Platysma bands are the vertical cords that appear in the neck as one of the first signs of aging. What causes platysma bands is still a topic for research. Some studies suggest that platysma bands are the result of sagging skin and a loss of muscle tone, and so treatment should focus on tightening the skin and muscle.
Platysmal bands are caused by aging and thickening of two edges of the neck muscles. There are many causes, including age, genetics, and muscle activity. The neck also has a much thinner layer of skin than the face. Treatment options are available, ranging from noninvasive cosmetic procedures to surgery.
Two of the most effective ways to treat noticeable neck bands are with facelift surgery and Botox injections.
The platysmal bands are the two muscles that are located on both sides of your neck. Since the neck has a much thinner layer of skin than the face and the skin around your neck naturally loses fat deposits and collagen as you get older, these muscles usually become increasingly visible over time.
Neck cords are caused by the involuntary movement of muscles controlled by motor nerves. BOTOX Cosmetic® and other neurotoxins temporarily inhibit the signal transmission from these motor nerves to the muscles. These chemical neuromodulators usually work for 3-4 months before another treatment is necessary.
Neck bands, also called platysma bands, are a consequence of the aging neck. In youth, the flat muscle that surrounds the front of the neck is called the platysma muscle. As we age, the muscle in the front pulls apart, called diastasis and rolls up into bands.
BOTOX is a nonsurgical option that can be used to treat platysma bands. Your doctor will apply small amounts of BOTOX in the band to relax the muscle. This improves the appearance of the platysma band with minimal downtime, but it is not permanent. Patients will need regular BOTOX treatments.
When injected into the vertical bands of the neck, Botox can relax the dynamic muscles, making them less prominent, and resulting in a smoother, younger looking neck. The results can generally last 4-6 months. The procedure, as with any Botox treatment, can be repeated when the results begin to wear off.
Platysma exercise can help tighten this loose skin and the muscles underneath to minimize the appearance of your double chin. These double chin exercises are designed to firm the neck and jaw, and the area just beneath your chin. For best results, do these exercises several times per day.
Injury of the Facial Nerve
Asymmetry of the smile results from an impaired ability to depress the lower lip. Paralysis of the cervical branch leads to the flaccidity of the platysma muscle and the attendant inability to depress the corner of the mouth.
The ends of the steel wire are attached to a small instrument called the platysmotome. When the loop is pulled by way of a surgical maneuver, it cuts the platysma band before resurfacing.
Neck bands are generally a result of natural aging, but they can be prominent in young people. They can increase the appearance of sagging or crepey skin in the neck, and may contribute to a loss of contour underneath the jawline.
Treatment. Trigger points (TrPs) in the platysma can result from or aggravated by acute or chronic overuse of the muscles, for example repeated expressions of disgust or horror, and TrPs in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalene muscles. TrPs in platysma may create a prickly pain over the mandible.
The platysma is a superficial muscle found in the neck. It covers most of the anterior and lateral aspect of the neck. The platysma is a broad muscle which arises from the fascia that covers the upper segments of the deltoid and pectoralis muscles.
Self-massage of the Platysma
Grasp the muscle as described in the chapter Palpation. Roll it between your fingers and seek for painful tensions. Once you find one, roll it a few times between your fingers. Trigger points are located mainly in the middle of the lateral neck and at the bottom of the collarbone.
Platysmaplasty is a rejuvenation procedure performed to increase the definition of the neck from the angle of the jaw down to the chin, thereby restoring a youthful and aesthetic contour to the face.
Use your tongue to help strengthen your platysma muscle. Sit up straight and open your mouth as far as you can, without discomfort. Stick your tongue out, then reach it down toward your chin. Hold for three to five seconds, then relax.
The platysma is a thin sheet-like muscle that lies superficially within the anterior aspect of the neck. It arises in the upper thoracic and shoulder regions from a fascia that covers the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles.
Simply suck in your cheeks and lips as we use to do as kids and form a fish face, now try smiling, hold the posture for five seconds, you will feel the burn in your cheeks and jaws. Now relax and again repeat it 15 to 20 times at a stretch for best results.