Tech Neck—What It Is and How to Treat It

Have you heard of a condition called “tech neck”? Is it really an issue felt by people all over the world? The answer is yes. Unfortunately, in this day and age of social media, phones, and tablets tech neck is indeed becoming more and more of a problem. People of all ages are developing neck and back problems and one of the main culprits is from the action of constantly looking down at our gadgets. This repetitive motion or inflection in the neck is not only causing medical problems but is cosmetically changing the way your neck looks.

Dr. Christopher Khorsandi is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Las Vegas and Chief Plastic Surgeon at VIP Plastic Surgery. Highly regarded as one of the top plastic surgeons in the area, Dr. Khorsandi is an experienced, qualified and caring plastic surgeon who puts his patients' concerns first so they can get the help they need. Tech neck is emerging as a real issue among men and women and is impacting the neck in a way that requires plastic surgery treatments to correct it.

If you are concerned about how your neck looks, Dr. Khorsandi can help. Here is some helpful information on what this new “tech neck” condition really is, how to prevent it, and what cosmetic solutions are available to treat it.

Feeling the pain of tech neck

It is very commonplace these days to see people constantly looking down at their electronic devices. Many of us do not realize how often we’re checking our phones, handheld device, or laptops until we start feeling pain in our neck. And now, in addition to the pain, people are starting to see more wrinkles in their necks as a result.

With more and more individuals looking down at their smartphones or tablets instead of holding their devices at chest level, it is causing more strain and stress on neck muscles. Even older adolescents and teenagers are having issues with their necks as a result of constantly staring down at their phones, tablets, and hand-held gaming devices. Your head weighs approximately 10-12 lbs., and when inflected or bent due to looking down it can feel like 40-60 lbs. for your neck. Our necks are designed to support the head and hold it upright. But when we spend extended amounts of time holding our heads at a 45-degree angle, it places an great deal of stress on this fragile area.

Tech neck and your skin

Medical professionals are not only seeing more patients with neck and back pain, but now plastic surgeons including Dr. Khorsandi at VIP Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, are seeing an influx of patients who worried about the appearance of the skin on their neck. Tech neck, also known as “text neck,” is caused by constantly keeping your neck tilted forward. As a result, men and women in the Las Vegas area are developing deep horizontal wrinkles or creases in the middle of their neck due to regularly looking down at tablets, phones, or other devices. If you bend your neck forward enough for prolonged amounts of time, you can start to develop more permanent wrinkles. What can you do to eliminate the appearance of tech neck and get your neck to looking more youthful again?

Cosmetic help to the rescue

The neck is a common area that shows signs of aging. In this new age of digital technology, the act of constantly looking down at your digital devices is causing the emergence of deep, horizontal lines or creases creeping in sooner rather than later. More women and men are turning to cosmetic solutions to help relieve the appearance of these dynamic wrinkles which have been coined as “tech neck”.

Noninvasive injectable help

BOTOX and dermal fillers are commonly used to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles. BOTOX can relax the neck muscles that are used in the repetitive motion of looking down in order to eliminate further wrinkles from forming, while dermal fillers can fill in the deep neck creases making them less noticeable. These noninvasive, injectable treatments are commonly used to temporarily eliminate the appearance of wrinkles on the forehead, eyes, or other target areas, but more plastic surgeons like Dr. Khorsandi are also using them to eliminate the appearance of tech neck.

Noninvasive skin tightening help

Excess, loose skin in the neck area can also become permanently creased with the repetitive motion of looking down at electronic devices. Noninvasive neck contouring options like Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling or MiniFX are new ways to further contour neck skin in order to eliminate deep creases or lines without the need for surgery.

• RF microneedling utilizes a laser and heat along with a tool containing tiny needles on the end that is rolled gently against the skin to puncture and create micro-injuries. In turn, this promotes the production of collagen deep in the skin layers to create a smoother, tighter surface.

• MiniFX is a new body contouring technique that uses radiofrequency energy and negative pressure with a MiniFX device to target underlying fatty tissue and tighten the skin in smaller areas like the neck.

Dr. Khorsandi offers a variety of innovative and exciting noninvasive skin treatment options to give patients a firmer, smoother looking neck and diminish the appearance of tech neck wrinkles without the need for surgery.

Neck lift

If an individual is dealing with a severe case of tech neck lines or wrinkles, the option of a neck lift may be a better solution than the noninvasive options. A neck lift, or platysmaplasty, is a surgical procedure that tightens the underlying neck muscles and removes loose skin in order to create a tighter, more wrinkle-free appearance. It can give patients definition in the jawline, a more youthful appearance, and remove deep lines and wrinkles. Dr. Khorsandi has helped countless patients with the amazing results of a neck lift and will determine if this surgical treatment is what you need for your tech neck issue.

Keeping your new results

Once you have decided to cosmetically tackle your tech neck, then you will want to maintain your beautiful results. In general, hunching over to look at your phone or tablet will eventually continue to cause neck and back problems as well as further cosmetic issues. Keeping a good posture and using all electronic devices at chest or eye level will help reduce the appearance of horizontal creases or lines in the neck area. Take frequent breaks from your devices, drink plenty of water to keep the skin on your neck hydrated, and even consider doing some neck stretching and strengthening exercises are all ways to help keep the tech neck issue at bay.

Dr. Christopher Khorsandi is one of the leading board-certified plastic surgeons in Las Vegas. Founder of VIP Plastic Surgery, he offers the latest technology and treatment options for men and women who are concerned with how their neck looks. Technology is an integral part of our lives, and the emergence of tech neck is a direct result. You can get treatment for those deep lines or wrinkles by considering one of the many options Dr. Khorsandi offers to treat tech neck. If you have wrinkles or just dislike how your neck looks, we invite you to call or schedule a consultation with Dr. Khorsandi. He can help you find the right cosmetic solution and get rid of your tech neck problem today!