Wrinkles and fine lines are often the earliest signs of aging, showing up around the eyes, mouth and forehead. Jowls, on the other hand, tend to appear later. A sharp jawline helps define the face, but as collagen and elasticity decline, the skin in that area can begin to sag—creating droopiness where a crisp contour once was. While genetics can play a role, jowls are most commonly the result of natural aging, and treating them at home can feel like an uphill battle. The good news: there are effective options. Below, we spoke with four doctors to break down the best ways to address jowls and restore definition.
Featured Experts
What Causes Jowls
“Jowls are the result of facial fat that has descended down over the mandible,” says Louisville, KY plastic surgeon Bradley M. Calobrace, MD. This, as he explains, leads to a decline in volume in the face and sagging skin around the jawline. According to New York plastic surgeon Oren Tepper, MD, there are fixed anchor points that connect the facial bones and deeper tissues to the skin. These attachments create a visible demarcation as the surrounding tissue descends with age.
Our skin is constantly changing, and the reduction of collagen can lead to many issues. In the case of jowls, Charlotte, NC dermatologist Gilly Munavalli, MD says that the combined loss of collagen and elasticity is to blame. “The natural aging process plays a big role in jowl development and is often the main reason sagging skin occurs along the jawline. However, she notes that genetics, sun damage and weight fluctuations can also contribute to the issue.
Jowl Treatments
Nonsurgical Devices
While some signs of aging can be remedied with skin-care ingredients and targeted routines, treating jowls requires a more advanced approach. “Retinoids and peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can help boost collagen production, but they won’t reverse the effects of sagging skin,” says Dr. Munavalli. At best, they support firmness and delay the progression of jowl formation.
In-office treatments, such as nonsurgical devices, will provide more profound results. Everesse is a noninvasive radiofrequency treatment often used for skin tightening. Pittsburgh, PA plastic surgeon Jeffrey Antimarino, MD explains that it uses transdermal RF to treat the soft tissue, resulting in temporary collagen improvement and enhanced position of the SMAS layer. Ultrasound technology can also be used to tighten the skin by stimulating collagen production deep beneath the skin’s surface. Dr. Calobrace adds that microneedling combined with RF and lasers can also be beneficial.
Fillers & Injectables
Facial balancing is a different route that helps treat jowls. By restoring volume loss, you can enhance the jawline and improve its definition. Dr. Munavalli mentions that hyaluronic acid fillers are a good option for facial balancing and create a smooth appearance. You can also try Kybella injections. According to Dr. Calobrace, placing fillers or fat in the prejowl sulcus and in the outer jawline can help disguise the fullness in hollow areas.
However, fillers and injectables require a thoughtful hand. “It’s important not to overfill with these treatments. Excessive volume can actually accentuate the jowl instead of improving it,” says Dr. Tepper.
Surgical Procedures
Facelifts remain the standard surgical procedure for correcting jowls. “They reposition and tighten the SMAS layer to deliver a more youthful contour and typically endure for eight to 10 years,” says Dr. Antimarino. However, for those with advanced laxity, a combined approach may be more ideal. Neck lifts are becoming increasingly popular and can address sagging skin in the jowl area by tightening deeper tissue layers and removing excess skin. For a less invasive approach, Dr. Munavalli says liposuction paired with skin-tightening treatments is particularly helpful when excess fat contributes to a loss of jawline definition.
