How to Tighten and Firm Sagging Jowls
Loss of volume in the lower face is a common concern that many men and women experience as we age. It occurs due to the fat around the jaw going south with the years and gathering beneath the jawline, and is further amplified by the way the neck muscles weaken and sag. Not only does a defined jawline convey youthfulness, but it also forms the scaffolding of the entire face. Ensuring that the area is kept firm can help the skin remain taut and lifted for longer and keep jowls at bay.
Fortunately, there is a range of different options for treating and preventing sagging jowls and double chins, and they can all be done in a lunch hour with minimal downtime.
What causes jowls?
Jowls develop as the skin loses collagen and elastin with age. It’s these proteins that keep the skin firm and taut, so when they break down it can result in lines and wrinkles and cause the skin to give in to the gravitational pull and to sag downwards. Another major contributor to jowls is the loss of fat pads. Like many other aspects of ageing, this one creeps up on you gradually when the fat pads that fill out the face and give it its shape begin to shrink and drift south from their original moorings, leading to a jowly jaw.
Tied into this are factors such as our genetics, BMI and lifestyle. Some people will suffer from collagen and elastin depletion earlier than others, and if you’re overweight, your chances of forming jowls and a double chin will rapidly rise.
What can non-surgical treatments do?
There are four key ways to tackle jowls and fat under the chin: you can have it frozen with CoolSculpting, a procedure that destroys around 20-30 per cent of the fat in the treated area. You can have it injected with a substance that dissolves the fat. You can have dermal fillers to add structure and definition to the face, or it can be targeted with microneedling radiofrequency technology to blast fat cells and tighten the skin.
CoolSculpting
As far as jowls go, CoolSculpting won’t help them, but it will get rid of or reduce a double chin. CoolSculpting uses targeted cold therapy to freeze fat cells to -11 degrees C, at which point they will die and break up before being naturally disposed of by the body. While the procedure won’t eliminate jowls, it can be combined with another non-surgical treatment such as Profound RF to produce a beautifully sculpted result on the lower face.
Belkyra
Belkyra is an injectable treatment that, when injected into fatty tissues, physically destroys the fat cells for a smoother and more refined appearance. Again, this won’t affect the jowls themselves, but it’s an excellent option for anyone with a significant amount of fat under their chin. It can then be combined with a skin tightening procedure to lift and contour the jawline as a whole.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are commonly used to rebuild volume and definition in areas of the face, such as the cheeks. When placed strategically, they can also help elevate the skin and lessen the appearance of jowls.
Profound RF
The Profound RF combines microneedling and radiofrequency technologies to give a long-term lifting effect through all layers of the skin, from the lowest right up to the surface, making it an excellent solution for drooping jowls.
Microneedling creates minuscule injuries to the skin, simulating a natural healing response of new collagen and elastin fibres that tighten, smooth and resurface the skin. It also delivers targeted fractional radiofrequency deep into the dermis, which provides a powerful skin tightening effect.
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
