TL;DR
- Jowls are the sagging skin that hangs below your jawline.
- They can form as you get older and your skin loses firmness.
- Sun damage, smoking, genetics, and poor posture can make jowls worse.
- Treatments like laser therapy, thread lifts, dermal fillers, and Botox can lift the skin and reduce the appearance of jowls.
- Simple face exercises like air kisses, chin taps, neck lifts, and neck rolls can help tighten muscles around your jaw.
- Eating healthy and staying hydrated keeps your skin healthy and firm.
- Proper skin care, lifestyle habits, and regular facial exercises can make your jawline look more defined.
Jowl Meaning: What are Jowls and How to Get Rid of Them?
The term “jowls” refers to the loose or sagging flesh around the jawline and lower cheeks. Jowls become evident when the skin loses its natural elasticity and begins to hang below the normal contour of the jaw. This creates a softer jawline and can make the face appear older or heavier. While jowls are more common with age, even younger people can sometimes notice early signs of jowls if their skin loses elasticity.
This article will explain what causes jowls, how different treatments can help, and what simple exercises may tighten the skin naturally. By the end, you will understand how to care for your skin and slow down the appearance of jowls in a healthy, effective way.
Causes of Jowls
Several factors contribute to the development of jowls, with ageing being the main cause. As people age, the skin loses collagen and elastin, proteins that are responsible for firmness and flexibility. The skin also becomes thinner and drier, further increasing sagging.
Other causes include:
- Genetics: A family history of sagging skin can determine when and how jowls appear.
- Weight changes: Rapid weight loss or gain can stretch the skin, leaving excess tissue that sags over time.
- Sun damage: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays breaks down collagen and accelerates skin ageing.
- Smoking: Chemicals in cigarettes reduce blood flow to the skin and damage collagen, promoting sagging.
- Repetitive facial movements: Frequent expressions, chewing gum, or other repeated jaw movements can strain underlying muscles, contributing to sagging.
- Poor lifestyle choices: Poor hydration, unhealthy diet, chronic stress, and insufficient sleep can all reduce skin elasticity, making jowls more prominent.
How Can You Tell if You have Jowls?
As the skin loses strength and elasticity, a few small changes begin to show around the lower face. Knowing what to look for makes it easier to start gentle care routines early.
Here are common signs and symptoms of jowls you may notice:
- Slight drooping or sagging skin: The skin near the jawline begins to hang loosely instead of staying firm and tight.
- More folds around the cheeks and chin: Small creases or folds appear under the cheeks, making the area look heavier.
- Less definition in the jawline: The sharp edge of the jaw begins to blur or soften, changing the face shape slightly.
- Double chin appearance: The blurred line between the chin and neck can create the visual effect of a double chin.
- Marionette lines: Jowls can sometimes be accompanied by permanent lines or wrinkles that run from the outer corners of the mouth down to the chin, known as marionette lines.
Treatment for Jowls
If you are wondering how to get rid of jowls, there are many ways to improve the look of sagging skin, from simple home remedies to professional treatments. At-home care can help slow down changes in your skin, while medical options can give faster, more noticeable results.
At-Home Treatments
- Facial exercises: Gentle movements like smiling, stretches, or chin lifts help strengthen the muscles under your skin, which may make your jawline firmer.
- Skincare products: Creams with collagen boosters, retinol, vitamin C, or hyaluronic acid can help the skin become tighter and more elastic.
- Healthy lifestyle habits: Drink plenty of water, eat antioxidant-rich foods like berries, protect the skin from sun damage, and avoid smoking.
Professional Treatments
- Botox: Botox injections relax certain muscles so your skin is lifted slightly, making jowls less noticeable.
- Dermal fillers: Fillers, usually made of hyaluronic acid, restore lost volume in the cheeks and jawline for a more defined look.
- Laser skin tightening: Uses controlled heat to boost collagen growth and make skin firmer.
- Thread lifts: Fine, dissolvable threads are inserted under the skin to tighten sagging areas without major surgery.
- Surgical options: Facelifts and neck lifts provide long-lasting improvement for severe jowls by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying tissues.
Exercises to Tighten Sagging Skin
Alongside jowl treatments, regular facial exercises can help reduce the appearance of jowls by strengthening underlying muscles and improving skin firmness. Consider these exercises to start:
- Air kisses: Press your lips together like blowing kisses, tilt your head back, and blow air kisses for 20 seconds. Repeat this thrice.
- Chin taps: Place your hands under your chin, press up with your hands and down with your chin to create tension, and gently tap your chin 3 times. Repeat this 5 times.
- Smiling neck lifts: Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, look up, smile, swallow, and hold the position for 30 seconds.
- Jaw stretch: Open mouth wide, then slowly close while keeping muscles tight; repeat 10 times.
- Neck roll: Slowly rotate your neck in circles to strengthen muscles and support firmer-looking skin.
Preventing Jowls
Preventing jowls involves caring for your skin and muscles to delay sagging. Key prevention tips include:
- Apply sunscreen every day to protect your skin from harmful sun exposure
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake to preserve collagen and skin elasticity
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants
- Practice facial exercises regularly
- Manage weight to prevent rapid skin stretching
- Limit repetitive downward facial movements, such as looking down at screens for long periods
- Use moisturisers and skincare products that promote collagen production
The Bottom Line
Jowls are the loose, sagging skin that forms along the lower cheeks and jawline as you age. They often result from a loss of skin elasticity, weakened facial muscles, or lifestyle factors such as poor diet and sun exposure.
Gentle and consistent care is the key to managing jowls. This includes using targeted skincare products, practising simple facial exercises like chin lifts and jaw stretches, and considering advanced treatments when needed.
For those seeking professional care, Dental & Wellness London offers expert treatments for jowls, including Korean thread lifts, dermal fillers, and laser skin tightening in Islington.
As one of the best skin care clinics in Islington, London, we combine modern technology with personalised treatment plans to suit each individual’s needs. Visit us at 222 Essex Road, London N1 3AP, call 020 8127 4567, or email reception@dentalwellnesslondon.co.uk to book your appointment.
FAQs
What are jowls, and how can you reduce their appearance naturally?
Jowls are saggy skin that hangs below your jawline, making your face look less firm. To reduce them naturally, you can do facial exercises, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and protect your skin from sun damage.
What causes jowls and makes the skin around the jawline sag over time?
Jowls occur because the skin loses collagen and elastin, causing it to become loose and saggy over time. Sun damage, smoking, ageing, weight changes, and genetics also cause skin around the jawline to sag and form jowls.
Can Botox help reduce sagging jowls and lift the jawline for a defined look?
Yes, Botox and jowl treatments often go hand in hand when it comes to achieving a firmer, more sculpted lower face. Botox can help reduce sagging skin by relaxing the muscles that pull the skin downward. This muscle relaxation creates a lifting effect, making the jawline look tighter and more defined. It works best for mild sagging and gives a subtle but noticeable lift.
Where should Botox be injected to help reduce jowls?
Botox should be injected into the muscles along the jawline and neck. These injections help lift sagging skin by relaxing muscles that pull the skin downward, creating a more defined and youthful appearance.
