“After giving birth, a “tuft” appeared on the neck, where the back begins. It's been 7 months now, it's gotten bigger and looks ugly. Massage and exercise don't help. Is it possible to get rid of a hump without being noticed?
A hump on the neck, also called “widow’s hump” or “buffalo hump,” is a condition in which fat is deposited in the area of the VII vertebra on the border of the neck and back.
Despite their thinness, Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron have obvious problems at the base of their necks.
| Cameron Diaz | Charlize Theron |
Expert comment:
“People come to us at Platinental with complaints not only about aesthetics. The withers on the neck of women and men have an unpleasant feature - they constantly grow, harden and become painful. An impressive hump of fat on the neck limits neck mobility and forces you to keep your head down and slouch.
To support the head in a new position, the muscles of the neck and back are in constant tension, and exhausting pain appears in the shoulder area.
In serious cases, the fatty hump in the neck causes constant fatigue, lethargy and dizziness - excess fat doubles the vertebral artery, which supplies the brain.”
Salim Ragimov, plastic surgeon.
| Christina Aguilera | Mariah Carey |
Below we will tell you why this problem occurs, whether you can improve the situation yourself, and provide an overview of effective methods.
Causes of a hump on the neck
A hump on the neck develops for several unrelated reasons. Therefore, the means of influence and the effectiveness of their use vary greatly.
- excess body weight,
- hormonal imbalance.
- “buffalo hump” in men is the result of uneven accumulation of adipose tissue in the upper back due to lipodystrophy,
- metabolic disorders - for example, insufficiency of enzymes responsible for the metabolism of fats,
- taking toxic medications, such as protease inhibitors
- hormonal drugs for the treatment of arthritis and AS, Beclomethasone, Budesonide, Fluticasone, Hydrocortisone and others.
- the consequence of sedentary work is deformation of the cervical spine.
For example, after childbirth, the level of estrogen, which stimulates the breakdown of lipids, decreases. As a result, fat traps on our body, which include the area at the base of the neck, begin to accumulate fat.
“Widow’s hump” or “menopausal hump” in women after 45 years of age is also caused by a decrease in estrogen during menopause. Opsteoporosis, which develops against the background of menopause, also makes its contribution - the leaching of calcium leads to curvature of the neck and increases the severity of the hump.
The hump against the background of Itsenko-Cushing's disease also has a hormonal nature.
Diagram of the development of a “widow’s hump” on a woman’s neck
Diagnostic methods
As always, an appointment with an otolaryngologist begins with a visual examination. The doctor carefully palpates the formation on the neck and collects a detailed history based on complaints from the parents. To determine the nature of the lesion, blood flow and the exact size of the compaction, a number of instrumental and laboratory studies are carried out, including:
- Ultrasound, MRI and X-ray provide detail of soft tissues;
- biopsy followed by histological examination of the contents;
- laboratory blood tests.
As we mentioned earlier, consultation and additional examination may be required from specialists in other fields, for example in dentistry, endocrinology, oncology, dermatology. Based on the results of the examination, adequate treatment or dynamic observation will be prescribed.
How to get rid of the “hump” on the neck
There are several treatment methods, each with their own benefits, but they are effective under certain conditions.
Even before starting treatment, it is necessary to check and correct hormonal levels. Thus, for women during menopause, hormone replacement therapy has a very good effect.
Expert comment:
“Please do not start self-medication without consulting your doctor. Only he can determine the true cause of the problem.
If the root cause is curvature of the spine in the cervical region, you need an osteopath.
If medications are used, then without stopping them, even surgical methods do not help for long, and the fatty lump on the neck will appear again.
All my advice below will only help with the fatty nature of the hump and only for those who have taken control of its root cause.”
Maxim Vasiliev, plastic surgeon.
An osteopathic doctor will save you from widow's hump
An osteopath is not a massage therapist: he is a medical specialist with a higher education who approaches the issue of ailments in a comprehensive manner. Everything in the body is interconnected, and the cause of one or another “external” problem may be hidden, for example, in pathologies of internal organs, or in an imbalance of systems.
The effect of an osteopath is non-invasive, painless and relaxing.
How it will help:
- Relieves tension in the pericardial ligaments.
- Relaxes the diaphragm.
- Perform a lift of internal organs.
- Will return the vertebrae to their physiological positional state.
- Restores microcirculation in the affected area.
- Other.
And:
- will restore lightness to the body, balance individual systems of the body with each other.
How to remove “withers” on the neck at home
In the initial stage, when the “hump” has just appeared, you can try to remove it yourself. According to our observations, only weight loss works here: exercise + proper nutrition.
There are no special exercises that will help you get rid of the hump on the back of your neck. Only general weight loss with a load on all large muscle groups is effective.
Acceleration of metabolism is facilitated by:
- maximum mobility - we climb the stairs on foot, and not by elevator, we walk often and for a long time;
- maintaining the room temperature no higher than 22°C.
Try removing the withers on the neck with a massage. It increases blood circulation and eliminates congestion. But you can start it only after consulting a doctor.
Unfortunately, the fat hump is one of the “fat traps” of the body, which retain fat and volume even with significant overall weight loss. Therefore, against a formed hump on the neck, conservative methods - diet, gymnastics, orthopedic corsets, folk remedies and massage are not effective, and even physiotherapy helps only temporarily.
How to escape from widow's withers
The best way to get rid of it is to not let it appear. There are a number of preventive measures that will not only save you from fat deposits in the neck area, but will also keep your body in good shape, especially during menopause.
1. Choose a hard mattress for sleeping; do not skimp on a quality pillow. A hard bed promotes the adoption of a physiologically correct posture, thanks to which the spine does not deform. Select the pillow according to the following parameters: the width corresponds to the width of the shoulders, the height is no more than 10 cm, the best filling is environmental materials - bamboo, buckwheat husk.
2. Do gymnastics regularly - knead the area of your shoulders, neck, tilt your head left and right, in circular movements, try to reach your shoulder with your chin. You can get a fitness bracelet that will remind you to do a little warm-up, which is especially important for those who do sedentary work.
For example:
- lean your shoulder blades against the wall and begin to turn your head left and right, then tilt it left and right, 10–30 times, at first with a small amplitude, but gradually increasing it,
- do self-massage: place your palms on the problem area, stroke it from top to bottom 7-10 times, then rub it with your fingertips, fixating on the painful areas, then rub the withers from bottom to top with the edge of your palm, and then squeeze the tissues in the forearms and shoulders with your palms.
3. Eat right, don't starve, but give preference to healthy dishes, vegetables and fruits. Drink enough water.
4. Walk, play sports, lead an active lifestyle. Even a simple walk in the fresh air will do if you have neither the opportunity nor the desire to go to the gym. There are many activities for those who cannot exert themselves too much: Nordic walking, swimming pool, aerobics, dancing.
5. Use the services of massage therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths. There is no better way to prevent widow's hump than to trust your back to professionals from time to time.
How to get rid of the “withers” on the back of the neck using cosmetic products
Cryolipolysis.
A procedure in which the fat fold is vacuum drawn into a special attachment, where it is cooled. In just 40 minutes, low temperatures effectively destroy fat cells.
Shock wave therapy.
Low frequency sound accelerates the breakdown of fats. At the same time, it stimulates blood circulation and lymph flow, which promotes the removal of breakdown products and a quick effect.
Lipolitics.
These are fat-breaking drugs that the surgeon injects into problem areas with a syringe.
To remove the scruff of the neck in women and men without surgery, we at Platinental use the drug Aqualix, the effect of which is comparable to liposuction.
The drug is made on the basis of deoxycholic acid, which in composition and action resembles human bile and is absolutely safe when administered correctly. The result is noticeable within half an hour. Depending on the size of the fatty hump in the neck, 2 to 5 treatments of 10 minutes each may be required.
Treatment
Most lumps are removed through surgery. However, there are formations that are treatable.
For example, boils are treated with antimicrobial and disinfectant drugs.
If the doctor expresses concerns about the identified lump, then it is worth starting treatment as quickly as possible.
After all, benign tumors eventually develop into malignant tumors, the treatment of which takes much more effort, time and money.
Laser liposuction
The most effective way to quickly get rid of scruff on your neck. To remove the widow's hump on the neck with a laser, even endocrine disorders are not a contraindication if you follow the recommendations of your doctor and your hormones are compensated.
Through a 2-3 millimeter puncture, the doctor inserts a thin cannula with a light guide - a source of laser radiation, which destroys fat cells.
The main difficulty of the procedure is that the fat hump contains a large amount of dense fibrous tissue, which requires masterly skill from the surgeon.
Review:
“I got a hump with the onset of menopause. Everything I did - massages and rubbing, all to no avail. It got to the point where I kept wrapping myself in scarves and scarves.
I heard about Maxim Vasiliev, however, a friend had a different problem, and decided to have the hump surgically removed. The doctor approached the process with all seriousness and explained that the hump in my case would not go away on its own.
I had laser liposuction and forgot about my problem - the heaviness, stiffness and stooping went away. I feel rejuvenated!”
Maria, 53 years old.
Laser liposuction compares favorably with traditional liposuction. Firstly, minimal recovery time: when removing fat using the laser method, the likelihood of damage to blood vessels and nerve endings is practically eliminated. Secondly, laser technology allows you to work very delicately in the transition zones between the treated and untreated areas of the back - without the bumps and pits that are characteristic of classic liposuction.
The laser beam built into the cannula non-traumatically destroys fat and tightens the skin.
What formations hide danger?
The following types of neoplasms require urgent medical intervention:
- Atheroma is similar to a lipoma, but unlike it, it often becomes infected and turns red, and can also increase in size. It is this moment that poses a health hazard, since there is a danger of fistula formation and pus leaking into nearby tissues.
- A median cyst is a congenital benign round formation located on the front of the neck. Up to a certain point, it may not bother the child, but in 60% of cases it becomes inflamed with the formation of a fistula, causing pain and discomfort when swallowing. In addition, the cyst is prone to degeneration into cancer.
- Neurogenic tumors are formed at the ends of nerve trunks and represent a wide range of neoplasms. They can be safe, but malignant formations can also occur. Under no circumstances should they be left without the attention of a doctor.
- Lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's lymphoma) is cancer of the lymph nodes. The first symptom of this cancer is expressed in enlarged lymph nodes, but they do not hurt and slowly enlarge.
The otolaryngologist makes conclusions about the safety of formations only after conducting a comprehensive examination. It is impossible to do this on your own.
Associated problems of the patient.
With the appearance of papilloma, the neck may begin to itch very much. You should definitely inform your doctor about this, since injury to the affected area leads to complications. In such cases, individual antihistamine therapy is prescribed.
Rice. 4. Multiple papillomas on the neck.
Often, skin growths from constant exposure to external factors become inflamed and begin to hurt. Here it is necessary to prescribe the correct antibiotic therapy, both locally and internally.
