Get Rid Of Sagging Jowls? Effective Jowl Treatment Options To Consider

Aging is a very natural albeit dreaded process.

Along with it comes many changes in the body, particularly the skin and face.

Examples of these changes are fine lines, wrinkles, double chin, turkey neck, age spots, and sagging jowls.

Sagging jowls are particularly a topic of concern since they can appear prematurely and make you look much older than your actual age.

Fortunately, there are many ways how to get rid of jowls or how to reduce them. If you want to know more, continue reading below!

What are Jowls?

The term “jowls” is often used to refer to the sagging or fleshy skin along the lower jaw.

Jowls make your cheeks hang or droop below the jawline due to the loss of skin elasticity.

If you’re also wondering about why does turkey neck happen, this is the same reason.

Anyone can get jowls.

However, the condition usually affects people with fuller faces than those with narrow faces and is much more prevalent in women than in men.

Typically, they start to show up by the time they are in their 40s but can appear as early as their 20s.

How To Tighten Up Sagging Jowls and What are the Recommended Treatments?

Often, plastic surgeons or dermatologists suggest facelifts as the most long-term and thus, the best procedure for sagging jowls.

Dermatologists also suggest various neck creams such as Revivatone, Nectifirm, and Declatone using these creams you can get rid of sagging jowls.

Facelifts or jowl lifts involve tightening the loose skin and the removal or stretching of the underlying soft tissues.

Liposuction can also be performed on its own or as a part of a facelift procedure.

Your plastic surgeon could also recommend similar procedures like lipo dissolve injection or laser liposuction.

All of these have relatively longer-lived effects but can set you back a few thousand dollars in the process.

Therefore, these options are not for everyone.

What Causes Sagging Jowls?

Many factors contribute to the development of jowls and understanding these can greatly help in the treatment process.

The reasons behind why my face is sagging include:

1. The Natural Aging Process

Part of this process causes our skin to produce less or lose collagen^[1] and elastin^[2].

These are important proteins that keep the skin firm, taut, smooth, and elastic.

Because of this, the skin starts to droop as an effect of constant gravitational pull.

According to Raleigh-Durham based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Law, this age-related laxity of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue leads to the sagging of lower cheek fat, contributing to the formation of jowls.

2. Genetics

Some people inherit the predisposition to jowls, which explains cases when they appear very early.

Chances are, if your parents had jowls, you are also prone to having the same problem.

3. Sun Damage

Excessive, repetitive, or prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the skin’s collagen, leading to aging signs like wrinkles, age spots, and jowls.

So, it is always smart to slather up with a good sunscreen (like Clinique) with an SPF of at least 30 (like MD Solar Sciences SPF 30) every day, even when the weather is overcast or rainy.

4. Weight Gain and Weight Loss

As you gain weight, your skin stretches in order to adjust and accommodate the extra fat and volume.

But you may be wondering, “will losing weight reduce my jowls?”.

Sadly, the answer is no.

In fact, when you subsequently lose weight, the skin does not always return to its natural state especially if you’re older.

This leaves you with extra loose skin along the jawline and neck, or jowls and turkey neck.

Consider this before loading up on quick weight loss foods.

5. Working Too Long In Front Of A Computer

Dr. Michael Prager, a cosmetic surgeon, based in London, says that working for hours on end on your computer puts you at a much higher risk of developing sagging jowls and other premature aging signs like turkey neck and wrinkles.

This is because computers emit radiation that can have similar effects on the skin as UV rays in the long run.

6. Lifestyle Habits

Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption speed up the aging process not only by damaging elastin and collagen but also by causing the blood vessels to constrict thus, reducing circulation.

This deprives the skin cells of the essential nutrient supplies that are necessary for damage repair, protection, protein production, and protection.

7. Loss of Muscle Tone

Jowls can also appear like a downside of aging or diseases that paralyze the facial muscles, leading to the loss of muscle tone.

How to Get Rid of Sagging Jowls Without Surgeries?

While surgical jowl removal procedures are arguably the best way to get rid of saggy jowls.

They come at an expensive price tag and certain risks.

So, most of us are looking for cheaper and safer yet effective alternatives.

Some of the popular ways of how to eliminate sagging jowls without surgery include:

• Thermage Jawline Tightening

  Thermage Jawline Tightening – Image/Shutterstock

  This is a non-invasive or non-surgical treatment that uses short, strong pulses of radiofrequency energy to get rid of loose skin.

  These pulses penetrate deep into the skin layers to stimulate collagen production and firm up the skin.

• Dermal Fillers

  Dermal Fillers – Image/Shutterstock

  Dermal filler injections are probably the best non-surgical jowl treatment there is.

  It involves injecting fillers like Radiesse and Sculptra into the affected skin area to plump the skin and redefine the jawline.

  However, fillers have more temporary effects than surgical lifts, according to plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Maloney from Arizona.

• Makeup

  Makeup – Image/Shutterstock

  Although this is not really a treatment, makeup tricks can be used to hide jowls or at least mask their appearance.

  If you’re looking for ways on how to reduce neck wrinkles and jowls, makeup can be a powerful tool.

Face Exercises Lift Your Sagging Jowls

Facial exercises work by strengthening the facial muscles to tighten the skin.

Here are some of the best sagging jowls exercises:

A) Jawline Massage

Jawline Massage – Image/Shutterstock

Pull your cheeks back and downwards to tighten the corners of your mouth and your lower lip.

Holding this position, massage your jawline from the center of your chin outwards and upward.

Repeat five more times and do this several times a day.

B) Pouting

Pouting – Image/Shutterstock

While using your fingers pull the corners of your mouth downward, draw your lips into a tight pout.

Hold the position for five seconds and repeat ten times.

Do this twice a day while lying down for best results.

C) Fake Yawn

Fake Yawn – Image/Shutterstock

If you’re looking for simple exercises to reduce jowls and turkey neck, this one is for you.

Just open your mouth as wide as you can as if you’re yawning.

Then, slowly and gradually close it in a span of 20 or so seconds.

Just before it closes shut, do two more sets.

This is also an exercise to reduce facial wrinkles.

D) Jawline Slap

Jawline Slap – Image/Shutterstock

Place the back of your hand stiffly under your chin and slightly protrude your chin outward.

In a rhythmic motion, slap your jaw from ear to ear. You can also use both hands.

This exercise invigorates the jawline and pulls the lower face tissues taut.

Effects should be visible within a few weeks.

E) Chin Tilts

Chin Tilts – Image/Shutterstock

This exercise is said to firm up the neck and face muscles as a way how to get rid of jowls without surgery.

To do this, sit upright with your lips together.

Then, stretch and tighten your neck and jaw muscles by pointing your chin up and out.

Extend your lower lip as far over your upper lip as you can and hold the position for five to ten seconds.

Do this five more times and repeat the exercise several times daily.

Effective Ways To Prevent Jowls

• Avoid extreme sun exposure.
• Apply topical products that help boost collagen production.
• Position your computer so that you don’t have to lean downwards when using it.
• Take frequent, regular breaks when using your smartphone or computer. These breaks are also the best time to do neck and facial stretching exercises.
• Quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

FAQ’s:

Que: How can I tighten my jowls?

Ans: Common exercises that help to improve jowls include:

• Yawning and opening the mouth as far as possible, then closing it very slowly without letting the teeth touch.
• Puckering the lips outwards.
• Blowing the cheeks up as far as comfortable.
• Chewing with the head tilted slightly up.

Que: What is the best non-surgical treatment for jowls?

Ans: Non-surgical jowl treatments is radiofrequency device, may provide the best results.

Que: Is surgery the only way to get rid of jowls?

Ans: People with more severe jowls may require surgical intervention. While people who exhibit early stages of jowl formation can benefit from non-surgical procedures like laser skin tightening.

Conclusion

So those are the different ways of how to get rid of jowls!

However, prevention is always better than cure, so, if it’s not too late, follow the given preventive tips to have tighter, younger-looking skin.