An added bonus to singing correctly is that with regular practice your face will change shape for the better, which can only be a good thing as we age.
Raising the soft palate for a better sound and resonance will help lift the cheeks creating more definition. As you raise your soft palate feel the muscles that are being activated. They are very small ones and strengthening them will lift your face. Lifting your soft palate overcomes gravity that is pulling it down.
The joint that connects your upper jaw to your skull is a cartilage joint. Cartilage looses elasticity and so shrinks with age – this can result in your upper jaw receding. As you practice keeping your tongue up against the roof of your mouth you physically push your upper jaw forward counteracting the shrinking effect. This creates a more youthful, lifted appearance.
Keeping the tongue up and forward, whilst also practising tongue twisters will prevent the tongue from dropping back and down into the throat (where it attaches) and thus helps prevent a double chin. As an added bonus keeping your tongue agile and strong will keep your voice sounding more youthful. The tongue is a relatively big muscle and also looses elasticity with age and will fall back and down into the mouth cavity.
Genuinely smiling helps lift the face as so many muscles are involved in a smile. Focus on the difference you feel in your face with a fake smile versus a genuine smile. Or think of a naughty secret which also has the same effect on the face. What do you feel when you think of it?
Not a face lift, but supporting by pulling in your abs, after you have first done a good SPLAT to release any tension before you breathe in, will help keep your abdomen slimmer. Never push your belly out when breathing or singing or doing anything. SPLAT serves to relax the belly not push it out.
Exercise
Learn to become aware of what is happening in your face as you raise your soft palate, lift your tongue and smile.
