How to Get a Non-Invasive Jowl Lift Without Surgery

by Linda Robison

The following tips will show you how to improve your jawline while enhancing your natural beauty.

Woman pulling her face up to reduce the look of sagging jowls.

A jowl lift without surgery?

While a true jowl lift typically requires surgery, you can enhance your jawline and address sagging through natural at-home and in-office procedures.

These methods include facial exercises, skincare routines, and non-surgical treatments, offering a non-invasive approach to improve the appearance of your jawline.

Aging is a natural and beautiful process that brings about changes in our appearance.

But, for some, facial aging, especially the loss of definition in the jawline, can be a concern, affecting how we feel about ourselves.

If this concerns you, keep reading to find out how you can firm a droopy jawline, and as a side benefit, enhance other facial features too!

What causes jowls?

A woman-pulling on her face to fix sagging jowls.

The most common reason given: A loss of skin elasticity.

Most of us have heard this before. Skin loses elasticity with age. And this can start as early as your late 20s.

But there is more to flabby jowls than just loose skin. Other culprits include:

  • a shift and decline in facial fat pads 
  • a loss of muscle tone
  • a loss of bone density, resulting in a less defined facial structure

These age-related changes, combined with the effects of gravity, can lead to a droopy or less defined jawline and sagging neck. 

Coming up next:

How to treat (or prevent) sagging jowls and neck. We'll start with the least expensive, easiest to use to the more pricey, yet more effective options.

Non-Surgical Treatment for jowls

1. Increase Hydration with Ceramides & Hyaluronic Acid

Include ceramide-rich products and/or hyaluronic acid products in your skincare routine.

Cermadies:

Ceramides are natural lipids (fats) found in the outermost layer of the skin. They help prevent moisture loss and strengthen and support health and elasticity. Ceramides give your skin a nice plump appearance.

This plant-derived ceramide-rich cream is a good choice and at a great price point. It's hydrating, but not greasy.

Hyaluronic Acid:

HA can also plump the skin, maintain hydration levels, and support elasticity suppleness. However, don't use a combo ceramide/hyaluronic acid product. Why?

Hyaluronic acid serums work better when applied separately under your ceramide rich creams. 

Note: To get the most benefits from hyaluronic acid, it should be applied to clean, dry skin before your moisturizer. You can learn more about using hyaluronic acid for the best results here.

2. Boost Collagen with Retinol Derivatives or Vitamin A

Retinol is the proven, gold-standard anti-aging cream!

It's known for its ability to stimulate collagen, which supports firmness and elasticity. It can also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and of the jowls and neck.

Over-the-counter retinol creams and serums are pretty effective, have less side effects than prescription versions, but take longer to see results. So, be patient and make it part of your daily routine habit.

To save time and money on yet another face cream, consider using a retinol serum that can be applied under your or mixed with moisturizer. Much easier than having yet another cream on my bathroom shelf! 😊

3. Get a Natural Lift with Exercises/Massages

Face exercises (that include massaging) target the underlying muscles of the face, including those around the jowls.

Strong, toned facial muscles can support over-lying skin, which can help provide a slight lift.

It can also address the reasons for sagging of the lower face, which include:

  • loss of muscle tone
  • decline in facial fat pads 
  • loss of bone density, resulting in a less defined facial structure

Here is how exercises may help:

1. Exercises can tone facial muscles and improve fullness in upper and mid-face area, resulting in a younger lifted look. 1,2

2. According to Dr. Olbricht, building muscles in the face might help keep fat pads from sliding down. However, the results are subtle and not as dramatic as it would be with cosmetic treatments like fillers. 3 

Note: While results are subtle, I tried face exercises for my hanging jowls and was very impressed. See my before and after pictures.

Also, try this free facial exercise for jowls video.

3. Face exercises using a contracting/sliding technique, not only build muscle fiber and rejuvenate connective tissues, but may also revitalize bone. This technique was developed by Dr. Frederick Rossiter, M.D. 4

More about the effects on bone density and how it contributes to a sagging face and neck. You'd be surprised how much your facial bones change and shift with age. See these photos.

4. Plump-up with Dermal Fillers

Injectable dermal fillers can be strategically placed in the cheeks to restore mid-face volume, which provides lift, and improves the appearance of sagging jowls.

You'd be surprised how a little volume in the cheeks can lift the face.

JAWLINE FILLER:

Consider asking if a jawline filler is right for you:

A jawline filler (like Juvederm® Volux® XC) is injected into the jawline area to enhance its shape and contour. The filler adds volume and structure to the jawline, helping to define and sharpen its appearance.

It can address concerns such as a weak or undefined jawline, flabby jowls, or lax skin around the jaw area. 

5. Tighten-up with Thermage or Ultherapy

Thermage is a type of radiofrequency treatment that heats the deeper layers of the skin.

This targets the underlying tissues to stimulate collagen production and promote skin tightening. It works by delivering targeted energy to the skin's deeper layers, promoting tissue tightening and lifting effects.

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to target deeper layers of the skin, including the foundational support layers, to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin.

It is typically used for lifting and tightening the face, neck, and decolletage.

Of course, the choice between Ultherapy and Thermage depends on individual factors such as skin condition, treatment goals.

Consult with your skincare provider to see which is best for your situation.

Final thought on getting a jowl lift without surgery

The options listed here may provide some improvements for a sagging neck and jowl line.

But it won't provide the same level of lifting and tightening as surgical interventions.

If you have significant concerns about sagging jowls, it's advisable to consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who can provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommend the most suitable treatment options for your specific needs.

Regarding face exercises for sagging jowls and neck:

The beauty of face exercises is that they can enhance your beauty by improving skin tone and texture and create firmer, facial contours. 

And, they work well with other procedures listed on this page. For example, you can get Thermage or Ultherapy treatments and still engage in facial exercises to help maintain results.

Just make sure you check with your provider after treatment, as there is usually a bit of downtime after RF and laser procedures.

Reference:

1. Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging - PMC (nih.gov)

2. Enhancing Facial Aesthetics with Muscle Retraining Exercises-A Review - PMC (nih.gov)

3. Does your face need a workout? - Harvard Health

4. Bone Loss and Skin Remodeling Through Facial Exercises



FAQ: Jowl Lift Without Surgery

Q: What do you suggest for sagging neck and jowls treatment?

A: Depending on how severe the skin laxity is, the treatment options listed above may also help reduce the look of a sagging neck. 

Q: Does massaging help jowls?

A: Yes, massaging the skin can help increase fibroblast activity and increase elastin and collagen production. Below is a good lower face, jowl massage you can try.