Jowls Exercises: Do They Work? What Actually Helps

Do Exercises Work for Jowls?

Jowls form when skin along the jawline loses firmness and soft tissue shifts downward. Many people wonder if facial exercises can lift them back up. The short answer: the evidence is mixed, and results are modest at best.

A handful of small studies suggest facial exercises may help slightly with muscle tone and fullness in the midface. But most research finds that exercise cannot spot-reduce fat or meaningfully tighten skin that has already lost elasticity. The muscles underneath may strengthen, but the loose skin and displaced fat remain.

If you are looking for visible change along your jawline, you will likely need a different approach.

What Causes Jowls

Jowls develop gradually as part of aging. The skin loses collagen and elasticity, fat pads in the face shift downward, and the muscles that once held everything taut weaken. Genetics, sun exposure, weight changes and smoking all play a role.

Exercise can strengthen the muscles in your face, just as it does elsewhere in your body. But it cannot reverse the loss of collagen in your skin or lift fat that has descended. Research shows exercise mostly cannot burn fat from one chosen spot. Fat loss happens across the whole body, not just where you work the muscle.

What Can Actually Help

Your options for jowls depend on how much change you want and what you are comfortable with.

Surgical options include a facelift or neck lift, both performed by a plastic surgeon. These offer the most dramatic and longest-lasting results, but they come with downtime, cost, and the risks that accompany surgery. Talk to a board-certified surgeon if this is the direction you are considering.

Injectables and energy devices are non-surgical medical treatments. Dermal fillers can add volume along the jawline to mask the jowl. Ultherapy, Thermage and similar devices use ultrasound or radiofrequency to heat deeper tissue and stimulate collagen over time. Results are more subtle than surgery and take weeks to months to show. A medical provider (dermatologist or plastic surgeon) performs these.

Non-invasive options include treatments like Cryo Face Sculpting. These use no needles, no heat devices, and no incisions. Cold causes a temporary tightening and depuffing effect, and many clients notice firmer-looking skin. The changes are gentle and build over a series of sessions.

How KRIDO Approaches Jowls

At KRIDO Wellness in downtown St. Petersburg, we use Cryo Face Sculpting (what many people search for as a cryo facial) to help clients refine the contour along the jawline and neck. The treatment applies controlled cooling to the skin, which causes a temporary tightening and depuffing effect. Many clients notice their face looks less puffy and more defined, especially around the jaw.

Cryo Face Sculpting does not work like surgery or injectables. It will not remove fat or inject volume. Many clients notice better tone, less puffiness and a firmer look over time.

Every session follows the same three-step sequence. First, the CryoSkin device is used on your face, neck, and jawline. Then we apply red light therapy. Research suggests red light may support collagen production in the skin. Finally, we finish with manual lymphatic drainage massage, which can temporarily reduce puffiness and fluid.

The treatment takes about an hour. You will feel alternating warmth and cold during the CryoSkin step. Most clients find it comfortable and relaxing. There is no downtime. You can book it during your lunch break and go straight back to your day.

What a Visit Looks Like

You start with a consultation. We assess your face, talk about what you want to change, and explain what Cryo Face Sculpting can and cannot do. The consultation is included with your first treatment. You pay for the session, which starts at $245.

After that, most clients come in for a series of sessions. Many notice a glow and less puffiness right away, with longer-lasting changes building over several visits. We do not measure or photograph face treatments. Many clients notice the difference in the mirror.

I’ve tried everything over the years to deal with facial puffiness and inflammation: gua sha, ice rollers, ice water, expensive serums. Some of it helped for a minute, but nothing lasted until I did the 5-pack of Cryo Face Sculpting at Krido Wellness. It’s genuinely the first thing that’s made a real difference. My face looks less puffy and more sculpted, and my confidence has followed right along with it.

Toscana Tornillo, Google review

Best sculpting facial in St. Petersburg, FL — KRIDO Wellness delivered! I just had the sculpting facial at KRIDO Wellness in St. Pete and I am absolutely blown away. My skin walked out looking tighter, lifted, and genuinely glowing. The results were noticeable after just ONE session, which I honestly was not expecting.

Katie, Google review

Cryo Face Sculpting vs. Other Options

Facial exercises cost nothing and carry no risk, but the results are limited. If you enjoy the ritual and it makes you feel good, keep doing it. Just know it will not lift loose skin or remove fat.

Cryo Face Sculpting sits in the middle. Many clients notice more visible change than with exercises, without the commitment or cost of medical treatments. It works best for clients who want a natural, gradual improvement and prefer to avoid needles or surgery.

For more dramatic change, talk to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about fillers, energy devices, or surgery.

Who Cryo Face Sculpting Is For

This treatment is for you if you want to look more rested and defined along your jawline, but you do not want injections, heat devices, or surgery. It tends to suit early jowls, puffiness, and skin that has started to lose firmness but has not yet descended significantly.

Each of our estheticians has 30 years of esthetics experience. Amber and Jennifer perform the face sculpting sessions at our studio in downtown St. Petersburg.

Cryo may not be suitable if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a cold sensitivity disorder like Raynaud’s. If you have a cardiovascular condition, uncontrolled diabetes, or active infection in the treatment area, we will discuss your health history at the consultation.

Ready to See What Cryo Can Do?

If exercises have not given you the change you want, Cryo Face Sculpting may be the next step. Book a consultation and first treatment at kridowellness.com/book. We will assess your face, answer your questions, and show you what is possible. Sessions start at $245, and packages are available.

KRIDO Wellness is located at IMAGE Studios, 11 7th St N, Suite 220, St. Petersburg. Call or text 727-513-3925 if you have questions before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Can facial exercises really lift jowls?

Research is mixed. A few small studies suggest exercises may help with muscle tone, but most evidence shows they cannot tighten loose skin or reduce fat in one spot. The changes are modest at best.

How does Cryo Face Sculpting help with jowls?

It uses controlled cooling, which causes a temporary tightening and depuffing effect. Many clients notice a firmer, more sculpted jawline over a series of sessions. It does not remove fat or add volume.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a glow and reduced puffiness after the first session, with longer-lasting changes building over several visits. Your esthetician will recommend a plan at your consultation based on your skin and goals.

Is there any downtime after Cryo Face Sculpting?

No. The treatment takes about an hour, and you can go straight back to your day. Most clients find it comfortable and relaxing. You may look a little flushed right after.

What is the difference between Cryo Face Sculpting and fillers?

Fillers are injections that add volume to mask the jowl. Cryo Face Sculpting is non-invasive and uses controlled cooling, and many clients notice less puffiness. It does not add volume or use needles.