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Many aspects of the facial structure make for an attractive appearance, but a well-defined jawline can make all the difference in how you perceive yourself. Unfortunately, aging and fluctuations in weight can cause these angles to lose definition, leaving you with sagging skin and rounded jaw and necklines that hide the aesthetic features below. Thankfully, Jonathan Cabin, MD, has the knowledge and experience to show you how to achieve a more defined jawline with the following procedures – let’s review your options.
Dermal Fillers
Purpose: Dermal fillers are a popular solution for defining the jawline and chin without the need for surgery. This is because fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, and Sculptra are designed to create the illusion of structure and also camouflage the shadows and counters related to aging changes. By volumizing and even stimulating collagen, patients who get dermal fillers can redefine their jawlines and chins to unlock a fresher, more youthful version of themselves.
Procedure: Dr. Cabin strategically places the fillers in different areas along the jawline and chin to achieve the most natural and harmonious results. The procedure is relatively quick, often completed within 15 minutes, and is tailored to the unique needs and aesthetic goals of each patient.
Recovery: One of the many advantages of dermal fillers is the minimal downtime. Post-procedure, patients might experience slight swelling, redness, or minor bruising at the injection sites. However, these symptoms are temporary and typically subside within a few days.
Neurotoxins
Purpose: A rounded, less angular facial profile can sometimes result from larger masseter muscles, usually related to overuse with clenching and grinding. These muscles are located on each side of the jaw and are responsible for bite strength in chewing. In cases of masseter enlargement leading to a less harmonious jawline, neurotoxin injections are a non-surgical avenue to achieving a more sculpted and refined facial silhouette.
By gently weakening these muscles, this treatment also commonly relieves the symptoms related to habitual teeth grinding or clenching, like soreness, pain and tightness.
Procedure: Dr. Cabin administers neurotoxin injections into the masseter muscle. Over the subsequent days and weeks, the injectable temporarily relaxes these muscles, reducing their activity and, subsequently, their prominence. The procedure is quick and often completed within minutes.
Recovery: Post-treatment, patients might experience slight redness, minor bruising or soreness at the injection sites, but these symptoms are fleeting and typically dissipate within a few days. As the days progress, patients can anticipate a gradual transformation as the muscles relax, revealing a more contoured and elegant jawline. The treatment typically peaks at the four-to-six-week mark and lasts for four-to-six months.
Neck Liposuction
Purpose: The neck plays a pivotal role in framing our facial features and overall appearance, but you may notice a stubborn and persistent fullness beneath the chin, leading to a less defined profile. In evaluation, Dr. Cabin may determine that this is related to an excess of fat. Neck liposuction can remove this stubborn fat to reveal a more sculpted neck and jawline that harmonizes with the face’s natural beauty.
Procedure: With strategically placed incisions that are virtually invisible post-recovery, Dr. Cabin inserts a thin tube to remove the excess fat and refine the neck’s contours, resulting in a more defined jawline.
Recovery: While some patients might experience mild swelling or bruising in the treated area, these symptoms are temporary and typically fade within a week. Depending on your recovery and swelling, you’ll notice results within two-to-six weeks.
Neck Lift
Purpose: If you haven’t liked your neck definition since a young age, you likely have deeper structures – below the skin and fat – that are causing heaviness. In addition – over time – sagging skin, muscle laxity, and the formation of wrinkles and skin folds can detract from the neck’s youthful contour, which inevitably impacts the contour of the jaw as well. In either of these cases, the neck lift is a transformative procedure that restores the neck’s tautness, reducing the appearance of sagging and redefining the angular jaw by reducing the deep structures causing fullness below.
Procedure: This procedure does require general anesthesia. Depending on your particular needs, Dr. Cabin gains access to the underlying structures through carefully placed, hidden incisions. Through these incisions, Dr. Cabin can skillfully tighten the neck muscles, contour heavier structures, and potentially even trim redundant skin to present a smoother, more refined profile.
Recovery: Post-procedure, patients can expect a lengthier recovery period and may notice signs of swelling and bruising that will diminish progressively. Patients typically require drains for the first two to five days. We typically recommend patients take a break from work for up to two weeks and abstain from strenuous activities for at least three weeks.
Chin Augmentation
Purpose: The chin does a lot for creating the facial structure that we see in the mirror, and an under-projected or weak chin can affect the look of the jawline. Genioplasty, or chin augmentation, can enhance the chin’s prominence, helping it complement the nose, neck, jaw, and overall facial silhouette.
Procedure: Dr. Cabin will place a small incision beneath the chin before installing a customized implant chosen based on the patient’s unique facial proportions and desired outcome.
Recovery: Post-procedure, patients may encounter mild swelling and discomfort in the treated area. However, these symptoms are temporary and typically subside within a week. As recovery continues, the jawline will appear more contoured, revealing a more balanced and harmonious facial profile.
Refine Your Jawline at Jonathan Cabin, MD
Living with feelings of self-consciousness related to the look of your profile can be difficult. With these effective treatment options, you can restore sagging skin and define the contour of your jawline to reveal the beautiful features beneath. If you’re ready to get started, contact our team in Arlington to find out if any of these procedures are right for you!