You can utilize facial exercises to combat a sagging chin. You may even develop a narrower face and achieve the appearance of weight loss. Simple facial exercises don't take much time, but they do firm your jaw line, tighten neck skin and tone areas where jowls tend to develop, advises Carole Maggio, the author of "Carole Maggio Facercise."
Turkey Neck Exercise
To perform the turkey neck exercise, raise your lower lip, so the skin on your chin is wrinkled. Hold this position for about a second. Next, drop your chin down with an open mouth. Hold this position for another second. Keep your head still throughout the exercise. Perform 10 to 12 repetitions. Rest, and do two more sets. You should feel the muscles along the front of your neck working, as well as your chin muscle. This exercise is a good way to avoid "turkey-neck syndrome," advises Thomas V. Hagerty of the Shape Your Face website.
Neck Stretch
For the neck stretch, put your lower lip along your top lip. Keep it there as you inhale via your nose, and gently raise your head and chin. Stop when you're looking directly overhead. Hold this position, as well as your breath, for a couple of seconds. You'll feel the front of your neck stretch. Exhale via your nose, and slowly lower your head. Begin with three to four repetitions, and work up to 15 sets, three times per day, recommends Chinese medicine practitioner Matthew Scott of Australia on the website Chinese Holistic Health Exercises.
Side Stretch
To perform the side stretch, put your lower lip along your top lip. Keep it there as you inhale via your nose, and turn your head, so you're looking over one shoulder. Lower your head, so your chin touches the shoulder. You'll feel the side of your neck stretch as you do this. Don't lift or turn your shoulders. Hold this position for two seconds, and then drop your head toward your chest. Continue moving your head, until you face front again. Repeat on the other side. Start with three to four repetitions, and work up to 15 repetitions, three times a day, advises Scott.
Chin Firmer
For the chin firmer, tilt your head back, and press your tongue firmly into the roof of your mouth. This will tighten the muscles along the front of your neck. Bring your chin toward your neck. Continue to hold your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Release, and repeat. This exercise will firm the front area of your neck, where aging leaves its initial mark, explains Hagerty.
Chin Ups
You can do "chin ups" to exercise your neck. Hold your palms facing each other, and bend your fingers at 90-degree angles. Overlap your fingers, so they look like a "hand table." Hold your table under your chin. Extend your lower jaw as you smile wide. Push your tongue to the top of your mouth, then curl it, so the tongue's bottom touches the roof of your mouth. Open your mouth, using your hand table for resistance. Next, push up with your table, and resist this movement with your jaw. Continue these resistance exercises, holding each position for about five seconds, until you feel a burn in your muscles, advises Lea Eigard on TheEigardMethod.com.
Member Comments