I always knew that I’d eventually get sagging jowls – because my mother has them. And sagging jowls are genetic. But to be fair, they are pretty common – most people get them to varying degrees. And I can’t really complain about my genetics because my mother looks AMAZING at 73 and if I age anything like she is, I’d be incredibly happy.
Jowls are loose, sagging areas of skin that hang below the jawline.
What causes jowls?
The loss of collagen and elastin
As we age, we lose collagen and elastin (connective tissue proteins), which are responsible for keeping our skin firm. This, and the ability to retain moisture in the skin, contributes to the thinning and stretching of the skin as gravity comes into play. And this results in weaker, sagging skin. When this happens in the cheek skin around your mouth, the skin sags to the area below the sides of the mouth and chin.
Facial fat pockets shrink and descend
Fat pads support the surrounding skin structures and when they shrink, the skin moves downwards.
Facial muscles become thinner with age
There is also volume loss in the bones
The facial skeleton shrinks too, leading to the loss of support of the fatty pads and muscles – resulting in jowls.
Lifestyle and environmental influences
Sun damage, smoking, a poor diet and even weight gain or loss can also have an effect on your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
Genetics
And as I mentioned before, if your parents have jowls, there’s more of a chance that you will develop them too.
So what are the best ways to treat sagging jowls?
Skincare
Unfortunately, there aren’t any miracle serums, creams or potions that help to reduce or improve your sagging jowls. Despite what various skincare brands will tell you.
Skincare products work mostly on the surface of your skin. They can improve skin texture and plump up your skin by hydrating it. And they can stimulate the production of collagen and help with cell turnover. But successfully treat the loss of collagen and elastin and the effects of gravity? That is sadly not possible with skincare products alone.
I’m not saying that skincare doesn’t have a role to play, though – because it does. You ultimately want plump, healthy, glowing skin – and good skincare products will help with that. Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol and peptides are all helpful in this department.
These are the ones I use:
Non-surgical treatments
But don’t be discouraged because there are treatments that can help to improve saggy skin. Ultimately what we’re wanting to do is plump, firm and tighten up the skin while also stimulating the production of collagen. Here are 9 of the most effective treatments:
1. Injectable fillers
Dermal fillers can be used to restore lost volume to make your face look more balanced. It’s a way to improve the jawline contour, and when placed correctly it can enhance the cheeks and the skin around the jawline and mouth, making the jowls look less obvious.
This might be a good first step when looking to treat your jowls.
Examples: Restylane, Juvederm.
How long does it last? Approximately 3-6 months.
2. High intensity focussed ultrasound
Ultrasound treatment involves sending pulses of ultrasound waves into the deep layers of the skin where collagen production happens. The loss of contour and skin laxity occurs in the subcutaneous tissues of the skin so it requires a device that is able to reach those deep levels. And ultrasound waves are able to penetrate deeper into this subcutaneous tissue.
This procedure involves heating up these deep layers of the skin, stimulating it to produce more collagen, and making it stronger and firmer. It can also be used to target fat, resulting in the tightening of the jowls.
Examples: Ultherapy, Ulfit.
How long does it last? Approximately 18 months.
3. Radiofrequency
The radiofrequency treatment uses radiofrequency waves in the subdermal layers of the skin – also using heat to tighten existing elastin and collagen and to stimulate new collagen production. (RF doesn’t go as deeply into the skin as ultrasound does, though.) This treatment is used for skin resurfacing and tightening.
Example: Thermage.
How long does it last? Approximately 6 months.
4. Radiofrequency microneedling
Radiofrequency microneedling delivers radiofrequency energy into the skin through microneedles of differing lengths, which have been treated so that the radiofrequency energy emerges just at their tips. The microneedles also create micro-injuries on the skin surface which prompts the skin to heal those little holes thereby stimulating collagen production. So ultimately you’re getting two treatments in one.
Examples: Secret RF, Morpheus8, INTRAcel.
How long does it last? Approximately 12 months.
5. Fat freezing
Coolsculpting is a brand of fat freezing technology. (And the only one FDA approved at the moment.) The Coolsculpting device is used to ‘vacuum’ up the fat in the area you are targeting and cool it to 4°C or lower. This essentially kills off those fat cells which are then flushed out of your body over the next few months. This treatment also tightens your skin so it can have good results for jowls.
How long does it last? The targeted fat cells are gone forever, but it doesn’t stop you from producing more fat cells.
6. Fat-dissolving injections
These injections contain deoxycholic acid (a bile acid produced by our bodies) which breaks down fat cells that are then carried out of the body through the lymphatic and renal systems. They almost sound too good to be true, but it should be pointed out that it does sting and there are quite a few side effects (pain, redness, bruising, extreme swelling).
Examples of these include Belkyra and Kybella.
How long does it last? Approximately 5 years.
7. Muscle-relaxing injections
Botox can be injected into the muscles that pull down the lower part of the jawline and emphasise the jowls. By relaxing these muscles, you can define the jawline more. This procedure is called a Nefertiti neck lift. But you’d probably have to use Botox in conjunction with fillers or one of the other treatments to see better results.
Examples: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin.
How long does it last? Approximately 3-6 months.
8. Injectable moisture treatments
These are bio-remodelling or bio-stimulator treatments that consist of a thin hyaluronic gel that is injected just under the surface of the skin and moisturises the skin, encouraging it to produce more collagen and elastin. A moisture injectable does not plump up the skin as a filler does. Instead, it’s like having a layer of moisturizer under the surface of the skin, making it look healthy and work well. While this treatment won’t get rid of your jowls, it will help to make your skin look plumper and better.
Example: Profhilo.
How long does it last? Approximately 6-9 months.
9. Home devices
And yes, some home devices can help to improve your jowls.
These microcurrent devices tone your facial muscles through stimulation. Consistency is important if you want to see results.
This radiofrequency device contracts the facial muscles to stimulate new collagen production. Again, you’d have to use it consistently to see results.
Surgical treatments
But if you have lots of loose, saggy skin under your jawline, a neck lift or facelift might be the best option because non-surgical treatments might not make much difference.
Other options
And if all of these procedures sound too much for you, you could learn how to apply makeup that sculpts your face and hides your jowls!
You could also try face yoga or other facial exercises; however, there is no clinical proof that these exercises actually work.
Related: Check out this Instagram IGTV for more information.
In conclusion
I’ve started thinking seriously about trying non-surgical treatments and I’m leaning towards the radiofrequency microneedling. What do you reckon? Have you tried any of these treatments and if so, would you recommend them? And if you haven’t tried any of these, which one would you try? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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You may also want to read: All you need to know about microblading
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