Jowls: How To Get Rid of Jowls Naturally At Home

As signs of skin aging begin to appear, some individuals seek more natural methods for maintaining their appearance and confidence. One common concern is the development of jowls, the sagging skin around the jawline, which often emerges as a result of decreased skin elasticity and muscle tone, which can subtly alter the contours of the face. 

Understanding how to get rid of jowls naturally at home can empower you to take control of your appearance without resorting to invasive procedures like a facelift. This guide looks into effective, at-home strategies that can promote a firmer, more contoured jawline.

Jowls refer to the sagging, loose skin that develops below the jawline, which often becomes more prominent with skin aging. This occurs as the skin loses its elasticity and the underlying facial muscles weaken, leading to a drooping appearance. 

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While skin aging is the strongest contributor to the formation of jowls, factors like your genetics, how much sun damage you’ve accumulated, and lifestyle choices like smoking or poor nutrition can all contribute.

Jowls typically begin to appear in individuals during their 40s and 50s, although the exact age can vary based on genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and overall skin health. The gradual loss of collagen and elastin, combined with the weakening of facial muscles, contributes to the sagging skin around the jawline, and this typically does not occur until later in life. 

However, some may notice the early signs of jowls in their late 30s, especially if they’ve experienced sun damage or were lifelong smokers.

While it may feel like your jowls have appeared overnight and out of nowhere, this type of skin change occurs gradually over time and won’t just suddenly develop. 

That said, if in the past few weeks you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, have experienced a severe sunburn, have consistently had trouble sleeping, or have been under a lot of stress, your skin health could be impacted at a more intense, rapid rate. These types of stressors tend to take a toll on skin in the form of breakouts, slight sagging, and an overall tired, dull-looking complexion.

Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and the appearance of a plump, healthy, nourished complexion. Drinking plenty of water ensures that the skin remains resilient against dryness, reducing the likelihood of sagging.

Engaging in targeted facial exercises can strengthen the muscles around the jawline, helping to maintain a more defined and youthful appearance. Some available tools can help you target just the right muscles through specific chewing motions (we’ll touch on this in just a bit).

Smoking accelerates the skin aging process by reducing blood flow, thinning and dehydrating skin, and breaking down structural components including collagen. Quitting smoking can significantly improve skin health, helping to both reduce the level of skin sagging in the future as well as keeping that sagging at bay until much later.

Quality sleep is crucial for skin repair and regeneration. Ensuring adequate rest can help you maintain skin elasticity and reduce your risk of developing jowls prematurely. 

Incorporating skincare products that hydrate the skin, promote plumpness and firmness, and specifically target skin aging can help your skin look healthy and glowing for longer. Specifically, a peptide-rich serum can help plump, soothe, and nurture skin to keep it looking radiant and firm.

Eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals helps support skin health from the inside out. Some nutrients that are key to skin health include vitamin C, vitamin E, collagen, and omega-3 fatty acids--think leafy greens, fish, and bone broth!

Regular use of sunscreen with at least 30 SPF can minimize (if not completely prevent) UV damage, which accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and is notorious for causing the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Protective clothing as simple as a sun hat or visor can also help.

The Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask by Solawave features 320 medical-grade LEDs delivering four wavelengths of light therapy in just 3-minute sessions. FDA-cleared and designed for full-face coverage, it is perfect for targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin around the jawline.

At-home treatments for sagging jowls can include a combination of facial exercises, skincare routines, and lifestyle adjustments. 

• Regularly performing facial exercises can help tone and strengthen the muscles around the jawline, potentially reducing the appearance of sagging. 
• Incorporating skincare treatments specific to anti-aging can help to promote healthier-looking skin that appears firmer, plumper, and smoother.  Products containing retinoids, peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid paired with at-home red light therapy are particularly powerful in yielding the desired results.
• While maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and protecting your skin from the sun damage are all crucial steps for prevention, they can also help even after jowls have started to develop. Starting to support your skin health as a whole can help reduce further sagging and may be able to restore some plumpness with rehydration and the right nutrients.

Non-Surgical Ways to Get Rid of Jowls: How Red Light Therapy Compares

For those seeking a natural jowl lift without surgery, several non-invasive approaches can improve jawline definition. Red light therapy leads the at-home category by addressing the underlying cause - collagen depletion - through photobiomodulation at 630-850 nm wavelengths. Consistent use firms the dermis and reduces skin laxity over 8-12 weeks.

Other options worth combining with red light therapy include:

• Facial exercises (platysma stretches, jawline holds, cheek lifts): strengthen underlying muscles and improve skin support structure with 10–15 minutes of daily practice.
• Microcurrent devices: send low-level electrical currents to tone facial muscles temporarily; best used alongside red light therapy for complementary tightening.
• Gua sha and facial massage: improve lymphatic drainage and circulation around the jawline; reduce puffiness that can exaggerate jowl appearance.
• Retinol and peptide serums: boost collagen turnover topically; most effective when applied immediately after red light therapy while skin permeability is elevated.

No single method replaces consistent red light therapy for long-term collagen remodeling, but combining these approaches accelerates visible jawline improvement.
Placement: Insert after the 'causes of jowls' section and before the red light mechanism deep-dive.

Face exercises and face yoga for jowls involve a series of targeted exercises designed to tone and strengthen the facial muscles, particularly around the jawline. Techniques such as the jawline stretch, cheek lift, and chin tuck specifically focus on engaging and lifting the muscles around the jawline, helping to reduce the appearance of sagging by increasing definition and contour. 

Tilt the head back and look towards the ceiling. Push the lower jaw forward until a stretch is felt under the chin. Hold for a few seconds and repeat several times per day to help strengthen the jawline muscles.

Smile as wide as possible while keeping the lips closed. Lift the cheeks towards the eyes and hold for a few seconds. Repeat this exercise to help tone the cheek and jawline muscles.

Gently roll the neck in a circular motion, first clockwise and then counterclockwise. This exercise helps to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the jaw and neck. If you feel tightness at any particular angle, go extra slowly, and give that spot a little more time to stretch out for maximum effect. 

Sit or stand with your back straight (standing against a wall or sitting with a backrest chair can help). Tuck the chin towards the chest without rounding the shoulders. Hold for a few seconds and repeat to improve muscle tone in the neck and jawline.

Lift the lower lip as high as possible by pushing the lower jaw out. Hold for a few seconds and release. This exercise targets the muscles around the chin and jawline.

Suck in the cheeks and lips to make a fish face. Hold for a few seconds and then relax. This exercise helps to tone the muscles in the cheeks and jawline.

Stick out the tongue as far as possible and try to touch the nose. Hold for a few seconds and repeat. This can help to target the under-jaw area behind the chin that can contribute to the appearance of a double chin. 

Pout the lips as if to kiss, then pull them back into a wide smile. Hold each position for a few seconds. This exercise works the muscles around the mouth and jawline and can help enhance facial volume.

Sit with your back straight, and place your fingers on your collarbone. Tilt the head back slightly and press your tongue to the roof of the mouth. Hold for a few seconds and repeat to strengthen the neck and jawline muscles.

Close the mouth and move the jaw as if chewing. Then, open the mouth wide and press the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. Hold for a few seconds and repeat to improve muscle tone in the jaw and neck.

Jawline Tightening Hold

Press fists under your cheekbones and smile against the resistance of your fists. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 8-12 times. This targets the masseter muscles and helps define the lower face contour.

Cheek-Puff Hold

Puff both cheeks with air, hold for 5–7 seconds, then release. Repeat 8–12 times. This exercise engages the buccinator muscles and can help add tone and structure to the mid and lower face.

Platysma Stretch

Tilt the head back and press the tongue firmly to the roof of the mouth. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 8-12 times. The platysma is a broad muscle running from the jawline down the neck, and keeping it toned directly supports jawline definition.

'O-and-E' Exercise

Exaggerate mouth movements by saying "O" then "E" with force, really emphasizing each shape. Repeat 8-12 times per set. This works the muscles around the mouth and jawline and helps counteract the muscle laxity that contributes to sagging.

Support Your Results: Lifestyle Factors That Affect Jowl Formation

Facial exercises work best when paired with habits that protect skin structure from the inside out. Key factors to address:

• Daily broad-spectrum SPF (minimum SPF 30): UV exposure breaks down collagen and elastin over time, accelerating the skin laxity that leads to jowls. Consistent sun protection is one of the most evidence-backed steps for slowing this process.
• Quitting smoking: Smoking restricts blood flow to the skin and directly accelerates collagen destruction, contributing to earlier and more pronounced sagging.
• Maintaining a stable weight: Rapid or repeated weight fluctuations stretch the skin and weaken its structural fibers, reducing the skin's ability to bounce back and increasing the likelihood of sagging around the jawline.
• Limiting downward head position: Prolonged neck flexion from phone and screen use (often called "tech neck") puts repeated mechanical stress on the skin and underlying muscles of the lower face and neck. Aim to limit continuous downward head positions to 10-minute intervals before repositioning.

Complementary Topicals: Collagen-Stimulating Skincare Actives

To reinforce the effects of facial exercises and red light therapy, incorporate topicals that target collagen synthesis directly. The most evidence-supported actives for this purpose are:

Retinoids: Vitamin A derivatives that accelerate cell turnover and stimulate fibroblast activity, increasing collagen production in the dermis.
Peptides: Short-chain amino acids that signal the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, helping to improve firmness and skin structure over time.
Vitamin C: A potent antioxidant that plays a direct role in collagen synthesis and protects existing collagen from oxidative breakdown caused by UV and environmental exposure.

These actives are most effective when applied consistently as part of a daily routine and work synergistically with red light therapy, which increases skin permeability and cellular receptivity post-session.

Surgical options that skincare providers may recommend for addressing jowls typically include procedures such as facelifts, neck lifts, liposuction, and Botox® for jowls. Always ensure you take the time to consult with a dermatologist, licensed esthetician, or plastic surgeon if considering these options; each patient brings with them a different background, medical history, and eligibility for surgery.

A facelift involves tightening the skin and underlying muscles to create a more youthful contour, while a neck lift focuses on removing excess skin and fat from the neck and jawline area. Liposuction can be used to remove localized fat deposits that contribute to sagging jowls. 

The cost of these procedures varies widely based on where the surgery is being done, but on average, facelift surgery can range from $7,000 to $15,000 USD, neck lift surgery costs around $5,000 to $10,000 USD, and liposuction costs from $2,000 to $5,000 USD. 

How Red Light Therapy Works for Jowls

Red light therapy targets sagging jowls at the cellular level by delivering wavelengths of 630 - 850 nm into the dermis, where fibroblasts absorb the photonic energy and upregulate collagen and elastin synthesis. This process - known as photobiomodulation - stimulates cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria, increasing ATP production and accelerating tissue repair.

Clinical evidence supports its application on the lower face: a 2014 randomized trial (150 women, 8 weeks) using 633 nm and 830 nm LED panels reported significant improvements in skin firmness and wrinkle reduction; a split-face study in Lasers in Medical Science (2018) confirmed increased facial skin elasticity using the same wavelength combination over 10 weeks.

For jowl-specific use, position the Solawave wand 1 - 3 inches from the jawline, moving slowly along the submandibular line and masseter region. Aim for 3 - 5 sessions per week during an initial 8 - 12 week phase, then 1 - 2 sessions per week for maintenance. Unlike radiofrequency devices, which use heat energy and carry a risk of discomfort, red light therapy is non-thermal, making it suitable for daily home use without downtime.

Can Red Light Therapy Tighten Skin?

Red light therapy is known for its ability to improve the appearance of aging skin by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and promoting a radiant, glowing complexion. 

Solawave's Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that delivers four wavelengths ofNon-Surgical Ways to Get Rid of Jowls: How Red Light Therapy Compares light therapy: Red (630nm), Deep Red (660nm), Amber (605nm), and Near-Infrared (830nm) through 320 medical-grade LEDs. Red light penetrates the skin to stimulate collagen production, while near-infrared light rejuvenates skin for a radiant glow. At just 3-minute sessions, it fits easily into any skincare routine.

This treatment can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and support a firmer, healthier-looking complexion. While individual results may vary, many find that regular sessions of red light therapy can contribute to a noticeable improvement.

The right approach when it comes to reducing the appearance of jowls really depends on individual preferences and the severity of the sagging, with options ranging from at-home treatments to surgical interventions like facelifts. 

Non-invasive options such as facial exercises, the right skincare products, and red light therapy can be effective for those looking to make improvements over time from the comfort of their home. 

For more pronounced sagging or for those looking for more immediate results, minimally invasive treatments like dermal fillers or laser therapy may be more in line with desired outcomes. 

Finally, there are surgical procedures, including facelifts and neck lifts, that may provide the most dramatic and long-lasting change, but with significantly higher costs and recovery time. 

At any stage, consulting with a licensed esthetician or dermatologist can be a helpful step in determining what may be the most appropriate treatment based on your desired goals.

Trying to get rid of jowls naturally at home is a feasible and empowering approach for those seeking to enhance their facial contours without invasive procedures. By learning how to get rid of jowls and incorporating targeted facial exercises, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and utilizing effective skincare products and treatment devices, individuals can achieve noticeable improvements in skin firmness and elasticity.

Ready to start your journey to a firmer jawline? Shop Solawave devices today.

Sources:

1. Tobacco smoke causes premature skin aging
2. Skin Health | Linus Pauling Institute
3. The Surgical Anatomy of the Jowl and the Mandibular Ligament Reassessed - PMC

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