25th May 2026
At Kensington Medical our team of facial GMC Specialist Registered Plastic Surgeons have highly effective treatments for jowls and surgical procedures to remove those sagging jowls on your face giving you a refreshed and natural looking lower face.
Quick points:
- We can help get rid of jowls and achieve a refreshed lower face and jawline.
- Non surgical options can treat jowls and include chin filler, mid face volume restoration with filler, RF treatments (radio frequency), thread lift (we do not recommend and laser resurfacing.
- Best for minimal jowls and likely for 30-40 years of age both men and women.
- Annual cost (££) to maintain results. This can add up over time.
- Quick downtime, very subtle results. Lasting one year.
- Surgical and long lasting options include mini facelift, lower facelift or jowl lift surgery, fat grafting and neck lift.
- Best for drooping jowls to severe jowls and likely for 50 to 75 years of age both men and women.
- One off payment (£££-££££) and long lasting results.
- Longer downtime and more dramatic natural results. Lasting up to 10-15 years.
What are jowls
Jowls are not a medical concern and do not cause any physical harm. They can have a negative impact on women and men’s self confidence.
Jowls are the sagging skin and excess fat along the jawline. They result from sagging facial muscles and drooping or sagging skin along with fat, which are visible signs of facial ageing. The aging process naturally leads to the loss of skin elasticity, low levels of collagen and elastin which weak the connective tissues, and sagging in areas such as the jowls, contributing to a more aged appearance.
If you naturally have thin skin or low levels of collagen and elastin, then you may be more likely to develop jowls.
Causes of Sagging Jowls
As we get older, our skin gradually loses its ability to produce collagen and elastin—two essential proteins that keep skin firm, resilient, and youthful. This decline in collagen production leads to sagging skin and a loss of definition along the jawline, making sagging jowls more noticeable.
- Repetitive facial habits, such as frowning, chewing, or other repetitive mouth movements, which can stretch and weaken the skin and underlying tissues over time.
- Sun damage caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays accelerates collagen and elastin breakdown, resulting in premature skin ageing and increased skin laxity.
- Smoking slows blood flow and damages the skin’s ability to repair itself, further promoting the appearance of a sagging jawline.
- Excessing alcohol or poor diet.
- Genetics can influence how quickly the skin loses its firmness,
- Lifestyle factors such as excessive weight gain and sudden weight loss can stretch the skin, affect fat distribution, and reduce skin elasticity.
- Decline in Collagen production caused by ageing and menopausal factors such as hormone loss.
What can I do to reduce the risk of jowls?
Environmental and lifestyle factors can impact the development of jowls. We can control some factors. Try to follow some of these suggestions to help stop jowl formation:
- Maintaining a stable weight, staying hydrated, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and avoiding smoking all contribute to firmer skin and can help you get rid of sagging jowls over time.
- Avoid too much sun: Wear a hat, staying out of direct sunlight and use SPF 30+, 50+ to prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin due to UV damage, helping to slow the development of sagging jowls.
- Don’t smoke: the chemicals found in cigarettes (such as nicotine) can damage and reduce the amount of elastin and collagen in your skin. Smoking can also cause your blood vessels to narrow which will limit blood flow to your skin and reduce the amount of nutrients and vitamins that your skin needs to stay healthy. Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol can help slow the development of sagging jowls.
- Eat a well balanced diet to help feed your skin.
- Avoid long period of time in front of the screen. Tech neck, is caused by prolonged device use and can contribute to the formation of jowls.
- Facial exercises: performing facial exercises can help strengthen the muscles around your jawline and neck, potentially reducing the risk of developing jowls.
- Sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for skin repair and maintaining a youthful appearance, which can help reduce jowls forming.
Double Chin and Jowls: they are different conditions
Double chin and jowls are two common concerns that can affect the lower face and neck, but they are caused by different factors and require different treatment approaches.
A double chin, medically known as submental fat, is excess fat accumulating beneath the chin, leading to a double chin or fuller and less defined neck profile. These excess fat deposits under the chin and jawline can be addressed with chin liposuction. Chin liposuction removes localised fat deposits for a more sculpted appearance. Highly effective long term solution. Some recovery required. From £3,300.
Non surgical option of fat freezing techniques like CoolSculpting can target and reduce unwanted fat. Little downtime, reasonably effective, maybe require multiple treatments.
Non Surgical Treatment for Jowls'
Many non surgical treatments work by targeting the soft tissue beneath the skin to lift and tighten the jowl area. These minimally invasive treatments include the popular 2026 energy-based devices. They can help to tighten loose skin, improve skin elasticity, and reduce the appearance of jowls.
- Filler Injections: Filler injections or chin fillers, often containing hyaluronic acid, can restore lost volume and improve facial contours. By plumping up areas that have lost volume, fillers can lift sagging jowls and create a smoother, more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are administered using a fine needle or cannula for precise, minimally invasive treatment. Minimal downtime. Best for 30-45+ age group. Annual maintenance. Annual cost.
- Ultrasound Treatments: Ultrasound treatments, such as Ultherapy, use focused ultrasound energy to stimulate the growth of new collagen supplies. This helps to tighten loose skin and improve skin texture, reducing the appearance of jowls over time. Ultherapy offers minimal side effects compared to other cosmetic surgery methods that deal with skin tightening and facial sculpting. Ultherapy treatments cost from £2,500. To find out more click here. Non-surgical skin tightening treatments like Ultherapy and Morpheus8 can provide marginal improvements in the appearance of jowls. Minimal downtime. Best for 35-50. Annual maintenance. Annual cost.
- Radiofrequency (RF) Technologies: RF technologies work by heating the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate natural collagen production and tighten existing collagen supplies. Radiofrequency treatments like Thermage and Morpheus8 utilise heat to tighten and smooth the skin. Morpheus8 combines microneedling and radiofrequency energy to tighten skin and improve the appearance of jowls. These minimally invasive treatments also target the deep layers to boost both collagen and elastin production, resulting in firmer, more elastic skin and a reduction in sagging jowls. Minimal downtime is another key benefit, so patients can resume their routines soon after treatment. Minimal downtime. Best for 35-45 age group. Annual maintenance. Annual cost.
- Laser Treatments: Laser treatments can improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of sagging skin by promoting collagen production and tightening the skin. These treatments are effective for those looking to achieve a more youthful appearance without undergoing surgery.
- Thread lifts, a minimally invasive procedure that lifts sagging jowls and stimulates collagen production for long-term improvement. Longer downtime. Can lead to complications. We do not recommend this treatment.
Surgical procedure options for jowls
More pronounced jowls or excessive drooping will require Cosmetic surgery such as facelift surgery to provide dramatic and long-lasting results.
At Kensington Medical our facial surgeons can meet with you in an initial consultation and give advice on the best treatment for sagging jowls. The most effective plastic surgery procedures include:
Facelifts | Full Facelift | Mini Facelift | Deep Plane Facelift | Lower Facelift or Jowl lift | Fat Grafting
Full Facelift & Neck Lift, Deep Plane Facelift or Jowl lift
Facelift surgery is available for men and women who want a more youthful appearance and facial contouring. A facelift procedure is a surgical method to tighten sagging skin, lift underlying tissues, and restore a youthful facial contour.
Facelift surgery is a long-term solution for severe or excessive sagging, effectively tightening and lifting the skin and underlying muscles. For dramatic results in eliminating jowls, surgical intervention is often required, especially in cases of excessive sagging where less invasive treatments may not be effective. Full facelift surgery repositions deeper facial tissues and removes excess skin for overall rejuvenation. Highly effective for jowls, jawline definition, cheek lift. Longer downtime and recovery. Long term results of up to 10-15 years.
The cost for a full facelift starts from £11,500.
A neck lift involves the surgeon tightening the skin and muscles around the neck area. Neck lifts are effective for reducing a saggy neck and improving the contour of the jawline. In addition to reducing jowls, a neck lift can also address turkey neck for a more tightened and youthful look. In some cases, liposuction is carried out if there are also fatty deposits that need removing. Highly effective for sagging neck and jowls. Longer downtime and recovery. Long term results of up to 10-15 years.
The cost for a neck lift starts from £7,500.
Deep Plane facelift addresses the deep structures beneath the skin called the deeper facial musculature. The surgical procedure involves repositioning and lifting the deeper tissues, resulting in a natural facelift. Longer downtime and recovery. Long term results of up to 10-15 years.
A jowl lift or lower face lift improves the appearance of the lower face by removing excess skin and tones up the underlying muscles. The surgery aims to create a more youthful appearance removing jowls, correcting a sagging jawline, and creating a stronger more defined jawline. These surgical treatments can also address a saggy neck. Longer downtime and recovery. Long term results of up to 10-15 years.
Prices start from £9,500.
The mini facelift tightens wrinkles, softens deep folds around the nose to mouth, and can also add lift around the jowl area. It can help reduce marionette lines, which are the lines that run from the corners of the mouth down toward the chin. However, this does depend on the amount of skin laxity and sag. Mini facelifts are generally not suitable for individuals with excessive sagging, as significant skin and muscle laxity may require more invasive procedures for effective correction. Shorter downtime one week and recovery. Long term results of up to 5-7+ years.
A mini facelift cost with a GMC Specialist Registered Plastic Surgeon is from £8,500.
To find out more about a mini face lift for jowls click here
Fat Transfer
Fat grafting is one of several cosmetic procedures available for jowl treatment. It can help to improve jowls by increasing the volume and contour in the cheek area and therefore lifting the jowls and reducing the saggy skin. Fat grafting works by restoring lost facial fat, which is a key factor in the sagging and aged appearance of jowls as facial fat diminishes and shifts with age. It involves transferring fat cells from one part of the body to another. It is most beneficial for areas with a lack of volume, an indented cheek area or hollow cheek area. Not recommended if there is a larger jowl area or skin laxity is strong. Some downtime and recovery required. Longer term results. The benefit is you are using your own fat and stem cells.
Fat grafting costs from £3,500.
Get in touch to see if you are suitable
At Kensington Medical our expert team of plastic surgeons can help guide you on the most effecitve way to get rid of your jowls.
Our expert Medical Team:
Mr David Gateley is a senior fully accredited plastic surgeon with over 30 years’ experience in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery.
GMC: 2939470
Years in practice: 41
No. procedures: 5,000+
Locations: Harley Street, Wimbledon, Kingston
Qualifications: MA (Cantab); FRCS; FRCS (Plast)
Mr Amir Sadri Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Mr Amir Sadri is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Great Ormond Street NHS Hospital in London, UK and is in private practise in London.
GMC: 6163656
Years in practice: 18
No. procedures: 2,000+
Locations: Harley Street, Devonshire Place,
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) MBChB (Hons) MRCS, FRCS(Plast)
Mr Paul Tulley Consultant Plastic Surgeon,
Mr Paul Tulley is an expert Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgeon practicing at Kensington Medical in Harley Street, London.
GMC: 4035952
Years in practice: 32
No. procedures: 5,000+
Locations: Harley Street
Qualifications: BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCS(Plast)
To book a consultation with Kensington Medical, contact us today at 0204 551 492 or fill in our contact form and we can get back to you.
To find out about Kensington Medical, our expert surgeons, our 5 star hospitals, our quality care, your journey and what our values are and why we work so hard to achieve then click here.
Medically Reviewed
Our experts monitor facial plastic surgery and facial treatments information and update it when it is available.
This page was medically reviewed by Mr David Gateley MA, FRCS, FRCS (Plast), GMC number 2939470 on 28 May 2026.
Author: Louise Braham