Treatments for Sagging Jowls

As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, which can sometimes cause our skin to appear older than we feel it should. Though this aging process is an entirely natural and normal part of life, anti-aging treatment options can help us to feel more confident in our appearance. Many patients seek non-surgical procedures in order to correct certain changes such as that of jowls, or sagging skin along the jawline.

A common characteristic of the aging process is the loss of elasticity of the skin, which can lead to the appearance of excess skin along the chin, jawline, and neck. The appearance of jowls can be frustrating for patients who seek effective treatments for facial rejuvenation. Thankfully, the world of dermatology has developed a variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures, including laser treatments, skin tightening treatments, injectables, and microneedling treatments that can all work to improve the appearance of jowls without the need for invasive cosmetic surgeries that a plastic surgeon might offer.

If you’re frustrated by the appearance of jowls, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, in New York City, is here to help. Dr. Michele Green is an internationally renowned expert in cosmetic dermatology, non-invasive anti-aging treatments, collagen replacement, dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Sculptra, and Restylane, and Botox injections. Through a customized plan involving the best skincare, including radiofrequency skin tightening of the jowls, such as Thermage, dermal fillers, Botox, chemical peels, or lasers, Dr. Green will rejuvenate your skin without any downtime.

What causes saggy jowls?

Saggy jowls, simply put, are caused by a loss of elasticity in the skin of the lower face. This is typically caused by a decrease in the body’s own collagen production, which typically starts to develop in patients who are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, though it can develop earlier. Though elasticity may not disappear from skin in all areas of the body at once, patients tend to see sagging along the jawline and neck earlier on in the aging process. As Dr. Green helped to explain in her interview with Byrdie, “the skin around your neck is thinner than most parts of the body, therefore, loses its elasticity sooner. As a result, she says that sagging, crepiness, and signs of tech neck are likely to appear in your jowl region before you notice changes on your face.”

Saggy skin on the neck and jawline can also be influenced by other factors, such as rapid weight loss or gain. When the body rapidly expands or retracts in a particular area, this can cause the skin to stretch with it, which in turn can lead to skin laxity. Additionally, stubborn fat can often accumulate right underneath the chin (submental fat), which can diminish the appearance of a strong jawline. Sagging jowls can also be influenced by environmental factors such as smoking. Smoking can cause premature aging of the skin, and patients who stop smoking tend to see vast improvement in the health of their skin.

How to Get Rid of Jowls and Saggy Neck

Many patients feel at a loss for what to do for sagging jowls or saggy neck. Thankfully, there are natural and non-invasive treatment options that can all help to reduce the appearance of jowls without the need for invasive plastic surgery. Patients can opt to try to reduce the appearance of sagging jowls naturally, or via in-office treatments that are FDA-approved for facial rejuvenation.

How to Get Rid of Sagging Jowls Naturally

For many patients, the best way to prevent the development of sagging jowls is through the use of protective skin care routines. Patients who rely on daily sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection, non-comedogenic moisturizers, and lotions that use nourishing active ingredients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and retinol often help to keep the elasticity of the skin.

Additionally, engaging in healthy habits, such as a balanced diet, hydration, and sleeping on the back rather than on the side or stomach can all help to maintain a more youthful appearance. Avoiding expressions or actions that cause the muscles of the face to move downward, such as frowning or gum chewing, can also help prevent the development of jowls.

Exercise for Sagging Jowls

Studies have shown that regular exercise is an easy, natural way to reduce the appearance of sagging jowls. Exercise also can improve the overall health of the skin, which can help to stave off the onset of saggy skin along the jawline.

Face Yoga for Jowls

Recent developments in the beauty world have popularize the idea of facial exercises as a means to reduce the appearance of skin laxity in the lower face. In general, these facial exercises focus on holding specific expressions that evenly work the various muscles of the face for 5-20 seconds and 8-12 repetitions. These exercises include:

• Blowing the cheeks up as far as comfortable
• Chewing with the head tilted slightly upwards
• Humming while pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth
• Yawning widely, then closing the mouth slowly without letting the teeth touch.

While further study is required in order to measure the true effectiveness of these exercises, patients often will try these exercises as a part of their comprehensive treatment plan for saggy jowls.

What is the Best Non-Surgical Treatment for Jowls?

For patients who have already developed mild, moderate, or even severe jowls, there are many different non-invasive treatment options that can help to rejuvenate the jawline without any need for invasive surgical options or recovery time. A customized treatment plan can include the use of microneedling such as Vivace, radiofrequency energy lasers like Thermage, and laser treatments, like Fraxel, among others, in order to help rejuvenate the lower face without the need for any downtime post-treatment.

Is there a non-invasive “neck lift” option?

All of the treatments below are non-invasive treatments that require virtually no downtime and are FDA-approved for the treatment of sagging jowls and skin rejuvenation:

CoolSculpting®  for Submental Fat

For many patients, the accumulation of submental fat or development of a double chin can vastly affect the contouring and refinement of the jawline. Submental fat affects patients of all genders, and recent innovations in the world of non-invasive dermatology have helped patients to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat once and for all. CoolSculpting is an innovative treatment that uses cryolipolysis – also known as the freezing of fat cells – in order to metabolize and permanently eliminate fat cells. For patients with moderate double chin, the CoolMini CoolSculpting applicator can be a wonderful way to contour the chin and jawline, helping to reduce the appearance of sagging or fullness underneath the chin.

25-34 year old man treated with CoolMini in chin area

Kybella for Jowls

Kybella is an injectable treatment that uses the natural substance deoxycholic acid to break down fat cells in the body, which in turn allows the cells to be eliminated naturally through the body’s metabolic system. As Dr. Green comments in her interview with Byrdie, “In the past, the only way to permanently enhance the jowl was through surgical procedures such as liposuction or a neck lift which required anesthesia, incisions and lengthy recovery periods.” Dr. Green is an expert injector for Kybella, as well as other cosmetic injectable treatments, and uses Kybella to reduce moderate skin laxity below the jaw by permanently removing fat cells.

Thermage Radiofrequency Treatment for Jowls

Thermage is a revolutionary skin tightening treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to heat the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers of the skin. This in turn helps to boost elastin and collagen production deep within the layers of the skin in order to smooth skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and tighten the skin. Thermage is an excellent option for patients who have skin laxity along the jawline, as it can help to tighten sagging jowls and rejuvenate the skin, with results that continue to improve for 2-4 months post-treatment.

Ultherapy for Sagging Jowls

Another popular treatment option for skin tightening is that of ultherapy, which uses ultrasound energy to target similar areas of the dermis to Thermage. While both Ultherapy and Thermage are FDA-approved treatments for skin tightening with no need for downtime, the painless and high success rate of Thermage treatment has led to Thermage being considered the “gold standard” for skin tightening. Learn more about Thermage vs. Ultherapy.

Botox for Jowls and neck lines

Botox is an injectable treatment that uses a neurotoxin, Botulinum toxin type A, to essentially “freeze” the nerve signals to commonly used muscle groups. This reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and other instances of muscle overuse. When it comes to treatment for jowls, Botox can be used to reduce the appearance of frown lines around the mouth, dimpling of chin wrinkles, and neck lines or cords. When Botox is applied to the lower face or neck, patients can see visible smoothing that in turn can help to improve the appearance of the jawline.

Dermal Fillers for Jowls

Dermal fillers are frequently used to restore collagen to the injection site. This cosmetic injectable treatment is used to  reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as to correct age-related volume loss in the midface. When it comes to treatment for the jowls and jawline, volume restoration in the midface can help to “lift” the skin, providing a non-invasive “facelift,” while simultaneously smoothing out facial folds and wrinkles in the lower face, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines. Dermal fillers rely on a variety of active ingredients, and popular brands include Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, and Sculptra.

Hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm and Restylane)

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers use a naturally-occurring substance in the body, hyaluronic acid, to ignite collagen production, which in turn helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, as well as correct volume loss. The process is simple and convenient, and patients can resume normal activity immediately after treatment. Hyaluronic acid fillers are incredibly popular because they offer results that can last over a year in some cases, but can also be reversed via synthetic hyaluronidase which, in its naturally-occurring form, breaks down hyaluronic acid in the body.

Poly-L-lactic acid fillers (Sculptra)

Poly-L-lactic acid fillers are another method to stimulate the skin’s natural collagen production and is frequently used to increase volume by restoring the inner structure of the face. Poly-L-lactic acid fillers like Sculptra are often used to build up collagen production over a series of sessions, with results that last up to two full years.

What is a “liquid facelift”?

A combination of injectables and other in-office rejuvenating treatments can be used to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of jowls. Dr. Green often relies on a combination of Botox, Kybella, CoolSculpting, and Thermage to treat the jawline – known as the “Nefertiti Lift” – to reduce sagging skin, as well as improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and submental fat in the treatment area. Additionally, dermal fillers are often considered to act as a “liquid facelift” by boosting collagen in the treatment area and helping to correct age-related volume loss, which in turn can reverse the appearance of jowls.

Microneedling for Jowls

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a process by which teeny tiny needles prick the top layer of the dermis, activating the wound-healing process of the skin. This process stimulates collagen production that can help to even skin tone and texture, as well as improve the overall health of the skin. Microneedling also opens up micro-channels deep into the layers of the dermis, which provides a perfect method to apply intensive healing serums and growth factors. Microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a popular option for patients seeking to firm and smooth the skin for optimal facial rejuvenation, which relies on the body’s own growth factors to more effectively revitalize the skin.

Laser Treatments for Jowls

When it comes to treatment for sagging jowls or sagging skin on the neck, laser treatments can be an excellent away to boost collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and rejuvenate the skin. The Fraxel Dual laser is an excellent method to rejuvenate an aging neck, as it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as remove age spots or sunspots. The Fraxel Dual laser uses two wavelengths, 1927 wavelength and 1550 wavelength, to both remove discoloration from the top layer of the skin and improve skin texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and even acne scars.

The Sciton BBL laser is an innovative infrared technology that is used to heat the skin and boost collagen in the treatment area. BBL laser treatment is a complementary treatment option with Thermage, as combined these two treatments can improve issues like pigmentation, broken capillaries, fine lines, and sagging skin along the treatment area.

30-39 year old, Thermage (lower face & neck), with Voluma & Restylane Lyft

What is the best treatment for me?

When it comes to choosing the treatment for sagging jowls, there is no one “best treatment” for all patients. When you work with Dr. Green, she’ll work with you to discuss your individual needs and goals, as well as your medical history, in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.

Jowl Treatments NYC

If you’re frustrated by the appearance of sagging jowls or saggy skin on the neck, there are treatment options that can help. Contact our boutique New York office today to develop your custom treatment plan with Dr. Green. With over 25 years of experience in non-invasive anti-aging treatments, from her discreet NYC office, Dr. Green is an expert in facial rejuvenation. Whether it be sagging skin on the face or body, sun damage, or fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Green will bring you the best combination of non-invasive treatments to rejuvenate your skin and help replace lost collagen. Find out more and contact us online or at 212 535 3088 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Green today.