The 21st Century is all about giving great face on Instagram, Snapchat, and in selfies. One of the key components to a great face today is a razor-sharp jawline.
What is it about the lower part of the human face that is so appealing? In an article on how to achieve the ultimate jawline, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains, “…having a sharp, defined jawline is a sign of health, fitness and youth.”
If you weren’t born with a well-defined jawline and/or the relentless march of time has left you with jowls and loose skin that have turned your once razor-sharp profile a bit mushy, don’t despair. In this article, Costhetics will help you keep your chin up with the latest news on innovative surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments for jaw enhancement and augmentation.
Celebrity Jawlines: We Want What They Have
Chins are in, but why? “Credit the rise of videoconferencing and social media for the new focus among women on their jawlines, long a key structural feature for men (as a sign of masculinity) and models (who rely on bone structure to be photogenic),” reports The New York Times.
Jawlines are also in the spotlight thanks to celebrities who are talking freely about their facial enhancement. What’s trendy on screen very often turns into what’s trendy in real life. CBS News reports female patients want to re-contour their jawlines to look like:
- Halle Berry
- Keira Knightley
- Jennifer Lopez
The quest for the chiselled chin is extremely familiar to men. They have been reshaping their jawlines for decades, too, trying to emulate 1940’s screen idols like Errol Flynn or Chips Rafferty. 21st Century men, say cosmetic surgeons, want a chin like:
- Jon Hamm
- Johnny Depp
- Robert Pattison
What Stands Between You & Your Perfect Jawline
As you age, your face loses collagen and elastin. What many people don’t realise is that bone is also reabsorbed. This causes the entire scaffolding that supports the face to shrink over time. The process leads to significant jowl-ing and sagging in the lower face. Experts point to three techniques for rescuing a weak chin:
- Shrink excess fat from under the chin (submental fat)
- Reshape facial contours
- Tighten loose skin
Lifts & Augmentation Surgery: Not Just for Breasts
Surgical solutions continue to lead the way in providing effective, long-lasting revision for the lower face. Procedures include:
- Chin Implant – Chin implant surgery, known medically as a mentoplasty or genioplasty, can restore the chin and the aesthetic balance of the face, especially the profile view. The surgeon makes a concealed incision inside the lower lip and inserts a shaped, custom-fit silicone implant. The implant is attached and secured with screws. Downtime is considerable but results are permanent.
- Extended Deep Plane Facelift – The deep plane facelift technique allows the surgeon to support the three key ligaments that define a razor sharp jawline, re-drape connective tissue, and reposition fat pads. This provides significant long-term augmentation of the chin area and a more youthful jawline. It is especially useful in treating heavy jowls and lax skin. It is also a complex procedure with significant downtime. Benefits can be seen for five to ten years or more.
- Thread Lift – Sometimes called a “puppet facelift,” this procedure is less invasive than a full surgical lift, but will still require a minimum of a week downtime. Threads are injected under the skin at various points and then pulled in order to lift the jaw. Some doctors choose to inject plasma from the patient’s own blood to boost skin cell migration. Results last approximately two years.
The risks, downtime, and costs associated with these surgical procedures can be a significant obstacle for many people who want to sport a razor-sharp jawline. For them, the aesthetic industry has stepped up with a wide range of non-invasive procedures.
Jawline Contouring: Stick Me with Your Best Shot
Though benefits are impermanent, these treatments for a razor-sharp jawline demand less downtime than surgery.
- “Anti-Fat” Injections – The new kid on the block is an injection that destroys fat cells for good. Cells are broken down by the chemicals in the material injected, then naturally expelled through the lymphatic system, never to return. The treatment results in a noticeable reduction of fullness under the chin. 59% of patients receive four to six treatments. It should be noted weight gain can reverse the effects of this treatment.
- Filler Augmentation – Dermal fillers can be used to define the chin and jowl area, creating balance and improving the profile. Additionally, they can decrease the appearance of loose skin. The effect can be subtle or dramatic. Before and after courtesy Dr Josh Wall, Contour Clinics
Dermal filler creates a dramatic jawline when skillfully injected
Cryolipolysis: A Cool Solution to a Weak Jawline
Cryolipolysis uses cold temperatures to freeze fat cells. The treatment requires no incisions, anaesthesia, and no needles. A gel pad and applicator are used to deliver controlled cooling to the treatment area. Once they are frozen, dead cells are eliminated naturally by the body. No downtime is necessary and results continue for approximately six months.
Some doctors fear that rather than actually tightening the skin, fat-freezing treatments increase collagen production, which makes the skin more taut. The mechanism is not fully understood and needs further study.
Your Jawline, Your Way
Razor-sharp jawlines are hot, but that doesn’t mean everyone should opt for an enhancement procedure. There are about 43 muscles in your face that you probably neglect during your daily workouts. If you’re simply looking for a little more tone, there are things you can do at home.
Facial exercises can be helpful for keeping jaw skin and muscles looking their best, but exercise can only get you so far…just ask anyone who has worked to get six-pack abs, only to be defeated by cortisol and belly fat. If you’re dissatisfied with your jawline, schedule a consultation with an aesthetic professional and explore your options. Whether or not you choose to act is up to you, but you’ll make the best possible decision if you’re well-informed.