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Jowls, jawline and double chin
Jowls, a softer jawline and a double chin usually come from a mix of skin laxity, shifting fat, changes in the bone of the jaw and your genetics. Non-surgical treatment can often improve jawline definition, but results are gradual and more modest than surgery. We work out which of these applies to you before suggesting anything.
Understanding Jowls, Jawline and Double Chin
Jowls are the soft folds of skin that form below the corners of the mouth and along the jaw. A sagging jawline loses its clean edge, and a double chin is fullness under the chin caused by submental fat, loose skin or both. Some people have a fuller chin from their twenties because of bone structure or genetics.
Jawline treatment only works well when it targets the right cause, so a doctor assesses you first. Our practice is in Sutton Coldfield, easy to reach from across north Birmingham, and this care is part of our medical-grade skin service.
What Causes Jowls, a Sagging Jawline and a Double Chin?
There is rarely one cause; most people have several.
- Loss of collagen and elastin, so skin along the jaw becomes looser
- Fat pads in the cheeks and lower face that thin or move downwards with age
- Gradual changes in the jaw and chin bone, which reduce the support under the skin
- Genetics and chin shape, which affect submental fat and jawline definition
- Weight gain, or weight loss that leaves looser skin behind
- Sun damage and smoking, which both speed up collagen loss
- A large jaw muscle, often linked to clenching or grinding, which can make the lower face look square
How We Assess Jowls and the Jawline at Aarva
At your skin consultation, a doctor examines your lower face and neck at rest, while you talk and while you clench. We work out how much is loose skin, fat, lost structure or muscle, because each needs a different approach.
Aura 3D skin analysis records contour and skin quality. We also ask about weight changes, jaw pain, teeth grinding and your health.
Treatment Options for Jowls and the Jawline
What we suggest depends on which causes we find, and many plans use more than one treatment, in stages.
Keeping a steady weight, daily sun protection and not smoking all help protect the skin along your jaw.
What to Expect
What to expect depends on the treatment chosen, the settings used and the outcomes you agree with your doctor in your plan.
After Endolaser, swelling and bruising are common for a week or two and results develop over several months. Radiofrequency usually needs a course, and changes appear gradually. Filler shows straight away, although swelling can take a week or two to settle, and facial slimming usually takes a few weeks to show.
Improvement is usually subtle, and because the face keeps changing with age, maintenance is part of most plans.
How We Approach Jowls and the Jawline at Aarva
Every patient sees a doctor first. We look for the real cause of the change in your lower face, and we will not suggest filler for a problem caused by loose skin, or muscle treatment for a double chin. If sagging is beyond non-surgical help, we will tell you.
You leave with a written treatment plan with clear pricing. You can book on the day or take time to think it over. If we think you do not need treatment, we will say so.
When to See a Doctor Sooner
See your GP if you notice a lump in your neck or under your jaw that is getting bigger, feels hard or has not gone down within a week or two, or a swelling at the front of your neck. Also see your GP about ongoing jaw pain or clicking. Call 999 if facial or neck swelling comes with difficulty breathing or swallowing.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are not sure about something, see a doctor.
Questions Patients Ask About Jowls, Jawline and Double Chin
Cannot see your question? Our doctors are happy to talk it through at your consultation.
Mild to moderate jowls can often be improved with a combination of skin tightening and structural support such as filler. Heavy jowls usually need a surgical opinion, and we will tell you honestly if that applies to you.
It depends on whether the fullness is fat, loose skin or chin shape. Steady weight loss can help where fat is the cause, and treatments such as Endolaser may help selected people, but results vary.
No. Jaw slimming relaxes the chewing muscle at the side of the jaw. It does not remove fat under the chin.
The price depends on the treatments in your plan and how many sessions you need. We confirm it in writing before any treatment starts.
It varies by treatment and person. Filler and muscle-relaxing treatment wear off over months, and skin keeps ageing after tightening treatments, so maintenance is usually needed.
Why Patients Choose Aarva
Come to Us With a Problem, Not a Treatment
To have a doctor look at your jawline, book a consultation or use Find your starting point.
Related conditions: Volume loss · Loose skin, stretch marks and scarring · Loss of firmness and skin laxity · Under-eye hollows and dark circles
This page is general information and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.