Bottom line: Laser resurfacing can tighten skin, usually better than any other skin-tightening procedure. It can also diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots on the skin, such as age spots. The tradeoff is that it requires downtime and has a greater risk of possible side effects, such as scarring.
Engaging in exercise such as resistance training can increase muscle mass. Building muscle through exercise can improve the appearance of sagging skin, especially in the legs and arms. Also, facial exercises may improve muscle tone around the jaw and neck. This may reduce sagging skin in these areas.
How vitamin D deficiency leads to accelerated skin aging isn't fully understood. However, some experts suspect it has something to do with vitamin D's protective and antioxidant properties on the skin.
Most firming creams are a waste of money because the collagen and elastin in these products cannot fuse with the collagen and elastin in your skin to help rebuild or reinforce those structures. Their molecular sizes are too large to penetrate the skin's surface.
Sagging skin in the lower face—or jowls—and thin, wrinkled skin on the neck are the two most dramatic signs of aging and are a natural part of the aging process. As the skin ages, the deeper layers lose fat and important structural proteins such as elastin and collagen also start to decline.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect against oxidative damage and plays a role in the production of collagen, which helps keep skin firm and elastic. Particularly in topical applications, Vitamin C has been shown to decrease skin wrinkling and increase collagen production.
Incorporate foods high in vitamin C like citrus fruits, which studies have shown may promote younger looking skin. Have food high in essential fatty acids, such as walnuts or olive oil, to keep skin cells hydrated. Avoid food high in unhealthy fats, which could make your skin appear less youthful.
When it comes to treating jowls, injectable options like dermal fillers are ideal for restoring facial volume, while ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy are effective when it comes to stimulating the growth of new collagen supplies to directly reduce the sagging effect of jowls.
Engelman agrees: "Retinol is the most potent ingredient that helps build collagen and elastin, which leads to tighter, smoother skin." This mixture has the added bonus of hyaluronic acid, which "can smooth, firm, and tighten the appearance of the skin," Dr. Bowe says.
Loss of fat in our face
As we age, these areas of fat begin to diminish. This allows the skin to sag. The areas where fat loss is most noticed is in the temples, under the eyes, and in the cheek area. When the fat pads under our eyes diminish, it can give us a tired or hollow look.
Can Botox help lift sagging jowls? We are all aware of the wrinkle-reducing effects of Botox, but its benefits go much further than that. When administered strategically in the jaw and neck, it can affect the lower face by reducing the appearance of minor sagging skin and jowls.
Neck lift surgery (platysmaplasty) is the most effective, but also most invasive, treatment for jowls. It may be the only option available to patients with severe jowls or substantial laxity.
For a more efficient and proven way to tighten jowls and neck without surgery, there are several noninvasive cosmetic treatments available. Some of these treatments include injectable fillers, botox, Kybella, and radiotherapy.
Ultherapy is the number one treatment for jowls and is FDA approved meaning it is clinically proven to lift the face. Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to create micro-wounds into the deep tissues (SMAS) of skin.