Mouth jowls are a common cosmetic concern that many individuals face as they age. They often become a source of self-consciousness, impacting facial harmony. While their development is a natural part of the aging process, various factors can influence their appearance and severity over time.
What Are Mouth Jowls?
Mouth jowls refer to the loose skin and fat that develop below the chin and along the jawline. They appear as sagging flesh, altering the smooth, defined contour of the lower face. This excess tissue can create a poorly defined jawline or even a “double chin-like” appearance, making the face seem older and less sculpted.
These changes occur on either side of the mouth and chin, extending downwards along the mandible. The degree to which jowls are noticeable varies among individuals, with some experiencing subtle changes and others developing more pronounced sagging.
Factors Contributing to Jowl Development
Jowl development is largely influenced by the natural aging process, which causes several changes in the skin and underlying tissues. As people get older, the skin loses elasticity and firmness due to a decrease in the production of collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin, proteins vital for skin structure and elasticity, diminish with age, leading to sagging.
Gravity also plays a role, constantly pulling facial tissues downwards as the skin and supporting structures weaken over time. Genetics also play a role; individuals with family members who have jowls are more likely to develop them, sometimes even at a younger age. Lifestyle factors further contribute to jowl formation, including prolonged sun exposure, which damages collagen and elastin fibers due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Smoking also accelerates this damage, as nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes harm collagen and elastin and reduce blood flow to the skin. Significant weight fluctuations, particularly rapid weight loss after a period of weight gain, can also leave stretched skin sagging.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Jowls
Several non-surgical and minimally invasive options exist to address the appearance of jowls. Topical skincare products can support skin elasticity, though their effects are generally mild.
Injectable treatments offer more direct improvements. Dermal fillers, typically made of hyaluronic acid, can restore lost volume in the cheeks or along the jawline to create a more defined contour, effectively diminishing the appearance of jowls by providing support to sagging areas. Neurotoxins, such as Botox, can be used for jawline contouring by relaxing the masseter muscles, which can make the jawline appear slimmer, although they do not directly lift sagging skin.
Energy-based devices offer skin tightening by stimulating collagen production. Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate new collagen growth, lifting and firming the jawline and neck over several months. Radiofrequency (RF) treatments, sometimes combined with microneedling, deliver thermal energy to deeper skin layers, promoting collagen and elastin production for improved definition. Laser treatments also encourage collagen production and tighten the skin in the neck and jawline area. PDO thread lifts involve inserting dissolvable synthetic sutures under the skin to provide a framework that lifts and tightens the face, with results lasting after the sutures dissolve.
Surgical Solutions for Jowls
For more pronounced jowls, surgical interventions offer more definitive and long-lasting results. A facelift is a comprehensive procedure that addresses sagging skin and underlying facial muscles and tissues. Incisions are typically made along the hairline and around the ears, allowing the skin to be lifted and repositioned for a more youthful appearance and a defined jawline. Deep plane facelifts lift deeper facial layers, providing significant and natural results that can last over a decade.
A neck lift often accompanies a facelift, focusing on tightening the skin and muscles specifically around the neck and jawline to significantly improve jowl appearance. This procedure can involve lifting and re-suspending facial and neck muscles. Submental liposuction, which can be performed alone or with a facelift or neck lift, targets excess fat deposits under the chin and in the jowl area. This procedure helps refine and sculpt the chin, neck, and jowls. These surgical options are considered for individuals with more significant sagging who desire substantial and lasting improvements.