What Are Jowls and How Do You Treat Them?

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Jowls are one of the most common signs of aging, but many people aren’t quite sure what they are or why they form. Understanding the causes behind sagging skin around the jawline—and the options available to treat it—can help you feel more confident and proactive about maintaining a youthful appearance.
Key Summary
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Jowls are the sagging skin that forms along the jawline and lower cheeks.
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They appear naturally with age due to collagen loss, gravity, and lifestyle habits.
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Prevention includes sun protection, healthy lifestyle choices, and early treatments.
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Non-surgical solutions like microneedling and radiofrequency, laser lifts, and fillers can help restore definition.
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Surgery is effective for advanced jowls, but non-invasive options continue to advance with impressive results.
What Are Jowls?
“Jowls” refers to the sagging or drooping skin that develops along the jawline and just below the cheeks, often creating what people call a “saggy jawline” or “jowling.” While the term may sound unflattering, jowls are a normal part of facial ageing and happen to nearly everyone over time.
In appearance, jowls create a softening of the once-sharp jawline, sometimes extending into folds of skin beneath the chin. Some describe it as “face jowls” or “skin under the chin sagging.” In medical and cosmetic terms, it is simply a result of the natural loss of skin firmness and elasticity.
What Causes Jowls?
Like most visible signs of ageing, jowls don’t appear overnight. They are influenced by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors:
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Ageing and Collagen Loss
Over time, the skin produces less collagen and elastin—the proteins responsible for firmness and structure. Without this supportive network, skin begins to loosen and sag. -
Gravity
Gravity constantly pulls on our skin and underlying tissues. As structural support weakens, this downward pull becomes more visible along the jawline. -
Lifestyle & Environmental Triggers
External factors like sun damage, poor sleep, and daily stress accelerate skin ageing. Repeated exposure to UV rays in particular breaks down collagen, speeding up sagging. Learn more about the causes of premature ageing. -
Genetics & Weight Changes
Some people are predisposed to developing jowls earlier based on facial structure and genetic tendencies. Fluctuations in weight, particularly significant weight loss, can also make sagging more noticeable.
Can You Prevent Jowls?

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While you can’t completely prevent jowls, you can slow their appearance and reduce their severity with mindful care
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Combine a Healthy Diet with Sun Protection
Antioxidant-rich foods and daily SPF defend skin against free radicals and UV damage. This simple habit supports long-term collagen preservation. -
Avoid Smoking and Excessive Alcohol
Both habits accelerate collagen breakdown and skin dehydration, making sagging worse. Alcohol in particular contributes to puffiness and dullness; here’s more on the effects of alcohol on skin. -
Use Firming Skincare Ingredients
Look for products with peptides, retinoids, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients promote firmness and hydration, giving skin a more lifted appearance. -
Maintain a Stable Weight
Repeated cycles of weight gain and loss stretch the skin and can weaken its elasticity over time. -
Consider Early Professional Treatments
Non-invasive treatments such as microneedling and radiofrequency stimulate collagen production before sagging becomes more severe. At Skin to Heart, our RF Microneedling and 4D Non-Invasive Laser Facelift are designed to target early signs of skin laxity, helping you maintain firmness and prevent deeper wrinkles over time.
Exercises for Sagging Jowls
Facial exercises, also known as “face yoga,” can help tone the muscles around your jawline and neck. While results are subtle and gradual, consistent practice may complement other anti-ageing strategies.
Chin Exercises

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The Chin Lift: Tilt your head back and push your lower lip upward as if pouting. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times.
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Tongue Press: Press your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth while lifting your chin slightly. Hold for 5 seconds.
Neck Exercises

Image by thcboneandjoint.com
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Neck Stretch: Look upward and gently push your jaw forward to feel a stretch under the chin. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat.
Facial Exercises
See more options for facial exercises to tighten skin. These routines target the cheek and jaw muscles, helping to create a firmer appearance over time.
Restore a Firmer, Younger-Looking Jawline with Skin to Heart
If jowls are making you feel less confident, know that you don’t have to live with them. At Skin to Heart, we offer advanced, non-invasive solutions like the 4D Non-Invasive Laser Facelift Treatment, which gently lifts and firms without downtime.
Our tailored plans often combine laser technology with skin-firming protocols to deliver natural, elegant results. You can also Book a Consultation with our team for personalised guidance on the most effective approach for your skin.
FAQs
At what age do jowls usually start to appear?
Jowls often begin to show in the late 30s to early 40s, though genetics and lifestyle can accelerate or delay their onset.
Can younger people develop jowls?
Yes. Significant weight fluctuations, genetic predisposition, or early collagen loss can cause jowls even in your 20s or 30s.
Can you prevent jowls?
You can’t stop them completely, but habits like sun protection, hydration, and collagen-stimulating skincare can slow their development.
Will losing weight get rid of jowls?
Not necessarily. In some cases, weight loss can make sagging more visible as volume decreases.
Do facial exercises or massages actually help?
They may help strengthen muscles and improve circulation, offering a subtle lifting effect. However, results are mild compared to professional treatments.
What non-surgical treatments work best for jowls?
Options like microneedling and radiofrequency or 4D Non-Invasive Laser Facelift are highly effective.
Are fillers or surgery better for redefining the jawline?
Dermal fillers can restore volume and create contour, but for advanced sagging, surgical lifts remain the gold standard. Non-invasive alternatives are ideal for those seeking subtle, natural improvements without downtime.
- Tags: aging and wrinkles skin care
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