How Botox and Fillers Address Tech Neck in 2024
In today's fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves spending countless hours each day hunched over our computers, tablets, or smartphones, whether for work, school, or social media. This modern lifestyle not only leads to common physical complaints like backaches, neck pain, and eye fatigue but also contributes to a less talked about issue: tech neck.
Tech neck refers to the symptoms affecting the neck area due to prolonged downward head positioning. This condition often results in upper spine pain, along with fine lines and wrinkles that extend from the neck to the chest area. These deep creases have become a significant skin concern over the past decade, affecting not just individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are losing collagen, but also teenagers and those in their twenties. Experts like Dr. Dara Liotta, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, attribute this to our digital age. As Dr. Liotta explains to Ruli, "When people talk about tech neck, they’re referring to the horizontal neck lines or creases that arise from looking down at devices every day."
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, further notes that he frequently sees tech neck in younger patients with healthy skin, indicating that it’s not solely an aging issue. This observation makes sense given how much time millennials and Gen Zers spend on their smartphones and other devices like iPads, Kindles, and handheld video games. For those seeking solutions, Botox and fillers stand out as the primary temporary options. Both treatments effectively reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and offer non-invasive alternatives to plastic surgery.
While both Botox and fillers aim to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, their mechanisms are quite different. "Neurotoxins such as Dysport or Botox act on the muscles beneath the skin by preventing your body from signaling the muscles to contract," explains Dr. Zeichner. "This impedes the overlying skin from folding and thereby can enhance the appearance of wrinkles." In contrast, fillers, which are hyaluronic acid-based injectable products, directly plump the skin to fill in wrinkles. Common fillers include Juvéderm and Restylane.
Dr. Zeichner uses an analogy to illustrate the difference: "Imagine Botox like unfolding a tablecloth to blow in the wind… if the folds are not deep, they will disappear on their own, but in some cases, you might need an iron to completely eliminate them." Here, the "iron" represents the filler used to directly address individual neck lines.
Another key difference is the time it takes to see results. Botox typically shows effects within five to seven days, while fillers offer immediate results. Additionally, Botox injections usually last three to four months, whereas neck fillers can remain effective for up to a year, depending on the individual's metabolism, according to Dr. Lara Devgan, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
Regarding discomfort and recovery, both types of injections may cause slight discomfort, but pretreatment with numbing cream significantly reduces this. There is minimal to no recovery time for either procedure, though occasional bruising can occur, which may take up to two weeks to heal.
Cost varies based on location, the practitioner, and the number of units used. Ruli users report an average cost of $550 per Botox session and $1,025 per filler session. However, Dr. Devgan notes that the cost differences are negligible considering the need for regular maintenance: Botox every three to four months versus filler every six to twelve months.
Both Botox and fillers can effectively treat tech neck. For instance, Botox can be used on the front edges of the platysma, the two muscle bands of the neck, to relax the front of the muscle, thereby tightening the neck's appearance. This procedure is often referred to as a Botox neck lift or Nefertiti neck lift. Fillers, on the other hand, plump and add volume to lines and neck wrinkles, making them appear smoother and less prominent.
Dr. Devgan suggests that a combination of both treatments can be highly effective for tech neck lines. "Placing Botox in the platysma muscle helps to soften the neck bands, while filler, carefully placed in the lines, helps make them less noticeable," she explains.
Determining the right treatment depends on the severity of the lines. Patients with deeper lines are better candidates for filler, while those with more superficial lines or seeking slight tightening should opt for neck Botox. "For younger patients with less pronounced lines, I typically find that Botox is sufficient to address the issue," says Dr. Zeichner. "I tend to use fillers for more severe lines and in older patients with weaker neck skin or in people whose lines are too deeply etched into the skin for Botox to assist," he adds.
Ultimately, consulting a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon is crucial. They will conduct an in-person examination and tailor a treatment plan based on your specific concerns. "The neck is a very complex area, so an in-person examination with a board-certified physician with extensive experience injecting the neck is truly necessary to determine the correct treatment or combination of treatments for each individual patient," advises Dr. Liotta. Other procedures, such as microneedling and a good skincare routine, can also significantly improve the texture and tone of your neck skin.
In conclusion, if you're considering Botox or fillers to treat tech neck, it's essential to consult a professional injector to develop a plan that addresses your specific skin goals.
