If you're bothered by low-hanging jowls but aren't ready for surgery, a polydioxanone (PDO) thread lift might be the solution you need.
Absolutely. Jowls are one of the primary indications of thread lifting and often times our very first course of action when treating the jowls, and we'll get into the details as to why that's the case, but there are a number of treatment options out there that can effectively tighten the area.
In truth, each drooped cheek/jowl will require multiple cogged threads. A thread lift is great for a mild/moderate droop but the number of threads to get that lift will range from 4 to 8 per side.
This procedure involves inserting threads near the undereye and eyebrows to lift and tighten the skin. It can also be used to lift the eyes, cheeks, loose jowls, tighten the neck, and reduce wrinkles around the eyes.
For men and women looking to tighten skin, barbed PDO threads are used to better grasp loose skin and lift it into a better position. In instances where patients want to stimulate collagen growth, a specialist may recommend using smooth PDO threads instead.
Which Thread Lift Lasts the Longest? Three types of threads are used for thread lifting: PDO (polydioxanone), PLA (poly-L-lactic acid), and PCA (polycaprolactone). PCA lifts are the newest and the longest-lasting treatment.
Silhouette Soft PLLA: Poly-L-Lactic Acid material are also used as surgical sutures, and have greater longevity than PDO, averaging 12 months before dissolving. Thus, they can stimulate collagen for a longer duration. Once dissolved, the material breaks down into glucose, carbon dioxide and water.
Extreme weight loss creates sagging jowls earlier or more drastically than typical. As you lose weight, you also lose fat from your face. Hence, the skin will be looser and you're more likely to see the jowls sag.
Both may be used to stimulate the production of collagen. So, when looking at the areas you want to address, you may discover one option is the obvious choice. If you want plumper lips, you'll go with a filler. If you want to tighten sagging cheeks or skin under your chin, you'll go with threads.
Chemical peels are one of the best ways to get rid of fine jowl lines without surgery. We apply a chemical face mask that gently removes the topmost layer of skin, taking with it the fine wrinkles and creases that can eventually grow into jowls.
Most thread lifts last 18 months or longer, and once the effects wear off, you can schedule another treatment to maintain beautiful, youthful skin.
Although Botox can lift jowls, its effectiveness really does depend on the extent of the sagging. If you have large drooping jowls then Botox is unlikely to give you the results that you desire. In such cases, you really would be better off considering a surgical procedure.
Using a patented device, researchers have shown that jowl massage by mechanical stimulation of the face can trigger biochemical mechanisms that lead to skin remodeling in the aging face. To be reminded that time is indeed undefeated, one just needs to look in the mirror.
Ultherapy. The Ultherapy® for jowls treatment can help with skin laxity evident as jowls and is the leading ultrasound non-surgical lifting procedure. It uses focused ultrasound imaging to stimulate the growth of new collagen deep within the skin.
“Retinol is a vitamin A derivative best known for its ability to neutralize free radicals, stimulate collagen production, and facilitate cell turnover, therefore smoothing fine lines and wrinkles,” Green explains, noting that it's the gold standard of anti-aging and works best at night to improve the tone and texture ...
So what can we do to prevent jowls? Prescribe a topical Retinol cream to stimulate your collagen production to give support and structure back into your skin.
PDO, or polydioxanone threads, dissolve after only six to nine months. Contrastingly, PLLA, or Poly L. Lactic Acid threads, dissolve after 12 to 18 months. PCL, or polycaprolactone threads, are the most durable of the three.
Compared to the more drastic procedures like surgery, and thread lifts, lasers, Radiofrequency (RF) and HIFU treatments are considered to be safer and more popular treatments for treating skin laxity.
On average, patients require between 2 – 4 threads on each side of the face for a mid-face thread lift. An additional 2 – 4 threads may be needed for the lower face and/or neck.