We know this isn’t something many people want to read, but we feel it is our responsibility to spread awareness about “smartphone face.” You may think we’ve made this up, but it’s something the cosmetic industry has identified as a true issue for people.
What Is “Smartphone Face”?
Dr. Merry Patterson, a cosmetic surgeon in the UK, was the first one to describe the effects smartphones can have on the face.
- Sagging jowls
- Double chin
- Marionette lines
As published in the London Evening Standard, “If you sit for hours with your head bent slightly forward, staring at your iPhone or laptop screen, you may shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jowl area, leading to a drooping jawline.”
Dr. Patterson isn’t the only one who is warning people about the effects smartphones have on the face, Dr. Kiran Lohia, American Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director of Lumiere Dermatology, agrees. She says, “Smartphone face is a rapid sagging of the face, caused by your smartphone. Interestingly, the smartphone face has nothing to do with radiation. It occurs because of posture. With the advent of smartphones, people keep their heads bent down and forward for hours to look at their phones and tablets.”
She confirms what Dr. Patterson discussed in his interview by pointing out, “Your collagen weakens because it is constantly being stretched, and you start to get literally ‘pulled down’. Ultimately, this results in sagging skin, double chins, nasolabial folds, marionette folds, and loose jowls.”
What to Do About Smartphone Face
Let’s be realistic here, no one is going to give up their phone to prevent face sagging. The next best thing is to pay attention to your posture when using a phone or tablet. Sit up straight and raise the phone/tablet to eye level, which will prevent you from looking down and gravity pulling your face down with it.
If “smartphone face” has already wreaked havoc on your face, facial fillers can help repair the damage. Fillers can add volume to the face to help lift certain areas such as the cheeks, nasolabial area, and jowls. Fillers can also add volume to fill in deep creases and wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds and marionette folds that Dr. Lohia identified.
Kybella is an FDA-approved treatment for a double chin, so if genetics, weight gain/loss, or your smartphone have caused a second chin, consider this injectable to eliminate it.
Fillers and Kybella Treatment in Manhattan and Long Island
James Christian Sardelli, RPA-C is an experienced injector who can help you correct the effects of aging (and “smartphone face”). Text or call our 24/7 Cosmetic Concierge line at 917-860-3113.
Appointments are available at our offices, which are conveniently located throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties including in Manhattan, Commack, Islip, Westhampton Beach, and Rockville Centre.
*Kybella® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.
*Information in this article is not medical advice and may not be factually accurate. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult with a physician before attempting any tips in this blog post and to get the most up to date factual data about any procedure or treatment.
