Changing the jawline can drastically improve your facial appearance. Here’s how.

Changing the jawline can drastically improve your facial appearance. Here’s how.

If you’re looking to improve the overall appearance of your face, the jawline is the perfect area to focus on. Though there’s nothing medically wrong with having a weak chin or jaw, lack of definition in the jawline can make the face appear sunken-in and the head & neck look stooped. Thankfully, there are both surgical and non-surgical options to help you increase definition and projection in your jaw and chin.

Jawline surgery

Jawline surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, is performed to reshape the jaw and/or chin for cosmetic or physiological reasons. Jawline surgery is a very effective procedure with a high patient satisfaction rate when performed by a qualified facial cosmetic surgeon. It is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be unconscious for your entire procedure. Jawline surgery usually is performed within two to five hours, and patients typically recover within six to 12 weeks.

Jawline surgery can reduce or enlarge your jaw

Jawline surgery can be used to either enhance and define the jaw or reduce its size by adding, removing, or reshaping small amounts of jawbone using a micro saw or laser. Your surgeon may also choose to reposition your jaw.

  • A jaw reduction typically removes bone from the back of the jaw to create a smoother jawline and give the face an overall slimmer look.
  • A jaw enhancement adds volume along or at the back of the jaw using a patient’s own bone or a surgical implant. Jaw enhancement surgery can add definition to a weak jaw, improve the appearance of a receding chin, and elongate the appearance of the jaw.

Jawline surgery can align teeth

Jawline surgery can also help align the teeth and jaw if they’re misaligned. Facial cosmetic surgeons work closely with orthodontists to reposition the jaw and teeth to correct bite discrepancies, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite. Aligning the teeth with jawline surgery can make biting and chewing easier and allow the jaw to close more naturally, reducing excessive wear on the teeth.

Jawline surgery is performed to reshape the jaw and/or chin for cosmetic or physiological reasons.

Jawline surgery incisions are invisible

Since most or all of the incisions required for jawline surgery are performed inside the mouth, only you will know where they were made. If your jaw is repositioned, screws and/or rubber bands may be inserted into your jaw to keep it in place. These screws are permanent and will integrate into the jaw over time.

Jawline surgery can be combined with neck liposuction

Jawline surgery can be combined with neck liposuction to further contour your facial profile. Fat below the chin (referred to as submental fat) is extremely difficult to burn through diet and exercise and can give the appearance of a “double chin,” even in slim patients. Liposuction can be used to remove this localized fat and prevent it from returning.

Jawline surgery can be combined with chin augmentation

Chin augmentation, commonly referred to as chin implant surgery, is often combined with jawline surgery to create symmetry throughout the lower face and provide contrast against the neck. Chin implant surgery uses a silicone chin implant or a patient’s own bone to add strength to a weak or recessed chin. A chin implant can improve your facial profile by providing a sharper, slimmer, and more pronounced appearance to the chin. If your own bone is used to project your chin, a piece of chin bone will be cut and reattached further down your chin with screws and plates.

Non-surgical jawline enhancement

For those who wish to enhance the appearance of their jawline without surgery, a variety of injectables can be used to define and contour the jaw and chin. While injectables have the benefit of requiring no anesthesia or recovery period, they are temporary and cannot provide any of the non-cosmetic benefits that jawline surgery can achieve.

Dermal fillers for jawline enhancement

Dermal fillers can make the jawline appear slimmer and more contoured by volumizing certain areas, usually the bony edges of the mandible and around the chin. By providing volume to the chin, dermal fillers can also elongate the appearance of the jawline. And while fillers can’t actually reduce the size of the jaw, they can provide a thinner-looking jaw by improving jawline proportions. Depending on the filler used, non-surgical jaw enhancement results typically last up to 12 months. Follow-up injections can be performed to maintain your results. 

Botox for jawline enhancement

While our jaw’s masseter muscles are essential for helping us chew, they can become overdeveloped, leading to a square-shaped facial appearance. BOTOX® can be injected into your masseter muscles to make the jawline look thinner and create a more “V”-shaped face. Non-surgical jaw enhancement results using Botox typically last between three to four months.

Kybella for jawline enhancement

Kybella® is a type of acid (deoxycholic acid) that has been approved by the FDA to melt fat beneath the chin. For those who have mild excess fat in the lower face and neck, Kybella can be injected into the chin, neck, and even the back of the jaw to reduce facial fat. Multiple treatments may be needed to achieve your desired results, but the effects are permanent as long as you maintain a stable weight.

Always choose an expert to perform your cosmetic injections

When receiving any cosmetic injection, be sure to always choose a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon, or a qualified medical injector working under their supervision, to perform your treatment. Many people overlook the need for professionals to perform their cosmetic injections, as they’re offered in many informal settings; however, improper injection techniques can lead to an “over-done” or “frozen” facial appearance.

Can facial exercises strengthen my jawline?

While some articles claim that performing “chin-ups” and other jaw exercises can help you get a chiseled jawline, they are more apt to give you TMJ, a condition that many people seek jawline surgery to help correct. Seeking facial cosmetic surgery is a much safer and more effective way to create visible change.

Why choose the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery for your jawline procedure?

Whether you are interested in surgery or cosmetic injectables to enhance your jawline, choosing a cosmetic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS) will help ensure you achieve optimal results from a qualified expert. To learn more about your jawline enhancement options, contact one of our board-certified facial cosmetic surgeons today.

2 Comments Posted to "Changing the jawline can drastically improve your facial appearance. Here’s how."

  • March 30, 2023 at 1:07 am • Posted by KAREN WILSON (8037291670 | Reply

    HOW CAN I GET A CONSULTATION. KJOHNWILSON@LIVE.COM IS MY EMAIL

    • March 31, 2023 at 1:27 pm • Posted by ABFCS | Reply

      Hi Karen,

      If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation, the best way to proceed would be to visit the Find a Surgeon directory and select a surgeon that suits your geographical location. Once you have located a surgeon, you can reach out to them directly to set up a consultation. The Find a Surgeon directory includes contact information, including phone numbers and websites, making it easy to get in touch. Good luck with your search! Let us know if you have any other questions.

      Best regards,
      ABFCS

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