The real reason for a sagging double chin and what will and won’t help, according to an expert

For many people, a sagging jowl (sagging skin that develops along the bottom of the cheeks and jawline) – are one of the first unexpected signs of aging.

Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City, spoke with News Digital about best practices for managing downward “drag.”

To understand why a double chin forms and how to treat it, Idriss suggests visualizing your face as a piece of furniture.

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“I like to explain facial aging using a couch analogy: the bones are the structure, the fat and muscles are the cushions, and the skin is the fabric,” he said.

When a person notices the early stages of a “double chin,” it is rarely just a skin (“web”) problem. According to Idriss, it’s usually a combination of loss of structural support and fat moving downward with gravity.

As the structure of the “couch” changes and the cushions compress, the fabric has no choice but to “naturally start to drape differently,” he said.

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Even so, according to the doctor, it is never too late for non-invasive treatments.

The key to success is a multi-layered strategy rather than a “silver bullet” solution, he said.

“It often seems like it happened overnight, but it’s actually the accumulation of years of collagen loss and tissue movement.”

While the market is saturated with jaw-sculpting devices, Idriss urges patients to manage their expectations when experimenting with them.

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Facial rollers and massages can move lymphatic fluid to temporarily reduce swelling, but they can’t eliminate a true double chin, he said.

Idriss advises against buccal fat removal, a popular cosmetic surgical procedure that involves removing natural fat pads from the cheeks to create a more contoured, hollow appearance.

For many people, eliminating that fat can actually “speed up.” [the formation of] the double chin and you age faster,” he warned, noting that the goal should be to preserve the “cushions” of the face, not discard them.

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Surgical options like facelifts have limitations because, according to Idriss, “a facelift repositions the tissue and tightens the skin, but it does not reconstruct the deeper structural changes that occur with aging.”

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Some patients may feel their reflection change almost overnight, Idriss noted, noting that there are specific “peaks of aging,” including a scientifically documented change in the mid-40s.

“That moment often seems like it happened overnight, but it’s actually the accumulation of years of collagen loss and tissue movement,” the doctor said.

For people in their 20s and 30s, the focus should be on “maintaining the sofa before the cushions start to sink.”

According to Idriss, this involves protecting collagen by consistently applying sunscreen, using retinoids (compounds derived from vitamin A that can help improve skin cell turnover and stimulate collagen production), and controlling inflammation.

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However, he noted, a double chin is not the result of poor skin care. “It’s literally your bone structure,” Idriss said.

The goal, according to the expert, is to attack the root cause of the “curtain” instead of chasing a passing trend. “Less is usually more; overtreatment can lead to unnatural results.”