I tried the jowl-sharpening tweakment loved by Sarah Jessica Parker. It works
At 60, her face isn't over-filled, her hair isn't over-dyed and her skin isn't over-tightened, a rarity in an industry where it's entirely normal in midlife to consider a deep plane facelift, a costly, invasive procedure (Kris Jenner is rumoured to have had one recently).
Indeed, Parker's skincare routine is as basic as it gets. On a podcast last summer she told beauty expert Caroline Hirons that she would, in between rehearsals for Plaza Suite at London's Savoy Theatre, pop to the Boots on the Strand to stock up on the face cleanser of choice for herself and husband Matthew Broderick – a £1.99 bar of soap.
But soap and water will only get you so far. Parker is also a fan of the ultrasound-based energy treatment Sofwave, designed to tighten and slightly lift the jawline. 'I do Sofwave and it's great – but it hurts,' she said in an interview with British Vogue in 2023.
I agree. I tried Sofwave three months ago and have been hugely impressed with the results. After some recent weight loss (through diet and exercise, not Ozempic), the fat pads in my cheeks had descended a little. I went to see the highly sought-after consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto.
She's a big fan of Sofwave, so much so that she has it done herself (always a good sign). She told me she found it to be one of the most effective methods for subtle yet visible tightening of the lower face.
'It's ideal for individuals between their late 30s and 60s noticing early signs of skin laxity, particularly around the jawline and cheeks, who aren't ready for more invasive procedures,' she says. Adding that it's best-suited to patients with mild to moderate sagging, crepey skin, or softening of the lower face contour.
So how does it work? Ultrasound, which is the energy used in Sofwave, stimulates the skin's own natural collagen production. Although ultrasound technology is not exactly new, Sofwave doesn't go as deep as many other devices. It delivers ultrasound energy at a consistent depth of around 1.5mm, which allows for collagen stimulation without heating the deeper layers (so you don't zap the much-needed fat cells that we gradually begin to lose as we age).
As someone who has never had any injectables, Sofwave is probably the strongest treatment I've ever tried. It's certainly not a pop-in-and-out facial. You need to have numbing cream applied for an hour beforehand and if you have a low pain threshold – like me – your dermatologist may advise on some pain relief half an hour before.
The treatment for the lower face and jawline takes around 40 minutes, and feels like a gradual heating sensation on each 'shot' of the ultrasound. Pleasingly, there's no downtime. The results take three to six months to see fully – since you are signalling your own collagen to kick-start production – but I noticed a change in definition of my jawline in around four weeks.
Are energy treatments the way forward in treating the jawline? It's a resounding yes from Dr Mahto. 'While fillers can still be highly effective when used judiciously, there's growing awareness around the overuse of volume and its long-term effects on facial proportions and skin health,' she explains.
'This is particularly important for the jawline, where overfilling can lead to heaviness or distortion. Many patients now prefer to maintain structural support with devices and reserve fillers for more subtle enhancement. The overall aesthetic is becoming more refined.'
This discreet tweak comes at a cost. One session at Self London, Dr Mahto's clinic in Harley Street, is £2,850 for the lower face, submental (under the chin) and neck. (It is also available at other clinics in the UK.) Most patients only need one session and results can last up to a year or more.
My verdict? Three months in and I can certainly see why SJP is a fan.
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