Be Gone, “Boxer Dog” Face – Getting Rid Of Saggy Jowls

After staring at our own reflections on video conference calls for more than two years during the Covid-19 pandemic that started in 2020, it’s no surprise that aesthetic clinics around the world have seen an uptake in treatments for sagging jowls. Video calls are particularly unflattering for the lower face. The wide-angle lens on our computers can create distortion and make our jawline look bigger. Seeing that, you think “Argh.. I look like a Boxer dog!”

The good news is that there are ways to ‘shoo away’ the ‘boxer dog’ look syndrome and to treat jowls. Even better? There are non-invasive, non-surgical treatments for jowls available too. 

WHAT ARE SAGGING JOWLS?

One way to find out if you have saggy jowls, also known as jowls, is when your face is all droopy and you look sad when you’re actually happy!

A sagging jawline occurs because of the aging process. As we age, the bones of our face decrease in size, leading to less support for the fat, muscle and skin, causing them to sag.

From our 20s onwards, the levels of collagen and elastin in the dermis begin to decrease, the skin becomes thinner, looser, and starts to sag. Then, we start to lose fat in the cheeks and temples, causing our chin and neck to lose its form. 

When this happens, it means we lose the key volume in our face that gives us that round, full, youthful look. All the above leads to a lack of support, causing a sagging jawline.

Jowls aren’t harmful to your health, but people can be self-conscious about them. Although sagging jowls can be a natural part of getting older, they can also be caused or aggravated by:

• Sun damage

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can damage the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin, leading to sagging and drooping.

• Genetic

The genes you inherit from your parents can play a role in how your skin ages, eg. some people may have a genetic predisposition to accumulating fat in the lower face and jawline, which can lead to the appearance of saggy jowls.

• Gravity

The constant pull of gravity can cause the skin on your face to sag and droop over time.

• Lifestyle factors

Smoking, poor nutrition, stress and lack of sleep can accelerate the development of saggy jowls.

• Fat loss, eg. Weight loss after crash diets

As we gain weight, the skin stretches, losing this weight can then create a problem whereby there is excess skin, inevitably sagging.

There are other minor factors, for instance, some claim that a large amount of screen time (eg. Zoom/Google Meet video conferencing) can lead to prominent jowls – this is because of the tendency to look down the screen for extended periods. Gravity plays a role in the development of saggy jowls as the downward pull of gravity can cause the skin and tissues to sag over time.

QUICK SOLUTIONS FOR SAGGY JOWLS

The first tip is to address factors that can create sagging jowls – quit or cut back on smoking and reduce exposure to the sun’s UV rays. These will not eradicate jowls, but it may help prevent them from worsening.

EXERCISE

Alternatively, there are exercises you can try.

• Chin Exercise

Close your mouth and then jut your lower jaw out and, simultaneously, raise your lower lip. Hod the position for a few seconds and then repeat around 20 times – and then repeat the whole process. 

The aim is to exercise the jaw and to define muscle in this region.

• Neck Exercise

With your head level, keep everything still apart from your neck and move the neck fully back and then forward. With your head still level, your jaw should jut out as you go forward. 

While exercises like the above help to strengthen some muscles, the effect is to a certain extent only; they are not targeting or removing loose skin.  

NON-SURGICAL PROCEDURES 

• Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a popular option which uses an injection of hyaluronic gel to stimulate collagen and elastin creation, that leads to tightened skin. By injecting into multiple layers of the skin, results can be long-lasting – often up to two years. 

• Thread Lift

The PDO thread lift is a non-surgical procedure that focuses on stimulating collagen production in your jowls. The process begins by inserting special threads into the skin beneath your jaw. 

Instead of removing your loose facial skin surgically, the doctor simply suspends it by stitching up portions of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back slightly, lifting and tightening the face. 

Over time, the treads will be naturally absorbed by your body. But before they are absorbed, they will trigger collagen production in your face. As collagen production increases, your skin will become more elastic and firmer. Your jowls will snap back into place and no longer hang down.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

If you are looking to have an attractive ‘V’ shaped instead of ‘U’ shaped jawline, call us now at +6012-662 5552 to make an appointment with our doctors who will begin the process by accessing your main concerns. 

With thread lift, you don’t have to dread drooping jawlines anymore and can look forward to a younger, more beautiful version of you! 

REFERENCE

• https://premier-clinic.com/our-services/thread-lift-non-surgical-facelift/
• https://www.amoderm.com/cosmedical-services/thread-lift/
• https://drtheva.com.au/blog/anti-aging/treatments-for-getting-rid-of-sagging-jowls/
• https://www.glowday.com/blog/saggy-jowls
• https://doctornyla.com/how-to-tighten-sagging-jowls/
• https://premier-clinic.com/our-services/dermal-filler/