How to Treat a Sagging Neck and Jowls
Signs of facial aging are something we all experience at some point. Do you look in a mirror at your once sharp jawline and now see hanging jowls and sagging neck skin? Or perhaps you are starting to see the faces of your older relatives when you look in the mirror?
There are many things we can do to address the telltale signs of facial aging, and surgery is not always the answer. Here we talk about filler or injectables, minimally invasive procedures like Liposuction, and finally, a Facelift / Necklift. Read on to learn more about your options and which one might be right for you.
Anti-aging prevention is key. Here are 3 Simple Steps for Healthier Looking Skin!
Treating a Sagging Neck and Jowls with Filler
The least invasive treatment to help lift a sagging neck and other signs of facial aging is filler injections.
At Tannan Plastic Surgery, we use different brands of a dissolvable filler made of a natural substance throughout our bodies – hyaluronic acid. These fillers are FDA-approved and intended for use in different places.
Some fillers like Juvederm, Voluma, and Restylane Lyft are specifically designed to lift the cheeks and restore the volume of your cheekbone contour. Others like Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus and Restylane are often placed in nasolabial folds, or the creases on either side of your nose and mouth. Volbella and Juvederm Ultra work very well in combination for the fine lines of the lips, and Restylane is excellent in the hollows under the eyes called the tear troughs.
This constellation of sagging tissues happens from the combined effect of sun-damaged collagen, gravity, and volume loss with age and time. Placing filler in areas that have lost volume can lift the jowls back up and off a sagging neckline. Treatment planning takes a solid understanding of anatomy and the facial aging process.
Not everyone is a candidate for filler. How do you know if filler can help your sagging neck and jawline? Right when the jowls are starting to become noticeable is a great time to begin filler treatments. Another sign is when you notice the apples of your cheeks sagging into the middle of your face.
Treating a Sagging Neck and Jowls with Submental Liposuction
For women (and men!) with good, strong collagen and more of a sagging chin fat issue, we recommend Submental Liposuction. This procedure targets the hanging fat and tightens the sagging neck and skin under the chin.
It takes a trained eye to identify the problem areas and recommend the ideal facial aging treatment for you. For example, if the jaw heaviness comes from lack of support on the cheeks, then Submental Lipo might not be the answer. This issue is probably better addressed with filler.
On the other hand, what if there is fullness under the chin due to a strong genetic background causing fat to deposit there? Then Submental Liposuction might be the best chance at de-bulking that area and tightening the skin with minimal downtime.
For more info on Submental Liposuction, see “How to Lose Neck Fat and Remove That Double Chin.” This is not a one-size fits all sort of procedure. The skin quality determines how tight the neck and jawline will be after this procedure.
Treating a Sagging Neck and Jowls with a Facelift / Necklift
Some of us have naturally thin skin with minimal fat. In these instances, the issue is sagging, loose skin that hangs unsupported under your chin on your neck. Minimally invasive treatments like filler and Submental Liposuction will not fix that. In these cases, a Necklift, with or without a lower Facelift, is the answer.
During a Necklift, we make an incision hidden along the seams of your ears and hairline. Through this access point, your plastic surgeon uses surgical techniques to address the sagging neck, jowls and other signs of facial aging. This procedure involves lifting and resuspending your facial and neck muscles and fascia.
We often take fat out from under your neck and reposition the platysma muscles in the center of your neck. Sometimes we take fat from one part of your body and inject it in your cheeks to add volume as well.
This surgical technique is a powerful reshaping tool. However, like everything else in life, timing is everything! When considering this surgery, it is important to think about having a Facelift / Necklift done at the right time in your life, when you can get the support you need to help you recover. It is also important to see a board-certified plastic surgeon for this procedure. For more details about the surgery and recovery, visit the Facelift procedure page.
Your Options to Treat a Sagging Neck and Jowls
As you can see, facial aging is a complicated. The best treatment for you is based on where you are in this aging process. For some people, filler is enough. For others we can take advantage of healthy skin by doing Liposuction to tighten the neck. To address sagging neck skin and loss of collagen, a Facelift / Necklift is probably the best approach. You have options! Call today for an expert evaluation and personalized treatment plan to help you reach your goals. For those of you looking for an all-female approach to your plastic surgery, we are near Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Greater Triangle Area.
