5 Fixes for a Sagging Jawline

Age brings about many changes — and, unfortunately, a sagging jawline is one of them. As we age, our bodies stop producing the collagen that once kept our skin and underlying tissue firm and elastic. Wrinkles begin to form, while the tissue in the midface starts to sag. This often causes fat and tissue to collect around the jawline, forming jowls and saggy skin.

At Gotham Plastic Surgery in Manhattan, New York, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip J. Miller takes a multimodality approach to facial treatments. As a highly reputable plastic surgeon, he offers the latest techniques in skin tightening, facial contouring, wrinkle reduction, and more.

If you’re unhappy with your jawline, Dr. Miller offers the best techniques for improving the shape of the chin and jawline.

Skin Tightening Solutions At Our Plastic Surgery Clinic

Jowls are simply skin and fat that sags beneath the chin and jawline. Nearly everybody gets jowls as the elasticity in their skin gradually depletes, though some have more prominent sagging than others. Fortunately, there are plenty of skin tightening solutions for loose skin around the jawline, including:

Ultherapy®

Ultherapy is a noninvasive treatment that is FDA-cleared to lift and tighten skin around the neck, chin, and brow. To lift saggy jowls, the device sends targeted ultrasound energy directly into the treatment area, which stimulates new collagen.

FaceTite™

FaceTite combines liposuction with radiofrequency energy to simultaneously eliminate unwanted fat and tighten skin. For those with saggy jowls, FaceTite is an excellent alternative to a traditional facelift.

Facelift

A facelift is a surgical procedure to lift the skin and underlying tissue. This procedure is ideal for individuals with severe jowl formation. Most patients recover from facelift surgery within 14 days and the effects can last for 10 years or more. Dr. Miller can also perform a liquid facelift, which uses a combination of injectables to lift and plump the skin.

The Fat Factor

Loose skin is one of the primary culprits behind aging skin, but fat collection is another important cause of jowls. Eliminating sagging fat can slim out your face and give you a more youthful appearance overall. There are many surgical and nonsurgical treatments to reduce submental fat underneath the chin and sculpt the jawline, such as:

Kybella®

Kybella is an injectable medication that uses synthetic deoxycholic acid to eliminate unwanted submental fat. Deoxycholic is a substance the body uses to break down and absorb fat. By injecting a synthetic form of this molecule into the fat beneath the chin, your body can get rid of it without surgery.

CoolSculpting®

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive treatment that essentially freezes fat. Once frozen, the fat cells beneath your chin die off and your body removes them through the liver.

Facial Liposuction

Facial liposuction is a procedure to remove unwanted fat through a cannula, a small tube that results in less bruising and swelling than a traditional needle.

Wrinkle Treatments 

Wrinkles around the mouth and chin can exacerbate the signs of aging when you have a sagging jawline. Fortunately, Gotham Plastic Surgery in Manhattan, New York offers several treatments to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These include:

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulators, like Botox® and Dysport®, smooth wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles beneath them. Facial lines that form from expressions, such as smiling and frowning, are called dynamic wrinkles. If you have lines around the mouth from puckering your lips, neuromodulators can help soften these wrinkles before they become deep set, static wrinkles.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers, such as Sculptra® and Restylane®, are gel-like substances that fill in static wrinkles. Unlike dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles are formed by volume loss. Injecting dermal fillers into static wrinkles around your chin, cheeks, and midface can have a lifting effect that reduces the appearance of heavy, saggy jowls.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing harnesses thermal energy to heat your skin’s underlying tissues. Your body responds by releasing new collagen and strengthening existing fibers to generate firmer, tighter skin.

Chin Improvement Options

A chin that looks proportional to the rest of your facial structure is crucial for a balanced appearance. When you lack jawline definition or have a weak chin, saggy jowls can appear more prominent. By increasing the size of the chin or jawline, Dr. Miller can improve your facial symmetry at their Manhattan, New York plastic surgery clinic. The treatments they offer include:

Chin Implants

Dr. Miller can increase the projection of your chin with a silicone, gore-tex, or medpor implant. Not only can a chin implant reduce the appearance of saggy jowls, it can also add balance between your chin and nose.

Mandibular Implants

Unlike chin implants, mandibular implants are designed to augment your entire jawline for a stronger, more defined appearance. Adding implants to your jawline also lifts and tightens saggy tissue that droops beneath the chin.

Injectable Fillers

Injecting dermal fillers into the lower face plumps up your skin to correct sagging around the chin and jawline. 

Neck Rejuvenation Tricks

When treating a sagging jawline, addressing the neck is just as important as tightening skin and reducing fat around the face. Fortunately, Dr. Miller offers several treatments to rejuvenate the neck at his plastic surgery clinic, such as:

Neuromodulators and Dermal Fillers

While neuromodulators can minimize neck wrinkles caused by muscle movement, dermal fillers can fill in lines to improve the appearance of horizontal lines and crepey skin.

NeckTite™

While FaceTite slims and tightens the face, NeckTite targets unwanted fat and skin laxity in the neck. Combining these treatments can significantly improve the appearance of the jawline and neck for comprehensive rejuvenation. 

Neck Lift

A traditional neck lift is a surgical procedure that lifts the tissue around the neck. This one-time procedure produces long-lasting results that can dramatically enhance the tone and texture of the skin beneath your jawline. Many patients choose to combine a facelift and neck lift to address sagging in both areas.

Dr. Miller’s proprietary NatraLook® process is an individualized treatment that allows you to collaborate with your facial plastic surgeon for truly customized results. During this process, you are encouraged to work with Dr. Miller to design a treatment plan that addresses all your concerns and helps you achieve your aesthetic goals. 

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact Gotham Plastic Surgery in New York City today.