Do you have a double chin? A weak chin? Do you have sagging skin at the front of the throat and under the jaw? Are the sides of your face puffy? Would you like to change this appearance? You can. Let’s find out the causes of this physical problem, and then ways to improve the saggy appearance of our jaw, chin and the area of our throat.
Our face display’s our emotions. If something is not going well for us, we may try to hide our feelings with a neutral face or a forced smile. Our chin is often made to appear stronger when we smile, but this is most likely to occur when one’s posture is normal and things are going OK. Usually under unhappy conditions, our chin recedes and appears weak. Over time the receding chin stays “pulled back.” Often the result is a double chin or saggy skin in the area around the throat. But that’s OK because with a little effort we can change this appearance. We need to continue to find out how and why our chin receded, then we’ll discover ways to fix it.
There are other places on our bodies where we were caused to improperly adjust our features and posture. For example, when we were subjected to negative issues over a period of time, we became uninspired and our spine weakened, our chest became lowered and shallow. We then learned not to take pride in our appearance and things went downhill from there. When this happens, gravity takes over and our neck and head becomes positioned “too far forward”. There are several reasons, besides gravity, for this “too far forward” head and neck position. When we are told we are not adequate, we overcompensate by putting our heads too far forward. This to accommodate the person with those unreasonable demands. Also our chest recedes, becoming somewhat concave, allowing gravity to work against us. All these improper adjustments cause many problems for our chin and over time create a double chin and saggy skin in that area. All is not lost though. We can change our posture so that our chin can appear stronger. Before we do, we have to continue to read up on what other issues caused our receded chin so we know exactly what to do to change for the better.
Anatomically the receded chest and sternum (the vertical bone in front of the chest) will logically cause the chin to also recede. How does this happen? The major part of the problem are the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles. They are the muscles that are attached from the back of the head, that travel along the throat, and attach themselves to the clavicles, sternum and upper ribs. These muscles are stretched at an improper angle. Somewhat stretched neck muscles would be OK if our head was properly balanced above a vertical spine. However, when the ribs of a shallow and lowered chest are pulling down on these muscles, fat builds up and the skin of the underlining the area of the jaw becomes saggy. The stretched neck muscles in this instance do us harm. Factor in that the head is also pulled down and and too far forward, and we have a problem.
We’ll get to the good part about “changing for the better” soon. It’s good that we read about the problem so we know what to change. Naturally the chin recedes as it too is pulled back and down by the neck muscles. The skin at the front of the throat and under the jaw loses its sharp, 90 degree definition. When viewed from the side, an angle from 10 to 45 degrees forms as the skin sags from the bottom of the chin to midway up the throat. In this area muscles sag, fat finds a home, and the skin folds over onto itself. Of course, the preferred appearance of the skin surrounding the lower jaw is horizontal, parallel to the ground. It is also preferred that the skin in front of the throat appears more vertical and that the whole area portrays a smooth skin.
Did you know a saggy appearance in area around the throat and jaw can be reversed? It certainly can when the skin reconnects and adapts to the under laying features of your face, throat. jaw and chin. This is allowed to happen when we alter the positioning of our head. You change the position of the bones, ligaments, muscles, i.e. your posture. You didn’t know to do this yet? That’s OK because there are many forums and websites that take you step by step, on a process so that you may change for the better. Try Backinsight.com for one.
A key way to change posture is by changing the point at where your head is balanced to where it is at the very top of your spine. When you turn your head, do so at the top of the spine with little neck movement. Do not turn your head with your neck at the C7 vertebra, the big one at the top of the shoulders. Turning your neck with your head is using the wrong muscles as well as appearing unsophisticated.
You may say that “my head is too far forward for me to balance my head properly,” and you are likely correct. Always remember,lengthen your spine and naturally your back will be more erect and more vertical. Once you have adjusted your spine, align your neck with your spine. This will provide an opportunity for your head to sit balanced on top your spine, more rearward than it has been in the past. Now notice how your neck muscles are positioned to stretch and pull up the upper ribs and chest. This shortens and properly removes the gawky appearance of the neck. Jut out your chin and you’ll see that much of the sag under the jaw is removed. Now you are ready to walk correctly, sit well, have poise, and up for being “a part of it all.”
This newly aligned posture changes the appearance of a slack, “double chin.” The gangly neck becomes more vertical and normal appearing. A stronger chin and vertical throat can appear immediately with a posture change, but usually it takes a while for you to adjust to this appearance. Remember, it took you years to acquire the poor posture which created your loose skin under your receding chin. It may take several months at least, for you to become accustomed to your chin and throat’s normal, sleek, and well toned appearance. It takes some practice to maintain a new posture. You actually must get use to this new “poise.” Once you feel comfortable with new grace and poise, your chin can adjust naturally to its stronger and more defined shape. The key is lengthening the spine, aligning the neck to your more vertical spine, balance the head a top the more posture correct shoulders, then “jut out” the chin. Breathe through the nose. It helps to keep a quiet smile during this “change for the better.” All of these movements are to be done subtly. You can make these changes without gaining the attention of others, which is preferred. All part of the process to change for the better.
With one’s head allowed to be pulled back to a balanced position on top of well positioned shoulders, the chin may still recede somewhat. You must allow the chin to do something remarkable. Instead of the chin moving back with the head, it actually is compelled to move forward (with a little help by relaxing the jaw muscles) creating the preferred strong and jutted chin. It naturally moves forward in order to balance the more rear positioned back of the head. This of course is desirable because the sinuses are more open and breathing improves, you think more clearly, and because your head is balanced, the neck muscles are not over working.
In terms of the appearance of the skin under the chin and in front of the throat, the skin is not stretched at an angle as it was. With better posture the skin is instead allowed of restore itself into its proper position. The stretched muscles and fat that filed the area created by bad jaw posture are gone or will soon be. In time, the loose skin will seek it’s natural, proper and toned appearance. In time, it will “cling” to the front of the throat and under the jaw. A sharper definition is restored.
Better posture allows for properly positioned muscles in the area between the chin and sternum. Muscles that are positioned where they ought to be, perform better. Each time you swallow, talk, sing, chew food, etc, the muscles of the throat and under the jaw in time pull the associated skin back to its proper position. This happens even if you are older. Furthermore, the cheeks and sinus bones can expand with better breathing and because of a better posture. Better breathing increases one’s chest size and lifts the chest. With a balanced head and better posture you acquire better toned facial muscles around the mouth and cheeks. Your jowl muscles around the sides of your jaw are properly used, stretched, and then become more streamlined.
All or these muscles are working to pull the skin in area in front of the throat and under the jaw into its proper position. Furthermore, with a more jutted chin that is positioned properly, more toward the front of the face and further from the throat, the skin in this area is stretched, or shall we say repositioned as it would be normally. This reduces the flabbiness and creates a more toned and youthful appearance.
You don’t need to visit a doctor for this. Besides, if you do this by yourself, the muscles that could help return your skin to its proper appearance are not severed by a scalpel. And you have the added gratification that you did it yourself.
To correct your double chin and saggy skin in the area around the throat and jaw, keep practicing these movements and adjustments until they become “set.” With a strong chin leading the way you’ll find life keeps getting better.
