Jowls: Causes, Prevention & How To Get Rid of Them

Jowls are the sagging of the jawline that often comes with age as facial support structures weaken. They’re commonly described as a softening of the lower cheeks.

How Jowls Form Along the Jawline

Starting around age 40, many people lose firmness and definition around the lower face. Ageing, gravity, skin elasticity loss, and ligament laxity are key contributors to these shifts:

• Fat in the face shifts downward, making the lower face appear heavier.
• The natural support structures in the face loosen, so tissues don’t stay in place as well.
• Collagen and elastin decrease with age, leading to skin that becomes less firm and elastic.
• The skin becomes looser overall, particularly in areas more susceptible to gravity’s effects.

These combined changes create the appearance of sagging along the jawline.

What Jowls Look Like

Jowls typically appear as:

• Loose skin under the chin
• Sagging tissue along the lower face
• A less defined or uneven jaw outline

Some patients describe it as the jawline “blending” into the neck. Others say they feel like their lower cheeks have shifted downward.

Jowls vs. Double Chin vs. Loose Skin

Although the following concerns are often grouped together, they’re each slightly different:

• Jowls form when the deeper tissues that support the lower face shift downward over time. This creates softness or sagging along the jawline, even in people who aren’t carrying extra weight.
• A double chin occurs when excess fat accumulates beneath the chin. It can appear gradually, even in otherwise slender individuals, and may become more noticeable with age or genetic factors.
• Loose skin under the chin or along the neck often develops after weight loss or as a natural part of ageing. Even without true jowls, this laxity can make the lower face look less defined.

Together, these issues can alter the appearance of the jawline. At ICLS, we tailor treatment plans to the individual concerns, recommending either surgical or non-surgical solutions.

So, what causes jowls? Some sagging jowls are age-related, while others result from genetic factors, lifestyle choices, or weight fluctuations.

Natural Ageing and Collagen Loss

As collagen and elastin decline naturally over time, the skin becomes thinner and less resilient. With these shifts, the jawline may not appear as defined. Ageing also affects bone structure and deeper tissues, further contributing to sagging jowls.

Genetics and Facial Structure

Some people are predisposed to developing jowls at a younger age. Factors such as a softer jawline, a shorter chin, or thinner skin can make jowling more noticeable, even in your 30s and 40s.

Significant Weight Changes

Gaining or losing weight rapidly can stretch the skin and alter the distribution of facial fat. After dramatic weight loss, some patients notice new laxity or loose skin under the chin. 

Sun Exposure and Lifestyle Factors

Overexposure to ultraviolet rays accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin. As the American Academy of Facial Esthetics explains, damaging these crucial proteins makes the skin less supple and more prone to sagging and wrinkles.

Smoking, chronic stress, or poor sleep can also contribute to an early loss of firmness and cause early jowling.

Early Onset Jowls in 20s–30s

Early jowling can occur in younger patients due to genetic factors or inherent facial structure. Preventive steps — such as proper skin care, sun protection, and healthy lifestyle habits — may help slow the progression.

Saggy jowls develop gradually. Many people don’t realize how much their jawline has changed until they see photos of themselves in their youth. 

If you’re noticing jowl lines and a sagging jawline that’s impacting your self-confidence, know that you have options. Here are some subtle signs it might be time to consider jowl treatment.

Visible Changes in Lower Face Contour

You may see softening or drooping along the jawline, or a loss of definition between the chin and neck. It could be as simple as noticing a heaviness or fullness in the lower face that wasn’t there before.

Skin Laxity Under the Chin

It’s common for loose skin under the chin to appear alongside jowls. Even if you don’t have a double chin, any laxity in this area can impact definition on the lower face.

When Early Prevention Helps Most

Many wonder how to avoid jowls in the first place. In many cases, early intervention may prevent jowls and slow progression. For mild jowls, strategies such as volume restoration or skin tightening can help contour the jawline.

If you’re exploring how to fix jowls, you’re likely comparing both surgical and non-surgical options. At ICLS, we specialize in personalized treatment for jowls tailored to individual goals.

Facelift Surgery for Jowls

A facelift is the gold standard for moderate-to-severe jowls. Modern techniques lift and reposition the deep layers of tissue supporting the lower face.

Benefits of a facelift include:

• A redefined jawline
• Reduction of jowl heaviness
• A smoother, more youthful-looking lower face

Mini Neck Lift To Address Sagging Along the Jawline

If your goal is to tighten the jawline, a mini neck lift may help. This procedure targets less severe sagging under the chin and along the upper neck. 

A mini neck lift may be ideal if you want to: 

• Tighten jowls with less downtime than a complete facelift
• Restore jawline definition 
• Improve lower-face contours

Chin Enhancement To Restore Facial Balance

Chin structure can influence how noticeable jowls appear. A naturally small or recessed chin can make the lower face look heavier, even with mild jowls. 

Enhancing the chin with an implant or fat transfer can help:

• Create better facial balance
• Sculpt the jawline
• Refine the profile when jowls pull the lower face downward

Fat Transfer for Subtle Lower-Face Lifting

Loss of volume in the mid-face or lower face can make jowl lines appear more pronounced. Fat transfer restores natural fullness using your own fat. It can help support the jawline and refine the transition between the cheek and chin.

Why Non-Surgical Options Have Limits for True Jowls in the Face

Are you curious how to get rid of jowls naturally? While facial exercises, massage, or topical treatments can support healthy skin, they cannot lift a saggy jawline. Likewise, with more pronounced jowls, surgical techniques often yield better outcomes than non-surgical treatments.

If you’re exploring how to lift jowls, start with an initial consultation. Our surgeon can review your options for jawline tightening, so you can feel confident moving forward.

As you research how to fix jowls, it’s helpful to have an idea of what to expect in terms of recovery and results. Following after-care instructions can improve outcomes.

Recovery Timeline

Recovery from jowl tightening varies depending on the procedure. Most patients return to light activities within a few days and resume their regular routines within one to two weeks. Swelling and bruising gradually lessen, and results continue to develop over several months. 

How Long Do Results Last

A facelift, mini neck lift, or combined procedure delivers long-lasting improvements. There’s no sagging jowls treatment that can stop the natural ageing process. However, restoring proper support can give you a refreshed, youthful jawline for many years.

Preventing Jowls After Treatment

To prevent jowls from returning prematurely, we recommend:

• Using daily sun protection
• Practicing routine skincare to support skin health
• Maintaining a stable weight
• Not smoking
• Incorporating healthy lifestyle habits, including proper sleep and exercise

These small steps help extend your results and maintain a defined jawline.

Patients across Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, and the GTA trust ICLS to tighten skin under the chin and rejuvenate facial appearance. Our decades of experience, advanced surgical centre, and commitment to natural-looking outcomes have consistently earned us five-star reviews. 

At ICLS, our team specializes in procedures that restore structure, not simply tighten the skin. Results let you look refreshed, not overdone. Whether you want subtle or more dramatic changes, we personalize plans to your specific needs. We also guide patients toward the best techniques for future concerns, including facial asymmetry.