The platysma is a broad subcutaneous sheet covering the anterior neck. Its SMAS connections to the facial musculature make it the key structure in lower facial and neck rejuvenation surgery.
| Origin | Fascia over the pectoralis major and deltoid — subcutaneous layer |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Mandibular border and skin of the lower face — blending with perioral muscles |
| Nerve Supply | Facial nerve — cervical branch (VII) |
| Blood Supply | Submental and suprascapular arteries |
| Actions | Depresses the mandible and lower lip; Tenses the neck skin — produces vertical platysmal bands; Draws the lower facial skin inferiorly |
|---|
Platysma banding (visible vertical cords in the anterior neck) occurs with ageing as the medial platysma edges separate. Platysmaplasty (platysma corset) is performed during facelift to address the anterior neck bands. The platysma is the critical layer in cervical flap elevation during neck dissection — the plane between platysma and fascia colli is the correct surgical plane.
Visible as vertical neck bands during neck tension or teeth clenching — platysmal banding.
Medial platysma edge separation producing visible vertical anterior neck bands, addressed by platysmaplasty corset sutures during rhytidectomy.
