Jowls | The Gillian Institute The Gillian Institute

The power of the jawline to frame and define the entire face is so easy to underestimate until you have a problem. When it’s well-defined, it frames the face cleanly and creates that vital, healthy look. But when jowls develop, the face takes on a heavier and softer look that can add years to your appearance, no matter how much effort you’re putting into your overall health and aesthetic routine.

Jowls are among the most common concerns Dr. Kimberly Short addresses at The Gillian Institute in Indianapolis. They’re also among the most correctable, with treatment options ranging from nonsurgical volume restoration to surgical procedures that address the underlying anatomical causes directly.

What Causes Jowls?

Jowls don’t develop overnight, and they rarely have a single cause. In most cases, they result from multiple overlapping factors.

Changes in fat distribution and position are a major factor. With age, the natural fat pads that give your face its shape and volume begin to thin out and migrate downward, creating a jowling effect as more fat accumulates around the jawline.

Skin laxity is a key contributor to jowling. As collagen and elastin production decline with age, the skin loses the firmness that once kept it anchored tightly to underlying structures. This allows fat to more easily shift toward the jawline.

Genetics significantly influence the timing as well as the severity of jowling. Patients with naturally thicker skin and denser fat tend to develop jowls later and less dramatically than those with thinner skin.

How Are Jowls Treated at The Gillian Institute?

Effectively treating acne and scars requires a strategy that takes into account your skin type, the severity of your scarring, your history with breakouts and your lifestyle. Dr. Short and her team draw on a range of well-evidenced treatments to deliver results that best suit your situation.

Neck Lift and Chin Contouring

For patients with moderate to significant jowling, a neck lift with chin contouring is one of the most effective options available. While often associated with the neck alone, this procedure also directly addresses the lower jawline, tightening the skin and underlying platysma muscle, removing or redistributing excess fat and restoring a cleaner jaw contour.

Facelift

When jowling is accompanied by advanced skin laxity or deeper fine lines, a facelift may be the most effective and comprehensive solution. This approach repositions the deeper facial tissues to restore structure and lift the mid-face, with results lasting for a decade or more in most cases.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers offer a nonsurgical option for patients in the earlier stages of jowling or those who prefer to avoid surgery. Strategic filler placement in the mid-face and along the jawline can restore the volume that once kept soft tissue in a higher position, producing a subtle lifting effect that diminishes the appearance of early jowls.

Why Choose The Gillian Institute for Jowl Treatment?

Correcting jowls is fundamentally a structural problem that requires both surgical precision and an artistic understanding of facial proportions. Dr. Short’s background, including aesthetic surgery fellowships with internationally recognized experts in facial surgery, uniquely positions her as an expert in both of these areas.

Every consultation at The Gillian Institute, serving the areas of Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis, is structured around understanding your specific anatomy and your specific goals.

Schedule your virtual consultation or in-person visit at our Indianapolis office today by calling (317) 913-3260.

FAQs

Can jowls be prevented?

The aging-related factors that cause jowling, including fat pad descent, collagen loss and bone resorption, are natural processes that can’t be stopped entirely. However, they can certainly be slowed down. Consistent, broad-spectrum sun protection and medical-grade skincare are two of the most impactful daily habits in combating signs of aging.

At what point should I consider treatment for jowls?

Because there is a full spectrum of conservative (nonsurgical) and more intensive (surgical) options available for jowls, there’s no wrong time to seek out treatment. It depends on how much the change bothers you and what your goals are.

How is a neck lift different from a facelift for treating jowls?

A neck lift primarily addresses the lower face and neck, making it well-suited for patients whose jowling is concentrated along the jawline without significant skin laxity issues affecting the mid-face region. A facelift covers a broader area, including the mid-face, jowls and neck, and is the better choice when the treatment area is more diffuse.

Are the results from dermal fillers for jowls noticeable?

For patients with mild jowling, strategically placed fillers can produce a visible softening of the jaw contour and a subtle mid-face lifting effect. Patients with significant jowling will generally see more modest results from fillers alone and may find that combining fillers with a surgical procedure gives them the outcome they want.

What is recovery like after a neck lift or facelift?

Most patients experience one to two weeks of swelling, bruising and tightness following a neck lift or facelift. The majority feel comfortable returning to normal, non-strenuous activities within that window. Strenuous exercise and activities that elevate the heart rate are typically restricted for three to four weeks. Final results settle gradually as swelling resolves, typically surfacing within the three-to-six-month range.