As women age, the collagen and fat layers of the face start to break down and the skin starts to sag off of the bone structures. It is one of the most telling signs of age and one that many women struggle with. It usually begins as a single crease, starting on either side of the mouth. Then, a woman may begin to notice skin sagging around the chin area, and that her cheeks do not look as high or as youthful as they once did. Soon, skin will begin to collect around the chin and neck area, creating those "jowls" that no one finds attractive.

All people will eventually develop these jowls, no matter how intense their skin moisturizing and care routine is. Gravity and natural aging are inevitable parts of life. While there are some measures that can be taken in order to prevent these sagging jowls for as long as possible, there is no way to avoid them forever. While some people accept these signs of aging, others will seek out solutions that will help them look younger and have more self-confidence.

Lifts

The most common solution for sagging jowls is a face lift. This procedure targets excess skin and wrinkles on the face and neck, including the jowls and nasolabial folds.

A face lift will focus on removing wrinkles from the lower and middle areas of the face. The surgeon makes an incision, just inside the hairline behind the ear; the surgeon then lifts and tightens the skin and underlying muscles, and then drapes the remaining skin over the features of the face. Excess skin is removed as necessary, and then the incision is closed with sutures. This procedure helps to smooth out the appearance of the skin.

A jowl lift targets sagging jowls specifically, lifting and removing excess skin so that there are no remaining tissues to be pulled down or affected by gravity. Both the face lift and jowl lift are effective measures for treating sagging jowls.

Fillers

Dermal fillers are popular for treating sagging jowls, but how effective they are going to be depends largely on the progression of the jowls. If a patient has significant jowls, adding more tissue to the area is likely not going to lift the skin to the point that the jowls will disappear. On the other hand, if the jowls are minimal, dermal fillers can be effective in minimizing their appearance or preventing the jowls from progressing.

Lasers

There are laser procedures that some women find helpful in rebuilding skin tissues and stopping the aging process. Some lasers are even supposed to help encourage collagen growth, which can fill in sagging skin and lift it back to a more natural and youthful appearance. These treatments, however, are not as effective as surgery or dermal filler injections.

For more detailed information about all of our potential treatment options for sagging jowls, and to find out which option is best for you, contact the practice of Dr. Paul Pin today.