THE TURKEYNECK PROTOCOL (part 1)

Expanded Findings Report:

Preliminary Clinical Evidence Supporting Combined Near-Infrared Laser Therapy and LUCI Therapeutics Topical Formulations for Non-Invasive Skin Tightening

 

Clinical observations based on the work of:

Angela Wakefield, Recovery One -Denver, Co.

 

Introduction

The pursuit of effective, non-invasive skin tightening therapies has accelerated considerably as patients increasingly seek alternatives to surgery, injectable fillers, and neurotoxins. Among the emerging protocols demonstrating encouraging real-world results is what has become known as the TurkeyNeck Protocol—a synergistic approach combining Ed Kraft's LUCI Therapeutics topical formulations with near-infrared (NIR) laser therapy to stimulate tissue remodeling and improve skin firmness.

One of the earliest clinicians to systematically incorporate this protocol into everyday practice is Angela Wakefield, founder of Recovery One in Denver, Colorado. Although originally specializing in rehabilitation medicine rather than aesthetics, Wakefield's clinical observations have provided some of the earliest practitioner-based evidence supporting this regenerative approach to cervical skin tightening and facial rejuvenation.

Her experience provides an important foundation for expanding formal research into this protocol while helping establish the biological rationale for future validation studies.

An Unexpected Discovery

Wakefield explained that aesthetic medicine was never the intended direction of her practice. Recovery One had established its reputation treating musculoskeletal disorders, autoimmune conditions, and connective tissue dysfunction using regenerative, non-invasive therapies.

As she described, "My focus was really more on musculoskeletal... We got into autoimmune... then I was introduced to Ed... we started using the oil so that we could treat deeper muscles, deeper tissue, affect bones." Initially, Ed Kraft's formulations were incorporated to enhance treatment of deeper anatomical structures rather than cosmetic tissues. However, the introduction of LUCI Therapeutics' topical preparation unexpectedly revealed aesthetic benefits that could not be ignored.

Wakefield recalled, "When he brought out his topical, he knew that my core business wasn't to get into aesthetics. And then when we saw how well it worked, I didn't have a choice." This statement is particularly significant because it illustrates that the transition into aesthetic medicine was driven by repeated clinical outcomes rather than commercial motivation. The protocol effectively redirected part of an established rehabilitation practice because of observable patient improvements.

The First Clinical Breakthrough

Wakefield identified one treatment area as her first major clinical "aha" moment. She explained, "My first big 'aha' moment was on the crepey skin right inside of an elbow. Then we continued to test it on necks and faces..."  Crepey skin has long presented one of the more difficult cosmetic challenges because of age-related collagen loss and reduced dermal elasticity. Improvements in this tissue encouraged expansion of the protocol into the neck and facial regions, where similar improvements soon became apparent.

This progression reflects a logical pattern of clinical investigation in which one successful application generated additional therapeutic questions that ultimately broadened the protocol's potential indications.

Consistent Improvements in the Neck

The cervical region rapidly became one of the protocol's most encouraging treatment targets. According to Wakefield, "There's just a noticeable improvement no matter the age—from 30-year-olds to 85-year-olds—on the tightness of the neck skin and kind of the reduction in the depth of wrinkles."

This observation is noteworthy because it suggests that therapeutic benefit may extend across a remarkably broad age range. Rather than demonstrating effectiveness only in younger patients with relatively preserved collagen architecture, improvements were observed among individuals spanning more than five decades of adult aging.

Although these findings remain observational, they provide a compelling rationale for future prospective clinical trials using standardized outcome measures.

An Unexpected Observation: The Eye Lift Effect

Wakefield also described an unexpected improvement involving the upper face. She stated, "It does a great eye lift. That's the first thing that I notice on most men." Interestingly, she noted that facial hair often obscures other subtle facial changes in male patients, yet the lifting effect around the eyes remained consistently visible.

During the discussion, Dr. Robert Bard immediately recognized the significance of this finding, commenting that the observation represented an important new area deserving further investigation. Future imaging studies may help determine whether these improvements result from collagen remodeling, fascial tightening, dermal contraction, or a combination of regenerative mechanisms.

A Regenerative Rather Than Traumatic Philosophy

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Wakefield's work is the philosophy guiding her treatment decisions. Unlike many aesthetic procedures that intentionally create tissue injury in order to stimulate repair, Recovery One emphasizes regenerative stimulation while minimizing trauma.

Wakefield summarized this philosophy succinctly: "All of our modalities try to avoid any kind of trauma so that the body is just triggered to heal and not to self-protect." This regenerative philosophy aligns closely with modern concepts of photobiomodulation and non-invasive tissue optimization. Rather than relying upon inflammation as the primary therapeutic driver, the TurkeyNeck Protocol appears designed to encourage physiological repair pathways through controlled cellular stimulation combined with biologically active topical support.

Such an approach may ultimately prove especially valuable for patients seeking lower-risk alternatives to ablative procedures or surgical intervention.

Building an Evidence Base

Wakefield also confirmed that Recovery One has accumulated a growing collection of clinical documentation supporting the protocol. She explained, "We've got some decent data... I just need to get it gathered." In addition, she indicated that further patient interviews, before-and-after photography, and treatment documentation would become available as appropriate permissions are finalized.

The availability of these materials represents an important next step toward transforming practitioner observations into publishable clinical evidence. Standardized photographic documentation, thermal imaging, ultrasound assessment, and quantitative skin elasticity measurements could significantly strengthen future scientific evaluation.

A Meaningful Alternative to Conventional Cosmetic Procedures

Wakefield's enthusiasm extends beyond technical success to the broader implications for patient care. She observed, "It's amazing stuff... to be able to give women an alternative to Botox, I think is a beautiful thing."  She further emphasized the unmet demand she has witnessed firsthand. "I've got so many friends who would do something different if they felt like there was an alternative... I'm excited that Ed came up with this and we've got something that actually can compete."

These remarks illustrate that the protocol is viewed not merely as another cosmetic treatment, but as a fundamentally different regenerative option that may appeal to patients reluctant to pursue injections or surgery.

Future Directions

While current observations remain preliminary and observational, they consistently point toward several important areas worthy of structured investigation:

• Standardized treatment protocols combining LUCI Therapeutics topical formulations with near-infrared laser therapy.
• Quantitative assessment of skin elasticity, wrinkle depth, and dermal thickness.
• High-resolution before-and-after photography with blinded evaluator scoring.
• Thermal imaging and ultrasound correlation to document physiological tissue remodeling.
• Histological studies evaluating collagen organization and extracellular matrix remodeling.
• Prospective multi-site clinical trials comparing outcomes with established non-invasive skin tightening modalities.

The integration of these objective measurements would allow the TurkeyNeck Protocol to progress from promising clinical observation toward evidence-supported regenerative medicine.

Conclusion

Angela Wakefield's experience represents one of the earliest practitioner narratives documenting consistent improvements using the combined application of LUCI Therapeutics topical formulations and near-infrared laser therapy.

Her observations—including improvements in crepey skin, cervical skin tightening, wrinkle reduction, and upper facial lifting—provide encouraging preliminary evidence that deserves systematic scientific investigation. Equally important, her treatment philosophy reflects a broader shift within regenerative medicine: stimulating the body's intrinsic healing mechanisms rather than relying upon destructive intervention.

As additional photographic evidence, patient testimonials, imaging studies, and quantitative outcome data become available, the TurkeyNeck Protocol has the potential to emerge as a scientifically validated, non-invasive option for facial and cervical rejuvenation.

The work of Angela Wakefield and Recovery One therefore represents not simply a successful clinical application, but an important starting point in the evolving evidence base supporting regenerative aesthetics through the integration of biologically active topical therapy and photobiomodulation.