Do platysma muscles get worse (more prominent) from weight lifting?

The platysma muscle is a thin sheet of muscle that helps with facial expression.  It is well accepted that the platysma muscle becomes loose with age.  Weight lifting can tense the platysma muscle and may cause banding with straining.  In addition, fluctuations in weight (for example, with increased exercise) can make the platysmal bands more noticeable.  The sternocleidomastoid muscle has a different action; it contributes to rotating the head.  It is possible that different exercises can build the sternocleidomastoid muscles.

The neck muscles are more promienent with age and weight loss, not from lifitng itself.  but if you go up and down in weight you may see them more.  botox and surgery are the treatment options. sometimes threads can help.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Hi and thank you for your question! We do a lot of neuromoduolator (Botox or Dysport) in the neck area to help tighten, lift and contour the neck and jawline, as well as making these bands much less noticeable. I do have several patients tell me they feel they become more prominent with aggressive weight lifting. Come in for a complementary consultation and get treated by one of our providers (NP or PA's) who specialize in this! Best, Dr. Grant Stevens

The platysma muscle can become more prominent if during weight lifting, you are straining your neck.  This also applies to sit ups and any other repeated strenuous facial and neck exercises that cause the bands to contract.  We will, in fact, often inject Botox into the platysma muscle to relax it and give a sort of instant neck lift.  Patients often ask about facial exercises and keeping their facial muscles tight.  There are a few yoga exercises for the face which are fine, but unlike skeletal muscle on your body, I don't recommend strenuous exercise of your facial muscles as it can lead to more wrinkles with time.  Weight loss can also make the platysma more prominent.  Botox, Ultherapy, ThermiRF, Exilis Ultra can all help with bands.