Hot Girls Wearing Sweaters
Don’t let this modern version of ‘turkey neck’ drag you down
After 25 years of practicing cosmetic surgery on the face, I know that delicate necks are one of the first places we show signs of aging. The inevitable “turkey neck” comes for us all—only now it’s happening even earlier.
After seeing a huge influx in patients as young as 20 years old with acute neck-related muscle and pre-mature skin problems, my fellow health professionals coined the modern term “tech neck.”
While there are several culprits that contribute to a “turkey neck” such as lifestyle, genetics, and weight gain, some might be surprised to learn that staring down at devices for hours while typing, texting or reading from a variety of un-ergonomic positions can play a role as well. We’re all guilty of hyperextending our necks while texting and watching the tube or reading in the low-light and low angles of our beds.
The problem is this strain is causing real pain, not to mention unsightly early wrinkling in the collagen-light skin around the neck. In fact, tilting the neck down just 2 to 3 extra inches adds an additional 27 pounds of stress to the spine, while creating premature skin folds in the process.
A heads up for your neck
But don’t fret just yet; it’s never too late to start fighting the effects of too much technology time:
Go ergo: Make an effort to spend screen time in a more ergonomic position. Consider using a prop to create the optimal viewing angle.
Back sleep, please: When possible, sleep on your back with a rounded pillow, which lessens the strain on your neck region and facial skin.
Shun smokes & sun: Lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, avoiding significant weight gain/loss and staying out of the sun will help too.
Don’t neglect your neck: Apply daily sunscreen to the neck, an often-neglected area, to slow signs of aging due to UV exposure.
Skin repair care: Add to your skincare routine a physician-directed glycolic-acid lotion, preferably formulated specifically for the neck region.
Rejuvenate & refresh: Look into some temporary, non-surgical skin rejuvenation options to help tone the skin, but don’t expect a miracle. There’s no magic laser or pill yet proven to tighten neck skin like a surgical procedure.
Seamless surgery: Research the long-term reprieve a cheek and neck lift can provide. Smith Cosmetic Surgery’s mini facelift, or cheek and neck lift, can reverse accelerated signs of aging in the cheek, jowl and neck area.
Want to discuss surgical and non-surgical solutions? Give us a call at 303.741.2211 and I will guide you through your choices during a complimentary consultation.
