Who doesn’t use ‘touch up appearance’ on Zoom to give the illusion of a smooth, line free face?  If only there was a setting to ditch a double chin. But whether on screen or real life, it’s not easy to disguise saggy jowls.

“One of the hallmarks of youth is a tight, firm jawline, but as we get older facial muscles and underlying bone structure undergo changes,” says Balsam Alabassi, Founder of DermRefine Skin Clinic, London.  

“Skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity and produces less collagen and elastin, resulting in decreased firmness, wrinkles and sagging. Facial muscles become weaker and fat pads may also shift and change, losing volume in the cheek area, while accumulating around the jowls and chin. Poor posture, including constantly looking down at electronic devices, can also weaken neck and chin muscles.”

Dr Liakas at Vie Aesthetics, London, believes it’s easy to become self conscious if you’ve got a saggy jawline. “This is a common concern and one that many people can get fixated on, for example, not wanting to have their picture taken, or even avoiding mirrors. While diet and exercise may be a factor in some cases, changes in appearance to the chin and neck tend to mainly occur as a result of the natural ageing process.”  

So, what’s the best way to get rid of a flabby chin that doesn’t involve surgery?  

“There are multiple non-surgical treatments that can address problem areas in slightly different ways,” says Dr Emmaline Ashley, Cosmetic Physician at Ashley Aesthetics, London. “Choosing the right treatment depends on many individual factors. Your practitioner will carry out an evaluation and advise you on a bespoke treatment plan.”

While non-invasive procedures can give excellent results, you also need to be realistic. “It’s important to remember you will not get surgical results with non-surgical treatments. So, it helps to have reasonable expectations as to what can be achieved.”

• According to latest findings published by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), consumers are increasingly seeking non-surgical treatments that are more subtle and involve little or no downtime in recovery afterwards. 

Non-surgical treatment options

Ultrasound 
“Ultrasound therapies utilise focused sound wave energy to penetrate deep into the skin,” says Alabassi. “This stimulates the production of collagen which provides structural support to the skin, helping to tighten and lift the treated area. The advantage of non-invasive ultrasound treatments is that they’re very well-tolerated and there’s minimal downtime.”  
Treatments to consider:

• Ultherapy. “This popular treatment uses a micro-focused ultrasound device to firm sagging skin, chin and jowls by promoting collagen production and improving skin elasticity,” says Alabassi.  Effects last up to two years.
• Sofwave. “Sofwave is a very recent treatment that uses synchronous ultrasound parallel beam technology to treat a much wider area (rather than specific spots),” says Alabassi.  “It penetrates less deeply within the skin, but the results are equally effective. Effects last around a year.
• High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). “HIFU sends beams of concentrated ultrasound just below the surface of the skin,” says Dr Liakas. “This stimulates collagen production, reduces chin fat, and tightens the jawline and neck.”

Radio frequency (RF) Treatments
“RF converts radio frequency energy to heat the skin's deeper layers stimulating collagen production and tightening the tissues,” says Alabassi. “The heat generated by RF waves triggers the body's natural healing response, resulting in firmer, more youthful-looking skin. RF therapy can be used to treat sagging jowls, wrinkles, and skin laxity.” Effects last between six months and three years (five years for FaceTite).

• Secret RF, Endymed INTENSIF, and Morpheus8. “These are radio frequency microneedling treatments used to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin by reducing laxity and sagging,” says Dr Ashley. “These treatments work by delivering thermal heat energy into the tissues to tighten over time.”

• FaceTite. “FaceTite is a facial contouring treatment that uses RF delivered at the deepest levels to tighten loose and sagging skin, and stimulate collagen production,” says Dr Liakas.  “This can be followed by the Morpheus8 treatment which involves the use of fractional microneedling combined with RF for tighter, firmer, smoother skin.”

Coolsculpting
“Coolsculpting uses a process known as cryolipolysis to target fat, and can indirectly improve the appearance of jowls by reducing the submental fat (fat underneath the chin),” says Dr Ashley. “It freezes and then destroys fat cells.” Coolsculpting Elite is the newest version, which has seven C-shaped applicators (instead of one U-shaped one). Each applicator is more comfortable to use and provides 18 per cent more coverage, so more fat is eradicated in one session.

Botulinum toxin 
“Botulinim toxin injections can be strategically administered to certain facial muscles around the jawline and chin to create a subtle lifting effect,” says Alabassi. “By weakening the muscles that contribute to jowling, botulinum toxin can help to improve the appearance of sagging in the lower face, leading to a more defined jawline and smoother contour. The exact injection sites will vary depending on your individual facial anatomy and concerns.”