Priorities
Jowls and a softening jawline
A jawline that's losing definition, with skin and soft tissue sitting lower along the jaw.
A softening jawline develops gradually, as the skin along the jaw loses firmness and the defined line from chin to ear becomes a softer curve. Skin that still springs back when pinched usually responds to non-surgical treatment. Skin that hangs generally needs a surgical approach.
Jowls are skin and a little fat sliding below the jaw as the ligaments loosen. How far that loosening has progressed determines which treatment makes sense for you.
What we'd want you to know
Advanced jowls usually need surgery
If your jawline is only starting to blur and the skin snaps back, we’d start with Forma. It’s radiofrequency from the surface, with no needles and no downtime, over four to six sessions with our medical esthetician. For early laxity, that’s often enough.
If there’s a pocket at rest, Morpheus8 delivers the radiofrequency through microneedles up to 4 mm deep, over three sessions with a few days of redness after each. PDO threads, which reposition tissue the same day, aren’t on the Lincoln Park booking menu, but we can discuss whether they’re a good option for you at your consult.
Assessing jowls and jawline laxity
We’ll start with a pinch, then a photo. Skin that springs back with a shadow rather than a pocket is early laxity, and Forma is a sensible place to start. It’s FDA-cleared radiofrequency, we use it for tightening, and the evidence comes from small studies. A single session won’t show a change, so plan for the full series.
If you can hold a pocket between two fingers, we’ll suggest Morpheus8, which is FDA-cleared for contraction of soft tissue. A 2026 systematic review of 20 RF microneedling studies with 558 participants found improvements in texture and tightening, mostly mild and transient side effects, and satisfaction above 90 percent in most studies, per the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. The authors work for a competing device maker, so the findings are encouraging rather than conclusive. Individual results vary.
If you want something visible the day you leave, PDO threads hold the tissue higher from placement and fade over months. A 2021 meta-analysis of 26 thread studies put dimpling at 10 percent and satisfaction falling from 98 percent right after to 88 percent later, per Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Threads move tissue millimeters, while surgery moves it centimeters.
We’ll also check for a fat pad under your chin, and if there is one, that’s a Kybella conversation.
Your questions, answered
When should I start a Morpheus8 series for a June wedding?
Plan your last session 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding, so a three-session series starts in January. Lower sun exposure in winter makes aftercare easier, and you’ll want to allow for 2 to 5 days of redness after each session.
Forma or straight to Morpheus8?
If it’s only blurring, Forma. If there’s a pocket you can pinch, Morpheus8. For early laxity, the added cost and downtime of Morpheus8 often aren’t necessary, so many people who ask about it start with a Forma series instead. Our Morpheus8 cost guide explains what affects the price.
Is a thread lift a non-surgical facelift?
That’s a nickname, not a cleared indication. Threads temporarily reposition the cheek and jowl and dissolve over months, with the lift holding several months to about a year. They can suit mild sagging but aren’t a good option for heavy jowls, and they’re available by request only at Lincoln Park.
Related treatments
From the clinic
Treatment guides · 6 min read
How long do PDO threads last, and what happens when they dissolve
For many people, the lift from PDO threads holds for several months to about a year, although manufacturers market 12 to 18 months. The thread itself…
Treatment guides · 6 min read
How much does Morpheus8 cost? Face, neck, body, and why the series exists
A Morpheus8 quote has four parts: the area, the number of sessions, the tip and passes, and any add-on. Most people are quoted 3 sessions, 4…
Compare and decide · 6 min read
RF microneedling vs microneedling: is the radiofrequency worth the extra cost?
Radiofrequency is worth the extra cost when your concern is laxity or deep scars. For texture, pores, or a first round of maintenance, you can usually…