Introduction:
The appearance of the face is a very crucial feature in any person's life and is considered a means of physical attraction. The feature of a jowl appearing tight and firm is considered a sign of youth. Everybody wishes to have a firm and chiseled jawline, and dissatisfaction with the appearance of the same is very common. But very often, there are multiple factors hindering it, like body fat, age, habits, etc. In order to manage the factors affecting it, various techniques are followed.
What are Jowls?
Jowls are the tissues below the surface of the jawbone that are highly prone to sagging. This is because these muscles are more prone to sagging because they are thin by nature and become thinner over time. Jowls are tissues composed of fat cells, which over time, cause the depletion of fat cells.
How Is the Patient Prepared for Jowl Reconstruction?
Jowl reconstruction is a procedure that cannot be done by all but needs careful patient assessment as it takes a toll on the facial appearance and form. The important factors to be considered during treatment are:
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Proper patient selection.
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Facial examinations.
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Tracing or marking facial forms to isolate the jowl to be reconstructed.
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Proceeding with the treatment.
How Can Jowl Sagging Be Prevented?
The sagging of the jowl can be prevented or managed by oneself at home in the following ways:
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Following a proper diet routine.
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Practicing facial exercises.
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Diagnosing underlying medical conditions.
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Avoiding smoking habits.
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Having adequate fluid intake.
What Are the Ways to Treat Jowls Medically?
Historically, the management of jowls was done by reducing the fat in that area through liposuction. With emerging techniques in medicine, the management of the jowls can be done by both a medical and surgical approach, and some of the treatments are discussed here. The main aim of discussing these procedures is to achieve a contoured jawline with distinct borders of the mandible.
Non-Surgical Management: The non-surgical approach or cosmetic procedures are the most preferred methods by patients, as they are often painless and require a minimal healing period. Liposuction is the most common and conventional method and is used by almost eighty-one percent of plastic surgeons and dermatologists around the world. However, as it is an invasive procedure, not every person is willing to opt for this treatment method.
1. Injectable Bio Fillers - Injectable bio-fillers are agents that are preferred or used by the doctor to inject the site of deformation. These bio-fillers are components that occupy the sagging area, creating fullness in the skin and giving it a youthful appearance. In the case of injections like adipocytolysis, they act as drugs that target the fat cells, causing them to break down. The commonly used bio fillers are:
- Collagen.
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Hyaluronic acid.
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Adipocytolysis.
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Botox injections.
2. Coolsculpting - This procedure is also known as coolsculpting. Here, the management of loose jowls is done by freezing the fat cells, which contract and tightens the tissues, giving them a firm and tight appearance.
3. Thermal Skin Tightening - Tightening the skin by thermal means is done by inducing radiation or radio frequency light that causes the depletion of cells using heat and light.
Surgical Management: Surgical management of jowls is the most commonly performed procedure that has been done for ages, and liposuction has been one of the most extensively performed ones. Although, in recent times, there have been a few other procedures that have been performed along with this method to get more effective results, and they are:
1. Neck Lift Surgery - This surgical procedure is also called a facelift or rhytidectomy. The facelift or neck lift surgery is performed to gain a younger-looking face and to reduce the bagginess of the jowls. In order to fix this, the skin area below the jaws is augmented and altered by the reduction of fat content in the neck and jaw. This, in turn, gives an instant lift to the face, reducing the appearance of saggy lines and fat.
What Are the Complications Associated with the Management of Jowls?
The complications associated with jowl management, be it surgical or non-surgical, are:
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Scar Formation: Although the chances of scar formation are minimal, it is still a possibility and can be due to the incisions made.
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Hematoma: A hematoma is a clinical condition that represents a clot or collection of blood. The presence of hematoma initially within 24 hours post-surgery is a common entity also seen with swelling; however, over time, it has a tendency to subside.
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Injury to the Nerve: This is one of the major factors to keep in mind before operating on the patient. Although the scenario is rare, it is still a predominant consideration to keep in mind.
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Skin or Muscle Loss: There may be an initial loss of skin tonicity due to poor blood supply post-surgery. However, with proper care and medications, the muscle loss is manageable.
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Hair Loss: Hair loss at the site of surgery is commonly seen for a few months post-surgery due to damage or loss of hair follicles.
Who Is Contraindicated From Taking This Treatment?
Irrespective of the benefits the procedures provide, they cannot be performed for all patients due to various systemic and medical complications, including:
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Patients who are on blood thinners.
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Patients with underlying medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension may delay healing or form excessive clots or hematomas.
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Patients with a chronic smoking habit.
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Patients with a history of frequent weight gain and loss.
Conclusion:
Management of the jowls can be a very exciting process for the patients, as they commonly look forward to a more pronounced and youthful physical appearance. However, proper education and understanding of the condition are a must for a better understanding of the patient and an open mindset. Care should also be taken while performing the procedure or treatments and administering local anesthetics. With proper medical history taken and facial form studied and determined, it is much simpler to get great and effective results.
