Is your smartphone making your neck sag? A group of conditions commonly known as “tech neck,” caused by hunching over a computer keyboard or cell phone, can certainly cause pain and posture problems, but did you know your cell phone habit may also cause premature aging of the neck, loose skin and sagging jowls? Dr. Peterson offers several procedures to reduce premature neck aging.
What Is Tech Neck?
There are a few conditions that may be referred to as tech neck. One type of tech neck refers to the muscle soreness and strain that develop in the neck, upper back and shoulders as a result of looking down at technological devices like cell phones and tablets.
Looking down at your phone also causes another kind of tech neck: the development of a horizontal crease or creases in the skin of the neck just above the collarbone. Constant scrolling, texting or snapping can make this crease permanent.
The skin of the neck is thinner than other body areas, so while your face may maintain a youthful appearance, checking your texts all the time is causing your neck to age early.
What Are the Treatments for Tech Neck?
Depending on the level of creasing or sagging of the skin of your neck, you have a few options.
If creasing is mild to moderate, you may benefit from dermal fillers like Juvederm to fill in any lines that have developed on your neck. Botox can also help keep neck creases away by paralyzing the muscle that allows your neck to hunch over.
If creasing and sagging are moderate to severe, you may want to consider a neck-lift procedure. The premise of the neck-lift is the same as that of the face-lift procedure: to tighten and remove excess skin on the neck for a more youthful appearance. The neck-lift procedure works for moderate to severe cases of sagging skin and jowls.
Can Tech Neck Be Prevented?
While we know you aren’t likely to give up selfies and Snapchat, you can prevent tech neck or stop your tech neck from getting worse by practicing good posture. Try to keep your head and neck in a straight line to avoid creasing and sagging skin.
Do you have tech neck, sagging neck skin or loose jowls? Call Dr. Peterson today at 785-234-9000 to discuss your options.
