Jowls or saggy pouches along the jawline are a common and cosmetically disconcerting accompaniment of aging. They result from the combined effect of the downward descent of the remnant of the cheek fad pads and a loss of bone volume, particularly of the chin bone.
Since loss of volume plays such a significant role, restoration of youthful contours can be quickly achieved non-surgically by simply re-volumizing either the jawline alone or both the jawline and chin with an appropriately selected volumizing agent.
Radiesse, which both provides immediate volume and stimulates naturally collagen production, is my agent of choice for straightening saggy jawlines and augmenting receding chins. Made of calcium hydroxylapatite, the material is relatively robust, long-lasting (especially in non-mobile areas, such as the jaw and chin) and gives a truly natural appearance. Thicker hyaluronic acid preparations, such as Juvederm UltraPlus and Perlane may also be used, but in general the results do not last quite as long. Ocassionally, for best and most lasting effects, I have layered these agents, i.e. combined their use of Radiesse.