What Are Jowls? Why Your Jawline Looks Softer and What You Can Do About It in 2026
Updated: 2 days ago
When Your Jawline Starts to Look Softer
It usually starts with a photo. Maybe it was a candid shot at a wedding, or a video call where the camera sat a little too low. Your jawline looks less sharp than you remember. Your face looks more tired than you feel, and makeup doesn't fix it.
What you're probably seeing are the early signs of jowls. Almost everyone develops them eventually. Most people just don't have a name for it yet. This guide explains what jowls are, why they form, what you can do at home, and the newer non-surgical treatments, like XERF, that can firm the skin along your jaw and neck without needles or downtime.
Key Takeaways
Jowls are the softening and slight sagging of skin and tissue along the lower cheeks and jawline, and they are a normal part of aging.
They form as your skin makes less collagen and elastin, facial fat shifts downward, and the deeper support layers loosen over time.
Early signs show up as early as your 30s: a less defined jawline, a "tired" lower face, and a softer line between your chin and neck.
Sunscreen, a good retinoid, not smoking, and steady weight can slow jowls down, but they can't reverse laxity that's already there.
XERF is a newer radiofrequency treatment that heats several layers of skin to firm it and rebuild collagen, with no needles, no numbing, and little to no downtime.
What Are Jowls?
Jowls are the soft, slightly heavier areas of skin that form below the cheeks and along the jawline as we age. When you're younger, the skin and tissue there are held tightly against the jawbone, so the line from your ear to your chin looks crisp. Over time, that support loosens. Tissue that used to sit higher on the face settles a little lower, softening the jawline and sometimes creating a small "pouch" on each side of the chin.
Jowls aren't a medical problem, and they don't mean you're doing anything wrong. They are one of the most common reasons people say they look "tired" or "older than I feel," even when their skin is otherwise healthy.
Early Signs You Might Not Recognize
Most people don't notice jowls until they're obvious. The earliest signs are subtle:
Your jawline photographs softer, especially from the side or when you look down.
The corners of your mouth look slightly heavier, and your lower face looks less lifted.
Makeup or contour doesn't sharpen your jaw the way it used to.
The skin under your chin and along your neck feels looser or looks slightly crepey.
You find yourself lifting your cheeks in the mirror with your fingertips to see "how you used to look."
If any of these sound familiar, you're not imagining it. Skin changes like these often start in your 30s and become more noticeable through your 40s and 50s.
What Causes Jowls?
Jowls form from several changes that happen at once, in different layers of the face.
Collagen and Elastin Loss
Collagen gives skin its firmness, and elastin lets it snap back. As Penn Medicine explains, skin becomes thinner as it produces less collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep it firm and stretchy. With less of both, skin along the jaw can't hold its shape as well.
Shifting Facial Fat and Deeper Support
Beneath the skin, facial fat pads and the deeper support layer (called the SMAS) change with age. A review in the National Library of Medicine notes that the jawline loses definition as fat in the jowls becomes more prominent with age. This is why skin-surface products alone rarely change the jawline. Much of the change is happening deeper.
Fast weight loss can speed up this change too. If your face looks hollow or your jawline softened after losing weight on a GLP-1 medication, read our guide to what Ozempic face is and how to rebuild collagen.
Everyday Accelerators
Some factors speed up the process:
Years of sun exposure, which breaks down collagen faster
Smoking
Significant weight loss or weight fluctuations, including GLP-1 weight loss
Genetics and bone structure
Poor sleep and chronic stress
Can You Prevent Jowls?
You can't stop aging, but you can slow down how quickly jowls appear:
Wear sunscreen daily. Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, including on your neck.
Use a retinoid. A retinoid or retinol at night helps support collagen over time.
Don't smoke. Avoid smoking and vaping.
Keep your weight steady if you can. If you're losing weight quickly, plan ahead for skin support.
Build collagen early. Regular skin treatments like microneedling keep collagen production active.
Facial exercises and at-home gadgets are popular online. They may make your skin look fresher for a while, but they can't meaningfully tighten loose tissue along the jaw.
How to Get Rid of Jowls Without Surgery
For a long time, the only real fix for jowls was a surgical facelift. Today, there are several non-surgical options. Each one works differently:
Dermal filler. Dermal filler along the jaw or cheeks restores lost volume and can camouflage jowls by rebuilding structure. It doesn't tighten skin.
Neurotoxin. Neurotoxin relaxes the muscles that pull the lower face and neck downward. It's often used together with other treatments.
Microneedling. Improves skin quality and texture, with modest firming.
Radiofrequency skin tightening, such as XERF. Heats the deeper layers of skin to tighten existing collagen and prompt your body to make new collagen. This is the option that addresses laxity itself.
For many patients, the most natural result comes from combining a few of these in the right order. A thoughtful provider will build that plan with you instead of selling a single treatment.
Want to compare every option side by side, including what the research says about each one? Read our guide on how to get rid of jowls without surgery.
Meet XERF: A New Way to Firm the Jawline
XERF (pronounced "zurf") is a radiofrequency skin-tightening treatment made by Cynosure Lutronic. It is the first monopolar radiofrequency device to use two frequencies at once. That lets it heat the shallow, middle, and deep layers of the skin in a single treatment, including the deeper support layer linked to sagging skin and jowls.
How XERF Works
Higher frequency, near the surface. It improves texture, fine lines, and skin quality. The Blue Divine Aesthetics guide describes the 6.78 MHz frequency as working in the upper dermis.
Lower frequency, deeper down. It reaches toward the SMAS, the layer responsible for lift along the lower face and neck. Blue Divine describes this as the 2 MHz frequency.
Two phases of results. The heat causes existing collagen to contract right away, which is why some patients see a subtle lift the same day. It also triggers new collagen and elastin over the next few months.
Built-in cooling protects the skin's surface throughout the treatment. That is why most patients don't need numbing cream.
Who XERF Is Best For
XERF is a strong fit if you:
Are in your 30s to 60s and noticing early to moderate jowling or a softer jawline
Have mild to moderate looseness of the face, under the chin, or the neck
Want to look refreshed, not "done"
Don't want needles, numbing, or time off work
Want to maintain results from past treatments, or put off surgery
According to Harris Facial Plastic Surgery, XERF is suitable for all skin types and can be done year-round. It can treat the forehead and brows, around the eyes, the cheeks, the jawline, under the chin, and the neck.
XERF isn't a replacement for surgery when there is significant excess skin. If your goals would be better met by a surgical consultation, we'll tell you.
What a XERF Treatment Feels Like
Most people describe XERF as deep warmth, similar to a hot stone massage, with quick cooling pulses in between. Areas over bone, like the cheekbones and jawline, can feel warmer. In a first-person review, Coveteur's writer rated most of her treatment a 1–2 out of 10 for discomfort and said it rose to about a 4 at the cheekbones. Your provider can adjust the settings in real time for your comfort.
At The Real Skin, most XERF visits take under an hour. You can put makeup on and go back to your day right after.
XERF Results: What to Expect
Same day: Many patients notice subtle firming and a fresh glow right away.
Weeks 2 to 12: New collagen and elastin build gradually, and the jawline and neck continue to firm.
About 3 months: Results are typically evaluated at this point.
Long term: Results can last up to about a year. Coveteur reported that a booster session 3 to 6 months later can help extend them.
Results are natural and gradual. You'll look like yourself, just a little more rested and defined. We take AURA skin analysis photos at your first visit and at your follow-up so you can see the change objectively, not just in the mirror.
How Much Does XERF Cost?
According to Coveteur, XERF generally starts at $1,500 to $3,000 per session. Full face and neck treatments are often around $2,500, depending on location.
At The Real Skin, we believe in transparent pricing. A full face and neck XERF treatment is $2,500, and a two-treatment series is $4,000. Your consultation will confirm whether one treatment or a series fits your goals. For a full breakdown of local prices, see our guide to XERF cost in Orange County.
Is XERF Safe?
XERF is a non-invasive treatment with little to no downtime. The most common side effects are mild redness or warmth that usually fade within hours.
XERF may not be right for you if you:
Are pregnant
Have a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device
Have metal implants near the treatment area
Have an active skin infection in the area
Your provider will review your health history before treatment. Always choose a licensed medical provider trained on the device.
Before your appointment:
Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids about one week before.
Arrive with a clean, bare face.
After your appointment:
Skip ice, saunas, and steam rooms for 24 hours so the heat can do its work.
Use sunscreen and moisturizer daily.
FAQs on Jowls and XERF in 2026
At what age do jowls start?
Many people notice the first softening along the jawline in their mid-30s to 40s, though genetics, sun exposure, and weight changes can move that earlier or later.
Can you get rid of jowls naturally?
Healthy habits like sunscreen, retinoids, and not smoking can slow jowls down. Once laxity has set in, though, at-home methods like facial exercises can't meaningfully tighten the tissue. Non-surgical treatments like XERF are designed to do that.
Is XERF a laser?
No. People often search for "XERF laser," but XERF uses radiofrequency energy, not laser light. That's one reason it's considered safe for all skin tones.
Does XERF hurt?
Most patients describe it as warm and tolerable, and numbing cream usually isn't needed. Bony areas like the cheekbones may feel warmer for a moment.
How many XERF treatments will I need?
Many patients with mild laxity see meaningful improvement after one session. For moderate laxity, a series of two to three treatments spaced a few weeks apart is common.
Can I combine XERF with Botox or filler?
Yes. XERF firms the skin, while neurotoxin and filler address muscles and volume. Your provider will plan the right order and timing for your goals.
Your Next Step Toward a Firmer Jawline
Jowls are one of the quietest signs of aging. They're easy to feel and hard to name. The good news is that you no longer have to choose between living with a softer jawline and having surgery. With good daily habits and a treatment like XERF, you can firm and define your lower face gradually and naturally, with no needles or downtime.
At The Real Skin in Costa Mesa, we start every XERF plan with a skin-first consultation and AURA skin analysis. We'll recommend only what you need. Learn more about XERF skin tightening, see real patient results, or book your consultation today.
Medically reviewed by Paveena, NP, Founder and Lead Injector, The Real Skin Medical Center.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Pricing reflects published rates at the time of writing and is subject to change.
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