As we advance in age, so too does our skin begin to give up the fight against gravity. You may or may not have heard of the term ‘jowls’; a popular phrase coined about the skin that begins to droop around the cheeks and jawline as we age.

How to get rid of Sagging Jowls?

Jowls can be treated by different surgical and non-surgical methods, for example, the non-surgical jawline lift is a very minimally invasive method to improve their appearance.

What Causes Jowls?

Here are 9 reasons why your jawline jowls can sag:

1. Gravity in addition to time = jowls

This is the number one cause of jowls. As time ticks, age is counting and the continuous downward pull of gravity changes the appearance of our face. This is because as we age, our skin loses its elasticity, thereby resulting in jowls in the face region. This is a common thing when in our 50s and beyond.

2. Genetics – Saggy Jowls

Our genes play an important role in our skin and the same thing can be said of jowls for some people. You see some, even when they are not within the age bracket of those that can easily have it, manifest it because it is in their genes. And if it’s common among the older members of your family, then there is a high probability of you getting it.

3. Reduced Skin Elasticity

The elasticity of the skin reduces with age and as it gets exposed to the sun, thereby making the skin sag. And since the side and lower cheeks are loosely attached to the facial bones, muscles of the cheek tend to droop along with the sagging skin. Exposing your skin to sun, damages some vital components of the skin layer. For example, long-term exposure breaks down the collagen in the body which causes jowls.

4. Loss of Face Muscle Tone

Our muscles become weaker as we age due to wear and tear. And our muscles lose firmness at that point resulting in jowls all over the face. The cheekbones disappear and what you see is a flat, wide face with different pouches in the cheek.

5. Repeated Mouth Movements

Movement of the mouth, laughing and other facial expressions creates what’s known as nasal labial fold at the corner of the mouth. In non-nerdy terms, it is on these folds that the sagging facial skin falls.

6. Loss of Facial Volume

As we get older, we tend to lose our facial fat and when this happens, the overlying skin becomes lax and sags. This facial fat is positioned up on the cheek when we are young but comes down as we age, which results in the facial jowls around our jawline.

7. Cigarette Smoking Causes Jowls

Cigarette smoking speeds up the normal aging process of our skin, and the skin starts to wrinkle and sag much faster than it would for the non-smoker. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes causes the narrowing of blood vessels near the skin surface, which restricts the flow of blood to the skin.

This deprives the skin of enough oxygen and nutrients like vitamin A which are essential to its firmness. Also, the chemicals in tobacco damage the collagen and elastin, which are the fibrous proteins that give the skin its strength and elasticity. Once the skin starts wrinkling and sagging, then it is an opportunity for jowls to show up.

8. Rapid Weight Loss or Gain May Cause Jowls

When someone suddenly gains weight with more facial fat, jowls are noticeable. Also, a sudden weight loss will leave the excess facial skin droopy and form saggy jowls. Ideally, to avoid jowls, it is best you keep a stable weight.

9. Sleeping Positions Reduce or Increase Jowls

You may not consider sleeping in the same position every night as a cause of jowls but sleeping on your sides has effects on the skin of your chin and cheeks. According to The American Academy of Dermatology, people who sleep on their backs experience less sagging jaws compared to those who sleep with their faces on the pillow.

There you have it. Nine of the top causes of jowls. The more of these nine factors you can master, the better you can reduce your chances of unwanted jawline sagging.