Jowls are the soft folds of skin and tissue that gather below the corners of the mouth and along the jaw, breaking up its clean line. At ZARA on Edgware Road, early to moderate jowls are treated without surgery, most often with HIFU to firm the tissue, a PDO thread plan to give subtle lift, or jawline filler to smooth the dip in front of the jowl. Fat dissolving injections may be considered where fullness sits under the chin and along the jaw.
The right choice depends on what is causing your jowls, which is why we start with an assessment rather than a menu. All of these give a modest, gradual improvement. Heavy jowling with a lot of loose skin is a job for surgery, and a surgical opinion will be more useful to you than injections or ultrasound.
HIFU and Dermal filler Jawline are priced at consultation. PDO Full face is £600 per session, and fat dissolving injections are priced at consultation.
What causes jowls to form?
Several changes tend to happen together. Skin loses collagen and elastin and becomes less springy. The fat pads of the cheeks and mid-face thin and slip a little lower. Where tissue is held more firmly to the jawbone, it stays put, so softer tissue gathers either side, creating the small notch in front of the jowl that many people first notice in photos.
Genetics, sun exposure, smoking and weight change all play a part, which is why some people see jowls in their thirties and others barely do in their sixties. The bone of the jaw changes with age as well, so it may offer a little less support than it once did.
Why does the cause decide the treatment?
A softening jaw can come from loose skin, lost volume, extra fat or a mix of all three. Treating the wrong one rarely helps, so at consultation we look at your jaw from the front, from both sides and from below, and watch how your face moves.
- Mostly laxity: HIFU or lifting threads, which work on the supporting tissue.
- A dip that breaks up the jawline: jawline filler placed close to the bone can blur it, although it will not remove loose skin.
- Fullness under the chin and along the jaw: fat dissolving injections, if a soft, pinchable pocket of fat is the cause.
- Volume loss higher up the face: sometimes cheek filler is a better first step, as the jowl partly reflects what has moved above it.
Fat dissolving is not offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding, to anyone hoping to lose a significant amount of weight, or where the skin in the area is infected, inflamed or broken. When treating under the chin, swallowing difficulties and certain thyroid or neck conditions rule it out, as do bleeding disorders, some blood thinning medicines and an allergy to any ingredient.
How does HIFU help with jowls?
HIFU sends focused ultrasound to points in the deeper skin and the SMAS, the supportive layer a surgeon tightens during a facelift. The tiny heated spots prompt existing collagen to contract and new collagen to form. For jowls, the lower face and jawline are mapped carefully so the energy is spread evenly and kept away from sensitive structures.
The change is gradual, building over two to three months, and usually shows as a softer jowl and a slightly crisper jaw edge. One session is often enough, with a second considered months later if needed. There are no needles, and most people go back to work the same day.
When are threads or jawline filler a better fit?
Lifting threads give a visible change sooner than HIFU. Barbed PDO threads grip the tissue so it can be lifted slightly, and the PDO Full face plan typically focuses on areas such as the jowls, cheeks and jawline. Expect bruising and tightness for about a week, and a slightly uneven look while swelling settles.
Jawline filler suits a different problem: a jaw outline interrupted by a small hollow in front of the jowl. A firm gel placed along the bone restores a straighter edge. It will not tighten skin, so with heavier jowls filler on its own may not give a clean result. Some people combine approaches in a staged plan, and we will explain the order that makes sense for you.
When are jowls too advanced for non-surgical treatment?
If the jowls hang well below the jawline, or there is a lot of loose skin across the lower face and neck, non-surgical options tend to give a change too small to be worth the cost. A lower facelift or neck lift is the treatment designed for that degree of sagging. We will tell you at consultation if we think that applies to you, rather than offering a plan that cannot deliver what you are hoping for.
Who should wait, and what is aftercare like?
None of these treatments is offered during pregnancy, and threads and filler are also avoided while breastfeeding. HIFU is unsuitable with a pacemaker, metal implants in the area or a history of keloid scarring. Threads and filler may not suit you if you take blood-thinning medicines or have certain autoimmune or bleeding conditions. Any infection or broken skin along the jaw means waiting until it has healed. Threads and fillers are for adults aged 18 and over.
After HIFU, avoid saunas and very hot showers for a day or two and wear SPF daily. After threads, avoid wide yawning and exaggerated expressions for about two weeks and sleep with your head raised for the first few nights. After jawline filler, chewing may feel sore for a few days. If pain gets worse instead of easing, or the skin looks pale or discoloured, call us at once.
If a medical condition or a new medicine makes you unsure whether treatment is safe, check with your GP before booking. Should you feel unwell after treatment and be unable to reach the clinic, call NHS 111.
Close to St John's Wood, Marble Arch and Lisson Grove
ZARA sits at 304 Edgware Road in W2, about 50 metres from the Bakerloo line station. Marble Arch is a straight walk of around 18 to 20 minutes up Edgware Road, Lisson Grove is about 0.2 miles away, and St John's Wood station is roughly a mile, or about 25 minutes on foot. Weekday and Saturday appointments run until 8pm, and on Sundays and bank holidays we open from 1pm to 5pm.
Book a free jowls consultation by WhatsApp on 07479 973309, by phone on 020 4619 8781 or through the booking form. We will tell you what is causing your jowls and which option, if any, is worth your money.
Jowls treatment: your questions answered
Can jowls be reversed without surgery?
Early jowls can be softened, but not reversed. Non-surgical treatments give a modest improvement that builds over weeks or months, and the face keeps ageing, so most people plan some maintenance.
Can filler on its own fix sagging jowls?
Filler can smooth the dip in front of a small jowl, which makes the jaw look straighter. It cannot lift or remove loose skin, so it works well on mild jowls or alongside a tightening treatment, and less well on heavier sagging.
How long do the results last?
HIFU results often last around a year. PDO threads dissolve over about six months, with support that can last from several months to around a year. Firm jawline filler commonly lasts a year or more. How long any result lasts differs a good deal between people.
Do men have jowls treatment?
Yes. Men often ask for a crisper jaw, and the assessment is the same: whether laxity, volume or fat is behind the change. After jawline filler, men are usually asked not to shave the area for the rest of the day.
Is there downtime?
HIFU usually has very little: redness usually clears within hours and you can normally head back to work afterwards. Filler can cause swelling and bruising for several days, so allow around two weeks before an important event, and several weeks after threads.
How much does jowls treatment cost?
HIFU and jawline filler are priced at consultation because they depend on your face. A PDO Full face session costs £600, while fat dissolving is priced at consultation. You will know the price before treatment.
