Sculpting Your Way to A Contoured Jawline
Modern perceptions of attractiveness dates back to ancient Greek and Renaissance art. It is from these visionaries and masters of art that we have set the standard of true beauty. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first to write about the anatomy of the face, dividing the face into thirds. Depending on the sex and race of an individual, he set in motion what mankind has delineated as the “ideal face” by defining specific proportions as “beautiful”.
Studies have been conducted examining photos of attractive celebrity faces and comparing their proportions to those of classical sculptures of gods and goddesses. It showed that there was minimal difference in the proportions of celebrity faces as compared to the sculptures. Hence, every celebrity is chasing those ideal proportions to remain “beautiful”.
News flash! It’s the same thing we do every day! I have yet to meet one patient who has come into our office and not in some way desired their appearance to resemble their favorite actress or actor even if they are already stunning. Standards of beauty are now set by celebrities and influencers who are modeled after these classical ideas. Our constant connection to these “perfect” people is why cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular. One of the most requested non-invasive procedures revolves around the desire for a sculpted, more defined jawline. The most dramatic results occur when there is more distinction between the face and the neck.
Sometimes creating this look has less to do with fat in the area and more to do with loss of bone and muscle definition. As we age, these are two factors that change the proportions of the lower third of our face. While we cannot reverse the aging process (I wish!), there are treatments available to create the illusion of a more sculpted jawline.
First, we employ the use of facial fillers along the jawline to restore structure. There are different fillers that can be used, and since the filler chosen depends on the patient, it’s really not a cookie cutter approach. Younger patients may have more of a muscle laxity issue while older patients are fighting decreasing bone density. One of the most common fillers used is Radiesse®. This filler specifically does not bind to water; unlike other dermal fillers that are more flexible, Radiesse® mimics bone. It is injected along the jawline to create that chiseled look. While your jawline won’t cut glass, you will see a subtle difference in your profile. Depending on the patient, two to three syringes will help achieve optimal results.
Also, creating the illusion of a well differentiated jaw AND neck will provide the most dramatic results. Sometimes the lack of a sculpted jaw can be from the muscles of the neck (or platysmal bands) pulling down too much. It seems counter intuitive- I mean, doesn’t pulling anything make skin look tighter? Not in this case. If those muscles are overactive, that pulling will occur and the platysmal bands will protrude, creating an undefined jaw and neck. The goal is to relax the muscles – releasing that tension that is distorting the jawline. Injecting Botox® into those bands will help retrain the muscles to relax which will help maintain the results of your newly defined jawline.
Filler will last up to two years while Botox® needs to be repeated every three to four months. Once you are on a consistent treatment schedule for the Botox® treatment, over time you may require less units or can go a longer time frame between treatments. The key is retraining (retraining?) the muscles of the neck and restoring bone structure of the jawline.
To discuss how you can achieve a more defined jawline and neck, schedule a consultation with one of our expert injectors at one of our three convenient locations in New York City and New Jersey.
by Joelle Scales