Jowls are one of the many signs of the ageing face and while everyone eventually gets them, I often field a lot of questions about them.
So here, I address some of the most frequently asked questions about jowls.
Jowels – Definition
Jowls are the sagging skin below your chin or jawline that appear as your skin becomes thinner and less elastic over time. They may be less pronounced in people who have thicker, fattier skin, or have more collagen in the area below the cheeks and chin.
Causes of jowls
There are a few factors that contribute to the presence of jowls. They are …
Loss of elastin and collagen. Over time, the skin in your cheeks and jawline lose much of their collagen and elastin and once this happens, gravity causes them to sag on either side of your mouth and chin.
Descent and shrinkage of facial fat pads.
Genetics. Your genetics can also determine whether or not you develop jowls. Further, if you naturally have thin skin or limited collagen and elastin, you may start to notice them.
Environmental and lifestyle factors including:
- Facial expressions
- Weight loss
- Sun exposure
- Smoking
- Frequent use computers or phones
How Can I Reduce My Risk?
While some develop due to factors out of your control, there’s plenty you can do to help prevent them from developing, such as …
Avoid smoking. Cigarettes can damage collagen and elastin, and can also cause your blood vessels to become narrow.
Limit your exposure to the sun. Apply sunscreen to your face and neck every day before heading out.
Limit your screen time. Try to keep your head at a natural angle when using a computer or phone to keep your neck skin from getting bunched up or stretched out.
Treatment
There are a variety of techniques available to get rid of jowls, and they range by invasiveness.
Fillers. Fillers in front of the jowls and towards the back of the jaw can stretch the skin and camouflage them as they begin to form. Careful assessment of the face needs to be done for jawline filler as some volumising filler can change the shape of the jaw to a more masculine look so in place another type of filler called Radiesse is used.
Fat injections deso deoxycholic acid injections can dissolve some of the fat in the jowl to enhance the jaw.
PDO Thread Lift, using dissolving threads I can lift up the tissue to change the shape of the face back to a more youthful look.
Jowls are often the reason many patients seek surgical facelifts as it often proves the best way to achieve a long-lasting, youthful appearance. But with so many non surgical options available it’s worth coming for a full facial assessment consultation to discuss your options and decide which jowl treatment is right for you.
To get a full facial assessment to see which treatment is best for you book an online consultation.
