surgeon Raul Gonzalez in Brazil and cadaver dissection courses in Bangkok focused on facial and neck anatomy, providing the layered anatomical knowledge that complex procedures like platysmaplasty demand.

For American patients, the logistics of travelling to Istanbul have become increasingly streamlined. Multilingual medical coordination teams, airport transfers, accommodation arrangements, and structured postoperative follow-up protocols are all standard. Michael's journey from the United States to a dramatically improved neck contour in just five days is a testament to what is achievable when surgical expertise meets comprehensive international patient care.