Facial Sagging: Empowering You to Make Informed Choices
Welcome to But More Importantly, where we delve deeply into a range of skincare topics every week. We'll be tackling everything from hair care and skin care to cosmetic procedures and medical conditions over the coming months. Whether it's prescription treatments or over-the-counter products, if you've got questions, we'll address them here. This week, we're focusing on the much-loathed jowls, the bane of my existence. This facial area is notoriously difficult to target, whether we're talking creams, home devices, minimally invasive procedures, or even surgical solutions such as facelifts.
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What are Jowls?
So, what are jowls? And when do they begin to appear? As we age, several changes occur simultaneously. Our bone structure shifts, our facial padding of fat and muscle diminishes, and our skin, the fabric that holds it all together, loses elasticity due to sun damage, aging, and the physical strains of daily life. As we mature, everything begins to shift, shrink, and drop against a backdrop of gradually receding bone structure. Among these changes, you'll notice the emergence of jowls. Contrary to common belief, jowls don't appear last. In fact, there are three significant stages of aging.
3 Peaks of Aging
The first noticeable changes occur in the late 20s to early 30s, when you may start to see a difference in your facial appearance over a span of six months. Trust me, it's a real phenomenon. There's a secondary zenith in life that occurs around your late 30s. Over a short span of about a month, you begin to notice changes. Your facial features seem different, something feels off. You observe a certain heaviness and a loss in facial volume. And then, the final peak arrives in your mid-40s. These changes almost happen overnight, leading to a point where you barely recognize yourself in the mirror.
I've heard and seen this story over and over again. And then, you reach a decision point – either accept these changes and do something about it, or choose to ignore them. Regardless, these are the significant turning points in life where jowls become notably apparent. It might go unnoticed in the period between the two peaks, but when you hit that second peak, it's hard to ignore.
I experienced it myself this past spring. I was editing a video and noticed changes in the lower part of my face. But the question is, how can I help you deal with it? In this article, we will cover a spectrum of solutions, starting from minimally invasive home remedies to more intensive in-office treatments.
At-Home Treatments: What Really Works?
While facial massages won't solve the problem entirely, they can provide temporary relief by moving some lymphatic fluid that may be accumulating in certain parts of your face due to gravity. It might make your face look better for an hour or two. However, it's a transient solution. Products like jade rollers and gua sha tools work on the same principle. They help in massaging your muscles, relaxing them, and moving some of that lymphatic fluid causing the swelling. You may want to try the Depuffer from Dr. Idriss. It comes with a serum that helps reduce the appearance of swelling and inflammation for a few hours after you're done rolling. It's by no means a cure, but it's a part of the solution framework.
If you're willing to spend more, you could consider microcurrent devices like the NuFace or the Zip. Remember, these devices only work as long as you use them. Once you stop, the benefits disappear. But what exactly do these microcurrents do?
The temporary plumping effect seen after using a facial device is typically due to stimulated circulation and lymphatic fluid movement. The noticeable "snatched" appearance some individuals see on social media isn't permanent, but rather a short-term result of shifting lymphatic fluid. For frequent at-home treatments, devices like NuFace or Zip are recommended. You should know, though, there's no sponsorship involved here; this suggestion is purely based on their effectiveness.
In-Office Treatments: Navigating the Maze of Options
Treating facial sagging in a clinic, however, differs significantly. Aging, a process involving changes in bone structure, loss of facial fat, and skin elasticity, isn't a problem with a single solution. Whether it's fillers, tightening treatments, or threads, a combination of treatments is usually the best approach to counteract aging signs effectively.
A caveat: Buccal fat removal, especially in the young, is a critical red flag. Removing fat from this area prematurely can hasten aging and lead to more pronounced sagging. Yet, in older individuals with significant facial weight, a careful fat re-distribution could be beneficial.
For in-office treatments, several approaches can address different root causes. If volume loss is the issue, strategically placed fillers can create an optical illusion of lift. But remember, fillers won't lift your face — the skill of the provider plays a key role in achieving a natural and proportional result. Secondly, not all fillers are equal. Those with higher density can help reshape your jawline, giving it a more contoured appearance. I personally undergo this treatment once a year. Thirdly, stimulants like Sculptra can boost your collagen production. This treatment is beneficial if you're experiencing significant volume loss, resulting in sagging. By restoring volume across your face and temples, it gives a lifted appearance.
Finally, if skin laxity is your primary concern, as it is for many since we start losing collagen from our mid-twenties, procedures that contract and tighten the skin without fat reduction can be highly beneficial. Ultrasound energy or radiofrequency heat treatments are good examples, but remember, skill matters here too. Unskilled use can result in fat loss, which can make your skin laxer and harder to tighten. Less is indeed more.
I undergo treatments such as Ultherapy on a biennial basis. I'm not a big supporter of constantly disrupting the skin barrier with procedures like microneedling, so I suggest mild treatments once or twice a year if you decide to follow that route. The choice between microneedling and Ultherapy largely depends on the condition of your skin—if you have numerous fine lines or textural changes, microneedling could be more beneficial as it breaks and rejuvenates the skin barrier. However, these decisions should be left to a trusted professional, therefore, avoid low-cost deals and instead choose a provider whose aesthetic sensibilities align with yours.
In terms of threading, I am not an enthusiast. Threads, which are dissolvable sutures inserted into the skin, can give the illusion of firmness by creating a collagen-rich scar tissue around them. While they offer immediate results, the effects wear off in a couple of weeks and real results take a few months to manifest. I don't recommend them for regular use as they can lead to excessive scar tissue formation which could complicate future facelift procedures.
Even facelifts, despite being performed by the most skilled surgeons, are not a permanent solution. They might look great initially due to the tightness and swelling but the first signs of aging reappear around the six-month mark, especially around the jowls. It's crucial to understand the changes your face is undergoing in order to make informed decisions. For instance, using an injection like Kybella to dissolve fat from the jowls isn't the best idea as it could lead to sagging skin.
The truth of the matter is that there's no universal solution. Just as with skincare, it's always about a mix of ingredients, a blend of procedures - particularly when it comes to the anatomy of your face and your overall structure. This is Caolan, and I welcome any questions you may have in the comments below.
About the Author: Caolan
With over a decade of international experience, Caolan's passion lies in simplifying the complex. His innovative thinking and audience-first approach have made significant impacts across the creative industries. Now, as the founder of But More Importantly, he applies these talents to the world of cosmetics, aiming to unmask marketing hype and provide readers with the truth about beauty products. His mission: to help you make informed choices and discover what truly enhances your beauty routine.
