Treatments

Search

Conditions

Search

Discreet, expert treatments for the body and intimate areas, delivered in complete privacy.

Body Contouring

Reshaping and firming treatments that refine your silhouette and smooth stubborn areas.

Intimate Treatments

Sensitive, confidential care for intimate areas, carried out by experienced practitioners.

Restorative hair treatments and finishing touches that frame and complete your look.

Hair Loss

Evidence-based treatments to restore density and the appearance of a fuller hairline.

Lashes & Permanent Makeup

Long-lasting enhancements that define your features and simplify your daily routine.

Expertly administered injectable treatments to smooth lines, restore volume and refresh tired skin.

Botox

Precise botox that soften expression lines and refine facial balance.

Collagen Stimulators

Longer-lasting treatments that prompt your own collagen for gradual, natural-looking lift.

Skin Boosters

Deep hydration and cellular repair delivered directly into the skin for a lasting glow.

Advanced device-led treatments that resurface, tighten and even out the skin without surgery.

Laser & IPL

Targeted laser and light energy to treat pigmentation, redness and uneven texture.

LED Light Therapy

Gentle, calming light therapy that reduces inflammation and speeds up skin recovery.

Skin Tightening & Lifting

Non-surgical lifting and firming for a more defined jawline, cheeks and neck.

Expert care for a wide range of skin conditions, ensuring healthy, radiant skin.

Chemical Peels

Controlled resurfacing peels that lift pigmentation, refine texture and reveal fresher skin.

Facials & Cleansing

Rejuvenating facial treatments to cleanse, resurface and enhance your natural radiance.

Microneedling

Collagen-boosting treatments that soften scarring, refine pores and firm the skin.

Veins & Blemishes

Comprehensive care for skin lesions and bumps, promoting clear and healthy skin.

Comprehensive solutions to address a range of body concerns, from stubborn fat to skin laxity.

Shape & Contour

Specialised treatments to refine stubborn pockets of fat, dimpling and contour irregularities for a balanced silhouette.

Skin Laxity & Marks

Firming and resurfacing treatments for loose body skin, stretch marks and post-pregnancy skin changes.

Veins & Thread Veins

Effective clearance of visible leg veins and thread veins to restore an even, unblemished appearance.

Expert treatment for the concerns that show first — lines, lost volume, tired eyes and slackening skin across the face, jawline and neck.

Eye Area

Focused treatment for the delicate eye area, where puffiness, hollowing, hooding and fine lines make you look tired.

Lines & Wrinkles

Smoothing treatments for the expression and static lines that form across the forehead, mouth and neck over time.

Sagging & Laxity

Lifting and tightening solutions for jowls, softening cheeks and a loss of definition through the jawline and neck.

Volume & Contouring

Tailored solutions to restore facial volume and enhance natural contours for a more youthful appearance.

Restorative and enhancing treatments for thinning hair, sparse brows and lashes that lack lift.

Brows & Lashes

Enhancement for sparse brows and straight, downturned lashes to frame and open up the eyes.

Hair Loss

Diagnostic-led treatment for thinning, shedding and patchy hair loss, including postpartum and autoimmune causes.

Targeted care for the health and appearance of your skin, from acne and rosacea to pigmentation, texture and scarring.

Acne & Blemishes

Clinical management of active breakouts, congestion, enlarged pores and the scarring acne leaves behind.

Pigmentation & Skin Tone

Corrective treatments for dark patches, sun damage and an uneven complexion, for clearer and more even skin.

Scars, Marks & Skin Lesions

Treatment and removal options for scars, burns, raised lesions and sun-related skin growths.

Sensitive & Inflamed Skin

Calming, evidence-based care for reactive, red and inflamed skin, including rosacea and eczema.

Texture & Skin Quality

Resurfacing and hydrating treatments for rough, dry or lacklustre skin that has lost its smoothness and glow.

    Book Now
Home  Face & Neck  Sagging & Laxity  Sagging Cheeks

Sagging cheeks symptoms and causes

Doctor-led diagnosis and treatment for sagging cheeks

or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

★★★★★

Over 61,329 patients agree

The condition

Saggy Skins

What is Sagging Cheeks?

Sagging cheeks result from loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin causing the cheeks to droop into a less youthful contour. This is usually because the collagen and elastin fibers that keep our skin taut have weakened over time, which is natural as we grow older. However, it turns out that sun exposure, lifestyle habits, hormonal changes and even stress can all speed it up. Although sagging skin is a natural aspect of aging, it can both have an impact on facial anatomy as well as self-esteem. You may not know this, but several factors contribute to sagging cheeks, including dehydration, not taking good care of the skin, drastic weight loss, and even extended exposure to pollution and external factors. While sagging cheeks are not harmful physically, they can hugely affect a person’s physical appearance and self-confidence.

The Most Common Causes of Sagging Cheeks:

  • Aging: The natural slowdown in the production of elastin and collagen causes our skin to lose firmness and encourage sagging.
  • Hormonal changes: Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during the menopause or other hormone changes, can impact the structure and elasticity of the skin.
  • Sun Damage: Extended exposure to UV rays breaks down collagen and erodes the support structure of the skin, an effect that contributes to sagging.
  • Rapid Weight Loss: Losing weight too quickly or losing a lot of weight can lead to lost volume in the face, making the skin look loose and saggy.
  • Poor Skincare: Not moisturizing enough, not using sunscreen, or failing to stick to a skincare routine can make skin age and sag more quickly.

What Does Sagging Cheeks Feel Like?

The experience of sagging cheeks can be disheartening, often bringing a sense of loss of control over one’s appearance. You may find that your cheekbones are less defined or a little hollowed out as skin gradually loses its youthful bounce. This can cause visible sagging over time that changes the natural contours of the face and affects confidence and self-image. Some common experiences related to sagging cheeks are:

  • Loss of Firmness: The skin texture begins to look less taut and supportive, particularly around the cheeks and jawline.
  • Hollowed Appearance: Loss of collagen and fat may cause cheeks to look sunken or deflated, which can add to an aged appearance.
  • Laxity: The skin can start to droop, in turn causing a downward pull that causes the definition of the face to blur.
  • Deepening Nasolabial Folds: More pronounced lines between the nose, cheek area and mouth as cheeks lose volume and lift.
  • Jowling: Sagging skin in the lower face can result in jowls, which can change the youthful V-shape of the face.
Book Appointment

The symptoms

Decreased fullness of the cheeks

A loss of plumpness, causing the cheeks to look sunken or deflated, is one of the first signs of sagging cheeks. This occurs as collagen and fat wane, which lessens the skin’s support.

Skin Laxity

As the skin becomes less firm, the cheeks start to become saggy cheeks again, and facial contouring becomes less sharp. Over time, this looseness becomes harder to ignore.

Deeper creases around the nose and mouth

With the sagging of the cheeks, nasolabial folds become more pronounced and deeper, making the patient look more tired or older.

Drooping skin around the jawline.

A common sign of sagging is the formation of jowls, where the skin around the jawline starts to droop, changing the natural V-shape of the face.

Flattened Cheek Contours

As the skin loses its firmness, the cheeks begin to droop, contributing to a less defined facial structure. This laxity or facial fat becomes more noticeable over time.

Loss of Facial Pigment

When cheeks begin to sag, the skin can look dull and lacks the glow it once gave. This is most commonly associated with age, less blood circulation or a decrease in collagen production that can result in a sagging cheeks.

When to see a doctor?
Consultation Is The Key
Seeking professional help for Sagging Cheeks

If you’re noticing significant sagging, volume loss or contour changes, our specialists can evaluate the condition and recommend customized treatment options that may help.

If you’ve tried skincare routines, facial massages or home remedies with no visible long-term improvement, that’s a sure sign you need to see a pro. It’s also a sign of deeper issues, such as collagen depletion, that need targeted treatment.

But when sagging becomes so severe that over-the-counter solutions can’t improve it, clinical treatments may provide a better and less cumbersome solution. From cosmetic surgery to non-surgical skin tightening to renewed growth factors, all our procedures can work to to lift and renew your face for a more toned appearance.

Potential treatment options
The causes
What causes sagging cheeks?

Sagging cheeks can occur due to many reasons, the natural aging process being one of them. Collagen and elastin production decreases with age, causing skin to lose its firmness and elasticity. This in turn causes the skin to loosen and sag. Genetics can contribute to when and how one’s skin sags; some are genetically predisposed to sagging earlier due to inherited skin traits.

Other risk factors, such as stressful lifestyles, poor skin care, dehydration and excessive sun exposure, also compromise the skin’s support system, accelerating and treat sagging cheeks. Rapid weight loss, where skin loses volume too fast, may also be a factor in sagging cheeks.

The risk factors
What are the factors that lead to sagging cheeks?

There are a number of factors that cause the cheeks to lose firmness and begin sagging with age. Genetics is a big part of it: Some of us sag less or more depending on our inherited skin traits, such as collagen production and skin elasticity.

Hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy and menopause, can speed the breakdown of collagen and compromise the support structure of the skin, leading to the loss of youthful contour of cheek skin on the cheeks.

The complications
Overall Impact
Understanding Sagging Cheeks Complications
  • Loss of Facial Definition

    Drooping cheeks can markedly change the contours of the face. As the skin begins to lose its firmness and volume, what were once contoured cheekbones look flattened, giving the face a less sculpted look as well as creating a tired or aged appearance.

  • Increased Skin Sensitivity

    The skin can droop and also thin out, perhaps making it feel more sensitive and reactive. Less collagen and elastin weaken the skin’s barrier, leaving it more susceptible to dryness and environmental elements.

  • Effects on Mental Health

    Drooping skin and deepened lines can be emotionally distressing, as can the visible signs of sagging cheeks. Fear of losing firmness and youth may be causing insecurities about appearance.

  • Lower Self-Esteem

    Drooping cheeks can have a negative impact on self-esteem, particularly in professional and social situations. But as the face flattens and skin loses its youthful lift, people often may become more aware of their looks, and it can have a negative effect on general self-esteem.

Related podcast

No related podcast episodes found.

The prevention
Prevent Sagging Cheeks

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to protect your skin from UV damage. Chronic sun exposure damages collagen and elastin, making skin sag faster. Say no to smoking, as it constricts blood flow and oxygen to the skin, making it age and lose firmness earlier than expected

Good Nutrition Tips for Healthy Skin

Fill your diet with vitamins and minerals that stimulate collagen production and skin health. Bioactive respective nutrients provide necessary support to key skin repair, hydration, and elasticity processes and help in the minimization of sagging, particularly cellular nutrients — vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and antioxidant rich cells.

How to prevent sagging cheeks while avoiding harsh treatments?

Skip the heavy exfoliation, harsh cleansers and aggressive skincare treatments that can degrade the skin barrier and break down collagen. Pick hydrating, collagen-boosting products infused with things like hyaluronic acid and peptides. Avoid dragging the skin downward.

Stress management

Chronic stress speeds up skin aging and adds to sagging cheeks, so it’s critical to add stress-reduction practices to your daily schedule.

Why you follow your cheeks to sagging by protecting from the sun?

Too much sun destroys collagen and elastin, so skin loses its stiffness and elasticity. UV rays speed up the aging process, causing cheeks to sag and wrinkles to deepen. To help avoid this, please wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily and wide-brimmed hats for added protection. Using moisturizers with SPF helps keep the skin also hydrated, which in turn retains elasticity.

Facial Massages

Facial massages are beneficial as they promote blood circulation and collagen production, to help plump and lift drooping cheeks. Massaging the cheeks gently with upward, circular motions can promote lymphatic drainage, reducing fluid buildup that causes puffiness and sagging. An added benefit of incorporating facial oils to massage with are the hydration benefits of nourishing the skin and improving elasticity.

How do smoking causes your cheeks to sag?

Smoking robs the skin of blood flow, depriving it of oxygen and nutrient delivery, which speeds skin aging and leads to prematurely drooping cheeks. In addition, giving up smoking helps restore blood circulation, stimulates collagen production, and prevents the premature aging and loosening of the skin as well as maintains its firmness and freshness

Hydrate the Skin and Cheeks

By drinking lots of water and using hydrating skin products your skin stays nourished and plump. Keeping skin hydrated with moisturisers and serums containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin maintains a plump and healthy glow on neck skin and prevents the cheeks from losing elasticity and sagging.

How does releasing tension in your face keep your cheeks from sagging?

Routine facial movements such as frowning, squinting, even sleeping on one side, can induce tension that over time saps the structure of the skin. Adding constant pressure or pulling on the skin will break down collagen and elastin and can also lead to sagging cheeks. Avoid making tense facial expressions and perform mild facial exercises to relax tense facial muscles, and maintain skin firm.

Limit Harsh Facial Treatments

Aggressive coats of facial treatments, mechanical and physical exfoliants, chemical peels, and overuse of potent acids can dehydrate the skin and impair elasticity. These treatments degrade the skin’s barrier and speed collagen breakdown, and as a result, the cheeks droop much earlier.

  • collapse expand
    Prevent Sagging Cheeks
  • collapse expand
    How to prevent sagging cheeks while avoiding harsh treatments?
  • collapse expand
    Why you follow your cheeks to sagging by protecting from the sun?
  • collapse expand
    How do smoking causes your cheeks to sag?
  • collapse expand
    How does releasing tension in your face keep your cheeks from sagging?
Doctors smiling with clock in backgound
Amie-mara M.

Amie-mara M.

★★★★★

Very good advice and amazing staff!

11th September 2026

TROY the MAGICIAN

TROY The MAGICIAN

★★★★★

Amazing service as always!

10th September 2026

Patient smiling looking healthy
N El

N El

★★★★★

Easy in and out and explained everything for me :)

10th September 2026

Siobhan Shaw

Siobhan Shaw

★★★★★

Responsive and helpful

9th September 2026

Felix Gabriel Mance

Felix Gabriel Mance

★★★★★

Very good consultation with dr Tee

9th September 2026

Patient using iPad
Emma Shakeshaft

Emma Shakeshaft

★★★★★

Great experience at Harley Street Skin.

7th September 2026

Happy woman smiling
Hazael Wihanto

Hazael Wihanto

★★★★★

Really quick and straightforward

7th September 2026

Camilla Alge

Camilla Alge

★★★★★

Super frieny

7th September 2026

Two patients waiting to be seen
Lorena Fernandez

Lorena Fernandez

★★★★★

Amazing! Skin looks radiant after water peel.

24th August 2026

a zul

A Zul

★★★★★

Dr Tee was excellent with me thanks you ✨

19th August 2026

61,329

Happy patients served.

or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

61,329

Happy patients served.

or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

Need to reach us?
Contact or visit our clinic.

We're based in central London at the historic 14 Devonshire Pl which is only a short 2 minute walk from Regents Park tube station a 10 minute taxi journey to Kings Cross, and St Pancras stations.

We're open Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm, and Saturdays 9am - 5pm, feel free to drop in to talk to a member of our team where they can answer any of your questions.

Alternatively book an appointment, request a callback, chat via whatsapp Whatsapp logo , or call us on 0207 4364441.

Map
Book Appointment
At our Central London Clinic