One of the most dominant and defining features of the male face is the jawline. While the chin is a part of the jawline, it does not represent the entire dimension of the lower third of the face. It represents only the central third. The dimensions of the jawline follow the curvature of the mandible from one angle to the other. In assessing the desire to improve the lower male face, one has to consider the entire jawline.
Chin implants have really evolved since their introduction decades and the changes in implant design and styles can really be beneficial in male chin augmentation. The most important change has been that they have been extended in their shape rather than just a central ‘button’. In men, these keeps the chin from getting too narrow from the frontal view. These extended anatomic implants are longer and more tapered at the ends, although they can still be placed through a very small incision right under the chin. Because they extend back further they give an enhanced but still natural appearance to the chin. This is achieved by filling in the jawline between the chin and the back of the jaw, slightly widening the anterior jawline making the overall look more balanced. There is even a square chin style that can make the chin quite square if one desires a strong change.
The sides and back part of the jawline can be enhanced through the use of jaw angle implants. Placed over the junction of the posterior and inferior mandibular borders, the implant’s design and shape can help make the jaw angle’s definition more pronounced. By so doing, particularly when done on both sides, the width of the back of the jawline is increased creating a stronger and more masculine facial appearance.
Total jawline enhancement or augmentation requires a three implant approach, a chin and two jaw angles. The combination of all three can make quite a difference in improving the look of the lower third of the face. The most anterior edge of the jaw angle implant, hwoever, is not long enough to ever reach the back end of a chin implant. So there will always be a gap between the two. I do not think that this is ever much of a problem for most patients as adding width to the middle of the jawline is not that aesthetically significant. But a fourth (and fifth) piece can be added if desired which is best done with a hand-carved piece of Gore-tex block which is fit and screwed in between the two other implants. One will always be able to feel some step-offs and edges when there are this many implants however.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana