Wrinkle-faced smartphoners demand 'BlackBerry Botox'

Those of you who feel in need of a further bit of evidence that western society is going to frikkin' hell in a handcart are directed to the shock revelation that "young women are developing premature wrinkles from staring at their smartphones all day".

That's according to Botoxmonger to the rich and famous, Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh, who reckons that excessive scrunching of the face is to blame for a rise in desperate women seeking "BlackBerry Botox".

Speaking from his facial paralysis HQ in London's Wimpole Street, Sebagh explained to the Evening Standard: "This phenomenon is not unusual with women living in London and the South-East. It can be seen on anyone who has and regularly checks a BlackBerry or iPhone.

"The natural tendency is to squint at the screen when reading messages and as a result some people develop this area of tightness/small frown lines between the brows, which is easily rectified with the light use of Botox by an experienced doctor."

In case you're thinking Sebagh - whose clients include Cindy Crowsfeet Crawford - has invented this very 21st-century phenomenon to drum up trade, think again.

London beauty therapist Nichola Joss told the Standard she too was aware of the rise of smartphone scrunch. She said: "I've noticed a huge difference over the past 18 months in my clients' faces - it's the constant peering intently down at that mini screen. It's the same with an iPhone."

However, Joss says a daily DIY face massage is the solution, rather than Botox.

The Standard concludes by mentioning BlackBerry thumb, "a form of repetitive strain injury caused by excessive texting", but fails to recommend an expensive private medical cure for the problem. ®