03/01/2026
Jowls form from a mix of anatomy, aging, and lifestyle factors—it’s not just “loose skin.”
As we age, the mandible (jaw bone) and midface bones resorb.
When the bony support shrinks, the skin and fat that once sat tightly over it start to collapse downward, creating heaviness along the jawline.
As we age, the mandible (jaw bone) and midface bones resorb.
When the bony support shrinks, the skin and fat that once sat tightly over it start to collapse downward, creating heaviness along the jawline.
Facial fat doesn’t just disappear-it moves.
• Upper and midface fat pads deflate
• Lower face fat pads descend
This creates the classic contrast: hollow above, heavy below, which exaggerates jowls.
Starting in your mid-20s, collagen declines ~1% per year. Less
collagen + elastin = skin that can’t “snap back,” so gravity wins.
Certain muscles actively pull the face downward, including:
• Platysma
• Depressor anguli oris (DAO)
As lifting muscles weaken and depressor muscles dominate, the lower face droops.
Some people are predisposed due to:
• Naturally shorter jawlines
• Weak chin projection
• Heavier lower-face fat compartments
This is why some patients develop jowls in their 30s, others not until much later
Jowls are structural, not just skin-deep. That’s why the most effective correction often combines:
• Support restoration (jawline/chin/midface)
• Collagen stimulation (biostimulators, RF, threads)
• Muscle modulation (selective Botox)
• Skin tightening
