Face Exercises To Get Rid Of Jowls

Aging often results in the development of fat deposits and loose skin along the jaw line, often referred to as jowls. Facial exercises help tone the muscles of the face and tighten the facial skin. Performed on a daily basis, you may start to see changes in the size of your jowls withing three to six weeks.

Baby Bird

The facial yoga exercise called the Baby Bird helps prevent and reduce jowl formation, according to "Facial Yoga," an article on the Time magazine website. Begin by tilting your head up and to the left and press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Hold this position for five to 10 seconds. Increase the effectiveness of the exercise by swallowing several times while you hold the position. Ensure you keep your jaw closed throughout the exercise. Repeat the entire process on the right side. Continue alternating sides until you have performed five Baby Birds on each side.

Lion Face

The Lion Face, another facial yoga exercise, helps strengthen most of the muscles in the face, according to Marie-Veronique Nadeau, author of "The Yoga Facelift." Take a deep breath, while tightening all of your facial muscles. Hold this clenched position for five to 10 seconds, before opening your mouth wide and sticking out your tongue as far as possible. Exhale as you you make a "ha" sound and relax all the muscles in your face and body.

Sandbag

The Sandbag facial exercise stretches the shoulders, jaw and neck, while reducing the appearance of a double chin and jowls, explains Annelise Hagen in her book "The Yoga Face." In a seated position, clasp your left ear with your right hand by reaching your right arm up and over your head. Increase the stretch by bending your head to the right and placing slight pressure on your left ear with your right hand. Hold the stretch for seven to 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Considerations

Facial exercises help get rid of jowls, but for the best results also include aerobic exercise and full-body strengthening exercises on most days of the week. These exercises build lean muscle tissue and increase the amount of calories you burn each day. A pound of lean muscle tissue burns three times as many calories as a pound of fat, according to Sheri Barke, a registered dietitian at the Student Health & Wellness Center at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. The more calories you burn each day, the faster you can reduce the size of your jowls.