How to Get Rid of Jowls

Jowls are a natural part of aging, but many people are concerned about them. They can lead to a less youthful look that can cause some people to lose confidence. 

Fortunately, if you want to restore a more youthful look to your jawline, various treatment options are available, from neck lifts and other surgical options to non-invasive procedures. 

If you want to learn more about how to get rid of jowls, read below. We’ll discuss what they are, plus popular treatment options that can help.

What are Jowls?

Jowls refer to the sagging skin that develops along the jawline as we age. Not everyone gets them, but some do. This issue develops as collagen and elastin, two key proteins responsible for skin firmness, begin to break down. The result is reduced skin elasticity, leading to wrinkle formation.

While natural aging factors are the most prominent cause of jowls, other things can contribute to their formation, including gravity, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors.

The Best Treatments for Sagging Jowls

Wondering how to tighten loose skin on the jawline? There are surgical and non-surgical jowl lift options, depending on your needs and preferences. Let’s explore some of the top choices available.

Thread Lifts

A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that uses dissolvable threads to lift sagging skin. It can help tighten many areas of the face, including the jawline. 

This procedure provides both an immediate lifting effect and long-term improvements. The immediate lift comes from the sutures themselves. 

Because the threads are barbed, they stimulate your skin’s natural healing process, increasing collagen production. Over time, your skin will become firmer and look more youthful. 

This option is great if you want dramatic results without a lengthy recovery. Thread lifts are typically performed under local anesthesia and have a fast recovery time.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers like Juvederm Voluma are among the most popular jowl-tightening procedures. They add structure and restore lost volume to support skin around the chin and jawline, reducing the appearance of jowls while improving facial contours. 

Dermal fillers are another non-surgical treatment option that delivers immediate results with minimal downtime. Even better, the results are long-lasting, providing volume and a lifted look lasting up to two years.

QuickLift

The QuickLift procedure is a minimally invasive facelift designed to tighten and lift the skin around the lower face and neck. During this procedure, your surgeon will make small incisions near the ears to reposition underlying facial structures and create a firmer, more defined jawline. 

The QuickLift procedure has a shorter recovery time compared to a traditional facelift. Despite that, it still delivers immediate, natural-looking results.

Facial Laser Liposuction

Facial laser liposuction is a treatment surgeons can use to target the lower face and jowl area. It might seem counterintuitive since liposuction removes fat from beneath the skin, but facial laser liposuction removes fat while simultaneously tightening the surrounding skin. 

This option is ideal for people with excess fat contributing to the appearance of jowls. With facial laser liposuction, some of this fat can be removed while the remaining fat is dissolved to help create a more contoured jawline. 

Facial laser liposuction is another minimally invasive treatment option typically performed under local anesthesia. Once complete, recovery times are short, and you’ll see immediate results.

Neck Lifts

Otherwise known as “platysmaplasty,” neck lifts are the traditional option for remedying the look of sagging skin along the jawline and neck. This surgical option is best suited for people who are experiencing significant sagging in both of these areas. It tightens the loose skin and underlying muscles to create a firmer, more contoured look. 

During a neck lift, your surgeon will remove fatty deposits from the neck, and they may also tighten the platysma muscle, a thin muscle extending from the collarbone and upper chest to the jawline and lower lip. After that, the surgeon re-drapes the skin in the treatment areas. 

Neck lifts help treat sagging jowls and address concerns like “turkey neck” (sagging skin along the neck) or a double chin. Patients often combine this procedure with a facelift or chin augmentation to achieve balanced results. 

Since this is a surgical procedure, you can expect a more lengthy recovery time lasting between 24 and 48 hours. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medication to help with swelling and soreness in the weeks after your surgery.

Alternative Options to Prevent and Minimize the Look of Jowls

Many patients would like to explore at-home jowl treatments before seeking medical solutions. And since prevention is often the best medicine, some may wonder what steps they can take to prevent jowls from forming or worsening over time. Here are some things you can try: 

• Boost your skincare routine with products that promote collagen production and improve skin elasticity. This can help prevent sagging and may help firm skin that has already started to sag.
• Damage from UV rays can lead to sagging skin, so be sure to use sunscreen as much as possible to protect your skin.
• You can maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet of antioxidants, drinking regular water, and avoiding damaging habits like smoking and alcohol. 

You can also try facial exercises for jowls. While scientific evidence supporting their efficacy is limited, many individuals report positive outcomes. Look into “face yoga” maneuvers like the “Cheek Lifter” and “Happy Cheeks Sculpting” to target the cheek and jawline specifically.

Explore the Right Treatment Options for You

Jowls are a common concern for many, and if they’re making you feel less than your best, several treatment options are available to help you restore a firmer, more youthful look. To discover which treatment options are best for your needs, schedule a consultation at Vargas Face & Skin.