How to Tighten Jowls and Sagging Skin

The formation of sagging skin in the face and neck is among the most common concerns men and women wish to improve with aesthetic treatments. Jowls and skin laxity develop primarily due to a gradual loss of skin elasticity, fat, and muscle tone. As we age, our skin produces less collagen and elastin, which are key proteins that keep your face looking firm and resilient. This causes the skin to become thinner and more prone to sagging. At the same time, the fat pads in the cheeks begin to shift downward and the supportive structures beneath the skin weaken, leading to reduced definition along the jawline. At Shaw Plastic Surgery, we provide a broad range of surgical and non-surgical treatments to address loose skin and help you look like yourself again. 

Surgical Treatments for Tightening Skin

Aesthetic procedures are among the most powerful methods of tightening loose, sagging skin — even offering results that can make you look up to ten years younger! When performed by a highly skilled board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, effective facial procedures to smooth jowls and crepey skin include:

• Facelift: A modern facelift can restore underlying support for the face without producing a tight or “frozen” look. This is achieved by repositioning and lifting the facial muscles and connective tissues (known as the SMAS layer) to restore structure and definition. 
• Neck Lift: When sagging skin accumulates under the chin — creating a crepey look or a “turkey neck” — neck lift surgery can be the gold standard of redefining the neck and jawline. 

Non-Surgical Treatments for Skin Laxity

Dr. Shaw understands not all men and women want to undergo surgery to achieve their goals. Luckily, our practice also offers a spectrum of highly effective non-surgical and laser-based treatments to improve skin tone, including:

• Thread Lift: A minimally invasive treatment, a thread lift inserts thin, medical-grade threads beneath the skin using a fine needle or cannula. These threads are strategically placed to lift and reposition loose or drooping areas, such as the cheeks, jowls, neck, or brows, creating an immediate tightening effect. 
• PiXel8-RF^® Microneedling: PiXel8-RF^® combines microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) energy to trigger the body’s natural healing response. This stimulates the growth of softer, healthier skin with enhanced firmness and tone. Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, delivering heat deep into the dermis through those microneedles. This treatment helps restore depleted collagen and elastin production — the building blocks of firm, youthful skin.
• Pix:E^® Microneedling and Skin Tightening: Pix:E^® is another option that combines  RF microneedling with Erbium laser treatment, thus building collagen and elastin while also resurfacing the skin. Collagen and elastin are two essential proteins for maintaining firm, youthful-looking skin. Over time, this leads to noticeable tightening of loose or sagging skin, especially in common problem areas like the jowls, jawline, neck, and cheeks.
• CO2 Laser Resurfacing: CO2 laser resurfacing is a highly effective treatment for skin tightening, offering dramatic rejuvenation by targeting both the superficial and deeper layers of the skin. This non-surgical laser technology uses concentrated beams of light to remove damaged outer skin while simultaneously heating the underlying dermis.

Unlike surgical procedures, these treatments don’t require recovery time or extensive downtime. There is no general anesthesia necessary, giving you powerful facial rejuvenation without the invasiveness of cosmetic surgery. 

Dr. James Shaw is committed to helping each patient who visits our Wichita practice find the right solution for their unique needs and skin concerns. Don’t hesitate to contact Shaw Plastic Surgery to speak with our board-certified plastic surgeon or to learn more about our services.