Aging is inevitable. Until someone invents a device that allows us to not age, eventually, some of us can form sagging jowls. While harmless and completely natural, they have a tendency to put a damper on our self-esteem.
Thankfully, modern technology is catching up (though not quite to the level of zero aging). Which means we can treat and even prevent sagging jowls before they happen.
But first, we have to understand what they are and how they form.
Sagging jowls are when the skin loosens and sags below your chin and along your jawline. It becomes sagging and formed with wrinkles.
As we age, our skin loses several important elements that keep it looking young, including elasticity, collagen, and its ability to retain water. All of this contributes to the thinning and stretching of your skin as good old gravity works over the years.
Most often, the extent of your own sagging jowls depends on preventative measures and genetics. The worse jowls your parents have, the likelier you are to struggle with them later in life.
Genetics aside, preventing sagging jowls will inevitably prolong the time it takes for them to appear.
Preventative measures include some of the same treatments for sagging jowls below.
But many anti-aging treatments to restore collagen and elasticity will help prevent sagging below your jaw. Some of those include laser treatments, microneedling, light therapy, Botox, and more.
However, because everyone’s skin is different, you’ll want to visit a dermatologist in order to figure out which preventative treatment will be best for you and your skin type.
Oftentimes, you may hear of laser treatments as being the best for sagging jowls. However, the best laser for sagging neck and jowls is probably not a laser at all.
The more effective treatment for this issue is through ultrasound waves.
Ultrasound waves are able to penetrate deeper into the subcutaneous tissue. (This is the area of focus if we want to address tissue laxity). Deep tissue laxity, where there’s loss of contour and loss of integrity in the subcutaneous tissues, requires a device able to reach deep levels for repair.
The ultrasound treatment, more commonly known as Ultherapy, can treat a sagging neck and jowls. Ultherapy is the only device, of which I am aware, that penetrates deeply enough, tightens subcutaneous tissue, and lifts the neck and jaw area.
There are two additional options to treat sagging neck and jaws.
The first option lies with our plastic surgery colleagues. They do a wonderful job of taking that tissue and removing excess tissue. Also, a new product may be coming to the market the third quarter of 2015. Produced by Kythera, this innovation hasn’t been named yet; it may offer a new fat tissue option. Kythera pharmaceuticals has created a form of deoxycholic acid. The acid, a bile salt naturally found in our liver, emulsifies or saponifies fat tissue. (It becomes like a soap when in contact with fat tissue). Kythera’s synthetic form of the acid mixes with the chin or jaw fat and dissolves.
For sagging jowls or chin, a laser may not be the best option. Rather, ultrasound, or Ultherapy, most effectively treats skin laxity. Other cosmetic options, and Kythera’s soon to be released product, can also improve a lax jowl or chin.
Fun Fact: The process, of deoxycholic acid dissolving fat, was known as Mesotherapy in the European Union. It never quite caught on in the U.S. But now, with the advent of this agent, some really strong clinical studies are being conducted.
Are you struggling with sagging jowls and actually want a treatment that works? Book an appointment at one of our many locations and we can help you out.
