Will cheek fillers help lift sagging jowls?
Losing definition around our jawline is a common concern as we age. First, the supportive compounds that keep our faces looking sculpted, like collagen and elastin, begin to diminish and then our fat pads – the plump little cushions that help give our face its shape – thin out and slide south. The bones in our face that form the structural foundation upon which muscle, fat, and skin rest begin to recede, contributing to overall laxity and sag. And, over time, this manifests at the bottom of your face, in the form of jowls.
Thankfully, there is a lot that we can do to change the appearance of our jaw – discreet yet highly effective tweakments that can be utilised to a significant effect on the area. One of these is cheek filler – a solution that is surprising to many since the area is seemingly nowhere near the lower face. But the key is restoring the natural bone structure of the face. Read on to find out whether it’s the right treatment for you.
What causes jowls?
Jowls often develop with age and are caused by three main factors: loss of facial volume, loosening of the skin and laxity of facial ligaments. These factors result in the skin from the mid-face (cheeks) dropping down and forming nasolabial folds, marionette lines and jowls. Our skin also tends to become drier and thinner, making it less resilient and more vulnerable to the effects of gravity. Sagging skin can therefore develop around the chin and jawline, creating a jowl-like appearance that ages our overall look. With this is mind, the main principles of treating jowls are usually to restore mid-face volume, lift sagging skin and regenerate collagen in the skin.
How can cheek fillers help?
Facial fillers are a top treatment choice for eliminating jowls as they can be used to rebuild the structure of the face whilst rebooting the skin’s natural supply of hyaluronic acid and smoothing the jawline. When injected in the cheeks, fillers replace lost volume in the area, which, in turn, restores drooping and receding fat pads to their original position. This gives the lower face the support it needs, softening nasolabial folds (smile lines), marionette lines (creases running from the corner of the mouth to the chin) and jowls. Sometimes, a light touch up around the mouth with filler is the icing on the cake. A light sprinkling of filler in this area can help lift drooping mouth corners and sculpt the jawline, smoothing out any remaining signs of jowling.
The procedure is not painful, does not require any significant downtime and is excellent for lifting and sculpting the skin, where volume needs to be replaced.
Taking a combination approach for best results
Patients can often achieve maximum results by opting for a combined treatment approach. Botox injections can be utilised to relax muscles in the neck, preventing them from contracting and forming wrinkles, whilst energy-based treatments like Profound RF and Sofwave tighten the skin and build collagen. Profound RF utilises radiofrequency and microneedling technology to stimulate skin repair within the dermis and deeper layers of the skin. It generates all three components of healthy and youthful skin: collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. It is fantastic for the lower face – not only does it lift sagging jowls and loosen skin on the neck, but it can also eliminate a double chin to delicately refine the jawline. Using these non-invasive methods, you can achieve impressive results similar to a surgical lower facelift without any need for surgery or downtime.
To find out more about how you can tackle jowls with tweakments, click here to book a consultation with one of our expert practitioners.
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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.
