best aesthetic clinics in Dubai
Bulldog cheeks, also called sagging jowls, can be treated using non-surgical or surgical methods to support facial skin structure and restore volume to the middle part of the face. Non-surgical options include energy-based machines and injectables, while surgical interventions like facelifts offer permanent corrections.
If you live in or around Dubai and are struggling with sagging jowls, also called bulldog cheeks, walk into Hortman Clinics, one of the top aesthetic clinics for facial rejuvenation in Dubai, for a premium, long-term facial uplifting treatment.
Bulldog cheeks are fairly common, and more so with growing age. But the good news is that they can be treated and prevented with timely and appropriate professional treatments.
What are Bulldog Cheeks?
Bulldog cheeks is a term used to describe sagging jowls, which is triggered mainly by aging. However, aging is not the sole cause, but bulldog cheeks can also result from a combination of factors, including loss of elasticity, muscle imbalance, poor postural habits, and decreased circulation.
Not many people are aware, but excessive smartphone use today has led to poor posture and the development of incorrect facial expression habits, which can stress the fascia around the jaw and accelerate sagging.
Bulldog cheeks are mainly of three types:
- Buccal fat type: Characterized by deep fat in the central part
- Subcutaneous type: There is excess fat accumulation in the lower half of the face, resulting in sagging jowls
- Skin type: This type of facial sagging is driven by loss of skin elasticity, reduced collagen and weakened structural support in the lower one-third of the face.
What Causes Bulldog Cheeks?
In addition to aging, the development of bulldog cheeks is accelerated due to some poor lifestyle habits of people today. These include:
Constant head-down posture
Working on laptops and constantly typing or viewing content on their phones for a long time has given people a downward-looking position, which tends to pull the jawline and compress cheek fat. This creates ‘gravity wrinkles’.
When this habit continues, the facial muscles tend to shift down, causing the fat below cheekbones to also sag. So, if you have noticed your facial line becoming distorted, it may have to do with your prolonged head-down posture.
Additionally, if the tension on your neck muscles continues during this time, it can affect your lymphatic circulation, further accelerating aging.
Here’s what you can do: Take breaks every 20 minutes by looking up from your screened device and perform simple stretching by lifting your head and tilting your neck back. This exercise is very effective in preventing sagging and improving circulation.
One-sided chewing habit
If you chew your food only on one side or frequently clench your teeth due to stress, your jaw muscles will begin to develop more on one side. This can result in facial asymmetry and sagging of the cheeks on one side.
It has been observed that people who grind their teeth at night (a condition called bruxism) tend to have more tension in their jaw muscles, causing the areas below their cheeks to sag and contributing to the development of bulldog cheeks.
Here’s what you can do: A masseter relaxation exercise may be helpful.
To do this exercise, you can open your mouth slightly and move your jaw from side to side for 2 to 3 minutes. Wearing a mouthguard can reduce jaw pressure at night, alleviating muscle fatigue.
Neglecting facial swelling
If you notice facial swelling that does not subside easily or quickly, it may have to do with lymphatic circulation. When this happens in the tissue below your cheeks, your cheeks tend to drop due to their weight.
Here’s what you can do: Perform a gentle massage below the ear by light sweeping action towards the jawline and collarbone. This may help improve lymphatic circulation and reduce swelling.
You can also apply a cold compress to the swelling, alternating it with a warm towel, in the morning and evening to improve blood and lymphatic flow and effectively reduce swelling.
Skipping sunscreen
In our busy schedules, we tend to often skip one very important step in our skincare routine – the sunscreen! Collagen and elastin are two structural proteins in the skin that maintain its structure.
A decrease in collagen and elastin (1% every year after the age of 25) can lead to skin laxity. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays results in the formation of oxidative species, which further damages the skin’s structure.
Here’s what you can do: Regular intake of vitamin C and E, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant-rich fruits, and application of sunscreen every day is very important for maintaining your skin elasticity. Since skin regeneration enzymes are actively secreted during sleep, applying moisturizer sufficiently before bed helps prevent moisture loss in the skin.
Rapid weight loss
Losing weight in a short span of time due to dieting or combining it with workouts can cause a sudden decrease in your facial volume, resulting in loss of skin elasticity. In such cases, the cheek fat decreases rapidly, but the skin continues to remain in a stretched state, causing it to sag.
This is particularly common in people over 30, as collagen production begins to decrease, making recovery slow.
This is why it is recommended to lose weight gradually and ensure sufficient intake of protein and vitamin C during this time to minimize sagging skin and the appearance of bulldog cheeks.
What Happens During Your Consultation Appointment at Hortman Clinics?
Hortman Clinics is an award-winning aesthetic clinic for beauty treatments with an expert panel of board-certified cosmetic surgeons who are experienced in performing a wide range of procedures and addressing aesthetic concerns, including bulldog cheeks. If you are considering treatment for bulldog cheeks at Hortman Clinics, you can expect the following:
- During your visit to Hortman Clinics, our doctor will analyze your skin and bulldog cheeks to determine their type. This helps create a customized treatment plan based on your assessment and aesthetic goals.
- Our team will work with you to determine what will help correct your bulldog cheeks – removal of fat, tightening of skin or both, while sculpting your jawline.
- During your consultation appointment, the surgeon will explain the type of procedure, how it is done, what you can expect after and when you can see the results.
- You will also be given a transparent pricing sheet to help you plan your finances.
How are Bulldog Cheeks Treated?
With the advances in cosmetic surgery techniques, treating bulldog cheeks is now possible, giving you a sculpted jawline and a boost in confidence. Bulldog cheeks can be treated using non-surgical and surgical options.
At Hortman Clinics, the top-rated aesthetic and wellness clinics in Dubai, we also use the most advanced energy-based machines, such as Ultherapy, HIFU and Morpheus8.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Non-surgical options to correct bulldog cheeks include the following:
Injectables
These primarily include dermal fillers and Botox (neuromodulators).
- Dermal fillers: These are injectables mainly comprising hyaluronic acid or biostimulators (Sculptra, Radiesse) that are injected into the cheeks and jawline to lift the sagging skin.
- Neuromodulators: Effects like the Nefertiti lift are the result of injecting neuromodulators like Botox into the target areas, which relax the downward-pulling muscles of the lower part of the face, giving your jawline an instant but subtle lift.
Thread Lifts:
These are tiny, re-absorbable threads inserted under the facial skin to physically pull and reposition sagging cheek tissue.
Energy-Based Treatments
Hortman Clinics is the leading aesthetic clinic for jawline and cheek enhancement in Dubai and deploys modern energy-based devices, including lasers. Machines used for correcting bulldog cheeks include:
- Micro-focused Ultrasound (MFU)
- Ultherapy: This is the gold standard in non-invasive ultrasound face lifting. This device uses real-time imaging to safely deliver focused heat deep into the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer, stimulating intense collagen and elastin production, resulting in facial lift.
- HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound): This is similar to Ultherapy but bypasses the skin’s surface to contract tissues and cause targeted fat reduction in the jowl area.
- Radiofrequency (RF) & Microneedling
- Morpheus8: This is an advanced energy-based device that combines microneedling and radiofrequency (RF) energy to remodel fat, tighten connective fibers, and sculpt the contours in the lower third of the face.
- Thermage: This device uses deep radiofrequency heating to boost collagen to tighten and firm lax skin.
Surgical Treatment
While non-surgical and energy-based options are effective in correcting mild to moderate degrees of bulldog cheeks and facial sagging, your cosmetic surgeon may recommend a surgical treatment if your skin laxity is greater and more severe. Surgical options may include:
- Face & neck lift: One of the gold-standard surgical approaches for bulldog cheeks is a face and neck lift, during which the surgeon will physically reposition the sagging muscles and remove excess skin for a naturally smooth jawline contour.
- Buccal fat removal: In this approach, the surgeon targets the deep fat pads in the lower cheeks to slim the face and reduce downward bulkiness, eliminating bulldog cheeks.
Chin augmentation: In this surgical procedure, the surgeon places an implant to improve a weak chin, providing the foundational bone structure needed to pull the skin of
How to Prevent Bulldog Cheeks?
While there are several ways to treat bulldog cheeks, the good news is that you can prevent them from occurring or progressing. Here are some expert-recommended ways:
- Wear a powerful sunscreen that protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
- Wear protective clothing during periods of long or intense sun exposure
- Don’t forget to moisturize your skin every day
- Use skin care products that contain retinol, vitamin A and vitamin E as they promote collagen production.
- Avoid lifestyle or postural habits that cause your cheek and facial muscles to sag downwards, especially chewing gum, growing or using a laptop or screened devices for a long time.
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid smoking
- Do facial exercises that promote flexible muscles in the entire face
Remember, no one method can entirely prevent jowls. However, some lifestyle choices can help reduce the severity or risk of early development.
Conclusion
Bulldog cheeks or jowls are common and can steal your confidence. But with the advances in modern cosmetic treatments and the availability of experienced surgeons in premium clinics like Hortman, you can now get your bulldog cheeks corrected and flaunt that sculpted jawline.
Ready to bask in the compliments of a toned, sculpted and younger-looking face? Book your consultation appointment with our expert cosmetic surgeons today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bulldog Cheeks
Aging is the main trigger for the development of bulldog cheeks, but poor posture, prolonged use of mobile phones or laptops, and lack of sunscreen application can result in drooping jowls or bulldog cheeks.
Yes! Bulldog cheeks are treatable using surgical and non-surgical methods, including energy-based devices. Additionally, you can also combine these options with facial exercises and yoga under your doctor’s guidance to prolong or maintain the results.
Yes, non-surgical treatments are effective to treat mild to moderate bulldog cheeks. Compared to surgical options, they also require a shorter recovery time, and results are visible more quickly.
HORTMAN CLINICS NEWS
Related News
We are here for you. Always.
Everything we do is tailored to your needs, this is why we take our time to take care of you and answer all your questions.
Memberships
Become a Member - Aesthetic Membership Packages & Weight loss Training Program
Subscribe for Exclusive Aesthetic Tips & Offers!
