When people realize that their jowls - the lower part of the cheeks - have begun to sag, they may visit a plastic surgeon and say they want their jowls to "go away" or they say they "want to see their neck again." Usually, the next question is "how do I accomplish this without surgery?"
It helps to think about the face like a grape and a raisin. When a grape is dehydrated, it loses volume and turns into a raisin. With the aging process, the face loses fat and volume, which leads to loose skin and wrinkles.
Sometimes you can address the problem early with non-surgical options like wrinkle fillers or fat grafting, but those options do not address the neck. Over time, gravity pulls the volume from your face into your neck. According to most plastic surgeons, the only way to tighten up your neck and restore definition to the jawline is with a lower facelift.
Sagging jowls treatment
Although the skin is sagging and the jowls look unsightly, the best way to correct these problems is to tighten the underlying structures. These structures include fat, muscle and fascia (strong connective tissue that holds it all together) in a structure called the SMAS (submusculoaponeurotic system). There are many different techniques to accomplish this but they all have several key points:
1- Lifting the SMAS to its original position makes for a more natural result.
2- Lifting the SMAS will restore facial volume where it is needed most and in a smooth natural way.
3- Lifting the SMAS will take the tension off of the skin so it can be pulled and stretched without undue tension, creating a more pleasing overall appearance with less scarring.
Preventing sagging jowls
There are non-surgical treatments and lifestyle choices that professionals say can prevent (or delay) the sagging of facial tissues, including the jowls.
1- Retin-A
2- Anti-oxidants
3-Zinc Oxide Sunblock
4-Alpha Hydroxy Acids
5- Hydroquinone
6- Frequent Chemical peels
7- Lots of sleep
8-Lots of water
Related Links
- How to tighten tissues of the lower face
- How to treat sagging jowls
- What's the best way to treat sagging neck skin?
- Can Thermage tighten sagging jowls?