Back to Dr. Eric Berg DC

The #1 Exercise to Lift a Sagging Face & Turkey Neck

Dr. Eric Berg DCApril 11, 20267m
In a Nutshell

Faces age fastest due to cortisol from negative emotions weakening the platysma muscle, causing turkey neck and sagging—counter it with motion, walking, and avoiding stretches. Perform explosive platysma impulses (10-15 fast reps, 3 sets) under the chin to tighten it. Do jaw opening against chin resistance (10 reps x3) and forward jaw jut (10 reps x3) a few times weekly to strengthen jaw muscles, fascia, and bone structure for a lifted face.

AI-Generated Notes

These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.

If you've noticed your face is kind of falling or drooping, especially in the lower part, this video shows two simple exercises that will be a game-changer. These are not typical stretches. Do not do stretches for this. Bad lighting in mirrors or selfies can exaggerate neck appearance, but it often has nothing to do with gaining weight.

Expensive serums and creams do not work. The face is not just a layer of skin on muscles; it has a layer of fascia (connective tissue) underneath, and the bone underneath reshapes as we age. This video explains what's involved, how to slow it down, and maybe reverse some of it.

Out of all body parts, faces age first because it is a highly sensory organ with highly concentrated hormone receptors, mainly for emotions. You notice emotions on the face more than any other body part.

Negative Emotions and Cortisol

Negative emotions—anger, hostility, fear, grief, depression—affect facial structures, muscles, and connective tissue due to the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol destroys and ages the face, causing cortisol face (accumulation of fat in the face). The speaker had this from taking cortisol yearly in their 20s. Accumulation of negative emotions wears down facial structures, especially with age.

The muscle most affected is the platysma, from collarbone to jawline. When loose, it hangs, creating turkey neck. It is almost entirely fast-twitch fibers for explosive movements like smiling, gasping, talking. Never do sustained hold stretches on neck muscles; use explosive exercises instead.

Cortisol is an enemy to the face, especially in lower emotions. Do not just pretend you're not stressed; use motion, exercise, and walking to burn off excess cortisol from mental stress (the main activator). Pair mental stress with physical walking as the antidote.

Supplements: Search Amazon for "Dr. Berg supplements." Hyaluronic acid increases skin hydration but only superficially; it does not address root causes like muscles or bones.

Two exercises: one for the platysma muscle underneath the chin, the other to strengthen muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, and fascia around the lower face using the jaw muscle.

Modern soft foods mean we underuse jaw muscles. In the past, chewing grass-fed, grass-finished meats built facial structure. These exercises mimic that to strengthen face muscles and restructure underneath the skin for a younger look.

First exercise for platysma: Explosive impulses underneath the chin, 10-15 reps fast with rests in between, three sets several times a week. Muscles will tire and get sore, but it tightens structures under jawline and around jaw.

Second exercise for jaw muscles: Hold chin, open mouth against resistance (reverses contraction flow). Do 10 reps, three times, spaced by 30 seconds, a few times a week. Activates muscles, ligaments, tendons to help bone structure and defining muscles.

Third exercise for jaw: Jut lower jaw forward (different muscles pull bottom jaw forward). Do 10 reps, three times with 30-second breaks, a few times a week.

Rarely does anyone work facial muscles. Do these exercises and comment in 1-2 weeks on results. Check video on getting rid of cellulite.

Keep Dr. Eric Berg DC in your library

Save the videos and channels worth coming back to, and find them again in one place.