The Best Treatments To Lift & Firm The Neck

For many of us, the pursuit of a more youthful appearance has predominantly focused on the face. However, in recent years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people looking to lift, sculpt, and rejuvenate their neck, particularly the area where the jawline meets the neck. Often referred to as the ‘jeck’, this area plays a significant role in defining our profile. Unfortunately, it’s a part of the body highly susceptible to signs of ageing, including sagging, excess fat, crepiness, and uneven pigmentation.

As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, the key proteins responsible for maintaining skin plumpness and elasticity. Additionally, bone loss can occur in the jaw, further exacerbating a less defined jawline and a drooping neck. The skin on the neck is also thinner and lacks the resilience of facial skin, rendering it more susceptible to these changes.

Genetic factors play a large role in the neck’s appearance, however, certain lifestyle factors can accelerate its deterioration. For example, the constant downward gaze associated with excessive phone and laptop use, often referred to as ‘tech neck’, can weaken neck muscles and accelerate the onset of wrinkles and sagging.

“Thankfully, in the realm of aesthetics, there are treatments that can help define the neck area,” says Dr. Jack, aesthetic doctor and founder of Dr. David Jack skincare.

Morpheus 8

Dr. Jack highlights Morpheus 8 as an ideal treatment, as it combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to deeply penetrate the skin and underlying tissue. “By precisely delivering thermal energy, Morpheus 8 stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin, resulting in a smoother, more defined jawline and neck contour,” he explains. “Expect gradual improvements over several weeks, with optimal results appearing within a few months. Downtime is minimal, typically involving mild redness and swelling for a few days.”

Morpheus8 is available at Dr Jack’s London and Edinburgh clinics, with prices starting from £750.

Endolift

Dr. Jack also recommends Endolift, a laser treatment designed to dramatically tighten and sculpt the neck and jawline. “This minimally invasive procedure utilizes a specialized laser fiber inserted beneath the skin to precisely heat and tighten the underlying tissues, offering a more surgical option for jawline enhancement,” he states. “It is a minimally invasive advanced skin tightening and fat reduction technique that targets multiple layers of the skin and can be used to contour areas of the face such as your jawline.” He finds Endolift particularly effective for refining the jawline and reducing excess fat in the neck area. “Results are noticeable soon after treatment and continue to improve over the following weeks,” he notes. “Downtime is brief, with some mild bruising and swelling that typically resolves within a week.”

Endolift is available at Dr Jack’s London and Edinburgh clinics, with prices starting from £3,900.

HIFU

“Although there are a number of energy-based treatments that help tighten the area between the jawline and neck, I find HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) to be the most effective,” explains Dr. Catherine Fairris, aesthetic doctor and president of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine. According to Dr. Fairris, HIFU uses ultrasound energy to stimulate the production of collagen within the skin. “HIFU works by using ultrasound to generate heat to the layers of connective tissue found below the surface of the skin. That heat causes controlled damage to the tissue, stimulating the body’s natural healing process, and boosting production of collagen. It is increased collagen production that helps tighten and lift the neck area.”

“HIFU is most suited for mild to moderate laxity,” Dr. Fairris adds. “Results from the treatment take about 12 weeks to fully appear and can last many months, however, I recommend an annual top-up treatment to maintain results.” She notes that HIFU has minimal downtime, though some patients may experience mild aching and redness in the treatment area.

HIFU is available at Wessex Skin, with prices starting from £450.

Profhilo

Beyond energy-based treatments, injectables such as Profhilo are recommended as effective alternatives for improving the neck.

“To help improve laxity, fine lines, and crepey skin, Profhilo is injected in ten specific points on the neck utilising the precise BAP technique,” explains Julie Scott, nurse practitioner and clinical director of Facial Aesthetics. “This ensures that the ultra-pure hyaluronic acid formula is evenly distributed throughout the delicate tissues of the neck, deeply hydrating the skin and promoting collagen synthesis.”

Scott continues, “Profhilo has a unique regenerative cascade effect, meaning that—following the two-treatment protocol—patients will experience numerous benefits. Skin will be visibly lifted, its texture enhanced, and the degradation caused by UV rays will be improved, all with minimal downtime.”

Profhilo is available at Facial Aesthetics, with prices starting from £350.

Neck Lift

While the aesthetic industry offers a multitude of neck treatments, more severe cases might require surgical intervention. As Mr. Shaheel Chummun, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Emendo Surgical Group, explains, “There is a wide spectrum of treatments available for managing the area between the jawline and neck, however, surgery is most effective in managing moderate to severe tissue laxity and can be used independently or in combination with other non-surgical treatments.”

Mr. Chummun notes that a neck lift is ideal for patients with excess fat and separation of the neck muscles. “A neck lift would allow excision of the excess fatty tissue, and re-approximation of the muscles in the neck to recreate better support and improve the neck contour. In some cases, other structures in the neck may need to be addressed to create a more rejuvenated look,” he comments. “For patients who have prominent jowls and excess fullness in the neck, it is common to combine a facelift with a neck lift. This allows for a better rejuvenation of the jawline and improvement of the area between the jawline and neck.”

In contrast to injectable or energy-based aesthetic treatments, a neck or facelift requires significantly more downtime. “The recovery time for a neck or facelift varies on a myriad of factors such as individual healing ability, patient lifestyle factors, extent of surgery as well as techniques used,” Mr. Chummun explains. “Typically, a patient can expect initial recovery within 2 weeks, with visual bruising and swelling gradually subsiding over several weeks. A full recovery, including a resolution of swelling and return to normal activities, may take several months.”

A neck lift with Mr. Chummun is available in Wales and the South West, with prices starting from £13,500.

Skincare

While aesthetic procedures offer notable results, use of topical treatments can be an effective strategy for preventing a wrinkled, saggy, and crepey neck. As Charlene DeHaven, M.D., FACEP, and Clinical Director of iS Clinical, explains, “Collagen loss is the main cause of sagging, so adopting ingredients that stimulate collagen production is key. Peptides are one of the best ingredients at preventing collagen loss, as when applied directly to the skin they instruct cells to produce more collagen. Retinol (Vitamin A) also plays an effective role in supporting collagen production, providing greater structural support for your skin.” For those with sensitive skin, DeHaven advises bakuchiol, a natural ingredient that mimics retinol’s benefits without the side effects.

For those past the prevention stage, DeHaven recommends caffeine as a temporary fix for contouring the neck. “When applied topically, caffeine stimulates blood flow and causes vasoconstriction (constriction of the blood vessels), which can temporarily tighten and firm the skin.”

iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex

This advanced anti-ageing formula rejuvenates the neck, jawline, and décolleté, giving a more lifted, tightened, and defined appearance. Enriched with fruit acids and white willow bark extract—a natural source of salicylic acid—it gently exfoliates to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while enhancing skin tone and texture. Hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration, and hydrolysed quinoa protects against environmental damage. Clinical studies show remarkable results: after just two weeks, 76% of participants noted enhanced skin elasticity; 80% observed reduced sagging; and 77% experienced improved firmness.

Trinny London The Elevator

Dubbed ‘gravity-defying skincare’, The Elevator is designed to lift sagging skin and improve its resistance to gravity. The key ingredient in this rich, balmy formula is isodonis japonicus phyto extract, which strengthens the connections between the epidermis and dermis to help prevent sagging. Trinny London’s unique peptide blend of decapeptides, oligo, and nonapeptides work to reinforce the dermal matrix, boosting skin’s collagen and elastin levels to smooth neck lines and firm the skin. Encapsulated alpha arbutin is employed to deliver a more potent dose directly into the skin, aiming to inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanosome maturation to diminish the appearance of age spots, and promote a more even skin tone and texture.

Cosmedix Illuminate & Lift Neck & Décolleté Treatment

The Cosmedix Illuminate & Lift Neck & Décolleté Treatment makes skin look and feel firmer and smoother. This ultra-moisturising cream is formulated with a potent vitamin C derivative to improve collagen production and brighten discolouration at the surface, alongside edelweiss extract and Matrixyl Synthe’6 peptide, to promote elasticity and tighten slack skin. Added shea and cocoa butters nourish and soften the skin to combat uneven texture and to ensure the skin remains supple throughout the day.

Prai Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme

Designed to revive the neck area, Prai’s Ageless Throat & Decolletage Crème lifts and tightens sagging skin, smooths fine lines, and diminishes crepiness. The lightweight formula utilises Sepilift technology to restore skin elasticity and enhance collagen production, while hyaluronic acid plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Shea butter and squalane provide deep, long-lasting moisture and a blend of mulberry, saxifrage, and grapeseed extracts assist in lightening age spots. This luxurious cream also features vitamins A, E, and F to help rejuvenate skin and deliver a smoother, younger-looking neck and decolletage.