A dramatic upswing in using electronic devices in recent times has caused Tech Neck to develop exponentially across the world — a condition where stressing the neck muscles, while hunched over an electronic device for prolonged periods of time, causes neck and shoulder pain and strain and the premature development of horizontal lines and grooves on the neck.
Horizontal neck lines naturally develop from factors such as genetics, the loss of collagen and elastin due to aging, constant neck movement, and sun damage. Yet, skyrocketing cell-phone usage across the world has caused a phenomenon of more and more people, at younger and younger ages, prematurely developing horizontal wrinkles in the neck.
Dr. Hamilton has created Horizontal Neck Line Correction, a customized treatment plan for her patients that takes into account the patient’s anatomy, neck and skin condition, and aesthetic goals to erase or minimize horizontal neck lines. For individuals displaying horizontal neck lines — without vertical neck banding or skin laxity — Dr. Hamilton injects dilute Hyaluronic-acid based dermal fillers to gently plump and erase those lines. The treatment is often coupled with neurotoxin injections (such as BOTOX® Cosmetic) to the platysma to address vertical neck lines accentuated by grimacing (see “Nefertiti Lift”). Finally, laser resurfacing or radiofrequency microneedling treatment can be employed to tighten the skin and diminish neck skin looseness, which is an inherent cause of the horizontal neck lines. Once significant neck banding is present, Dr. Hamilton will counsel patients to consider a surgical necklift to better address these concerns.