Treatment For Sagging Jowls
The term “jowls” is often used to describe sagging skin below the chin or jawline. Almost everyone develops jowls as they age. It happens because the skin becomes thinner and less elastic over time. Jowls may be less pronounced in people who have thicker skin, more fat, or more collagen in the area below the cheeks and chin.
What Are Jowls
Jowls are the nickname for the areas of sagging skin that develop over the jawline. This is caused by the natural ageing process and becomes more prominent from the mid to late 40’s. Collagen is a protein that makes up the connective tissue within the body and elastin is another connective tissue protein that allows the skin to return to its normal shape even after being stretched.
As the proteins are lost during the ageing process the cheek skin surrounding your mouth loses its firmness and tightness. As the fat tissue (also known as fat pads) slip down towards the jawline, while the skin loses elasticity, firmness and lack of collagen, resulting in the formation of jowls.
What Causes Jowls
Jowls are caused by the natural ageing process and becomes more prominent from the mid to late 40’s. Face jowls develop as the skin loses elasticity and collagen (proteins in facial tissue). As these proteins deteriorate, the face loses firmness and tightness, causing the skin to sag. Face jowls can be caused by a variety of factors, these include:
- Loss of elastin and collagen
- Genetics
- Environmental Factors
- Lifestyle Factors
- Smoking
- Facial expressions
- Weight loss
- Sun exposure
- Using computers or phones
Ageing
As we age the skin in the cheeks and below the jawline loses much of its collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein found within the skin that makes up the connective tissue in your body. Elastin is another another connective tissue protein that lets the skin return to its normal shape even after being stretched.
For many you can test the collagen by pinching the skin on your upper hand and timing how long it takes to go back to normal. If it doesn’t go back to shape within seconds its likely that the person has lost a lot of the collagen and elastin within the skin.
As protein these proteins are lost with age the cheek skin surrounding the mouth loses its firmness and tightness. As this happens, gravity causes it to sag and descend to the area on either side of your mouth and chin. This results in the formation of saging jowls and skin.
Genetics
Genetics can also determine whether or not a person will develop jowls and how noticeable they become over time. Unfortunately if either of clients parents have jowls, they are more likely to develop them than parents who do not have jowls.
If a client has naturally thin skin or limited amounts of collagen and elastin within the skin, they may start to notice jowls at an earlier stage within their lifetime. It’s possible for a client to develop jowls as early as their teens or twenties. Some clients may considering having treatments at their twenties to slow down the ageing process.
Environmental & Lifestyle Factors
Other causes of jowls either come from environmental and or a persons lifestyle choices. These include, frequently making certain facial expressions can stretch out the face or neck skin. As they say, been very happy can cause laughter lines and wrinkles at an earlier age. As always, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight can damage the collagen within the skin. This can cause the skin to sag earlier and age at a more accelerated rate.
Weight loss or weight gain can cause jowls. When a person gains weight, the skin stretches to cover the increased body mass. However, if a client loses the weight, the stretched skin may begin to sag and develop into jowls.
Smoking cause blood to vessels to become more narrow and the nicotine and other chemical can damage collagen and elastin. Smoking limits the blood circulation around the body and into the skin cells. This prevents the skin from getting enough nutrients like vitamin A and oxygen to keep it healthy.
Finally, many may not think about computers and mobiles but the can cause jowls too! Using a computer, tablet or looking down at a smartphone for long periods of time can make the skin around the neck and mouth to lose its elasticity over time. Jowls that are caused in this way are called ‘tech neck’.
Non Surgical Treatment For Jowls
There are several non-surgical, non-invasive treatment options for treating sagging jowls or reducing how saggy or droopy they appear. 4D HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound), Cryolipolysis (360 fat freezing) and Radio Frequency are able to change the composition of the collagen in your skin, and look to remove and/or reduce the appearance of jowls.
4D HIFU Treatment For Jowls
4D HIFU uses highly focused ultrasound waves to target the deep structure layers of the skin that tighten and produce new collagen, resulting in tighter more firmer skin. HIFU therapy for face was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009.
The device was also cleared by the FDA in 2014 to improve lines and wrinkles of the upper chest and neckline (décolletage). HIFU neck and face lift treatment has shown to be both popular and effective treatment across the UK with many celebrities trying the treatment for themselves.
HIFU causes controlled thermal injury to the SMAS and dermis layer of the skin, this results in the bodies natural healing process. This increase the levels of new collagen, resulting in a gentle lifting and tightening of the skin, more importantly around the jawline.
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360 Fat Freezing (Cryolipolysis) Treatment For Jowls
Cryolipolysis or commonly known as 360 fat freezing, is a is a non-invasive, non-surgical, clinically proven method of targeting fat in problem areas using controlled cooling technology. The 360 fat freezing applicator can be applied to the chin and jawline, this helps to break down stubborn fat cells and reduces fat tissue within the targeted area.
Fat reduction results from 360 fat freezing is in the region of 20% – 40% of the fat in the targeted area, per treatment*. The procedure has been passed as safe by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and stated “Cryolipolysis is effective in the reduction of fat”.
360 Fat Freezing helps to define the jawline and achieve a more contoured jawline and sculpted face-side profile. As the fat cells are destroyed and removed naturally by the body the results can be seen within 6 – 12 weeks. The procedure comes with no downtime and can resume your daily activities straight after treatment.
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Radio Frequency Treatment For Jowls
Radio Frequency is non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that uses an applicator to induce the generation of heat within the cutaneous tissues. With the use of radio waves that heats the skin tissue that signals the body to start producing new collagen in the treated area.
The heat causes an increase in microcirculation and drainage of excess fluid, therefore reducing excess subcutaneous fat. This innovative technology delivers concentrated radio frequency (RF) heat to the deepest dermis layers hence promoting skin elasticity
This all results in new collagen production and tightening of the existing skin tissue and collagen fibres, thus creating firmer and tighter skin. This treatment is cost-effective and produces noticeable differences around the neck and jawline, and is therefore a great treatment for targeting Jowls.
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Prevent Jowls
- Avoid Smoking. The chemicals in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco can damage the skin. This can result in a reduction of collagen and cause saging jowls to aper at an earlier age.
- Limit Exposure To The Sun: To achieve this you should always apply sunscreen to your face and neck before heading out for the day. Make it a part of your morning routine to minimise damage from UV rays. Many clients think that this damage will not happen within the UK but this is not true, always stay shaded and use a 30SPF or higher.
- Limit Screen Time: Try to keep your head at a natural, comfortable angle when using a computer, tablet or phone to keep the neck skin from getting bunched up or stretched out. You can also protect your muscles by taking a 15 minute break for every hour of computer work that you do. Many clients follow chin exercises to help tighten the neck and chin area.
Face to Face Consultation
During your face to face consultation our aesthetic practitioners will assess your circumstances, goals, lifestyle, diet and your skin. This will help to offer advice on the course of treatments that will produce the best results. We will design a treatment plan based around your own goals and ensure we get the best possible results for you.
RT Aesthetics believe that aftercare is the most important part of treatment, thats why all our treatments come with free follow up appointments and phone support. We also hope you check out our case studies page to learn more about the treatment and read the latest scientific research articles. For more information or to book an appointment please contact us.
*Results vary from client to client, RT Aesthetics cannot guarantee specific results.