Custom jawline implants are the definitive method for aesthetic augmentation of the lower third of the face. While it is performed in both male and females more custom jawline implants are done in males than females in a ratio of about 8:1. But in doing such implants in females there are a variety of insights to be learned from their 3D CT scan to the implant design.
One very important anatomic difference between men and women is noticeable at the jaw angles in the 3D CT scan. Besides usually having a propensity for higher jaw angles there are less and sometimes no bumps or spikes of bone along its inferior border. What this means is that the ligamentous attachments of the masseter muscle are less strong and can more easily be elevated during the subperiosteal dissection. And there is no question in my extensive experience that female jawline tissues are less adherent than in most men.
In female jawline implant designs more focus is usually on jaw angle vertical lengthening than adding posterior facial width. The chin will usually require less horizontal projection and will have a more narrow or tapered shape.
One of the key indicators of a female jawline implant, and if you only knew this number you would likely be correct that it is for a female, is the implant volume. Most female jawline implants have volumes in single digits being less than 10ccs. This is of course a function of the usually smaller facial size than females have compared to males as well as usually having a less aggressive implant design.
The other difference in female vs male jawline augmentation is the companion procedure of cheek augmentation. Up to 1/3 of jawline implants have other facial augmentation procedures done at the same time with cheeks being a common one. While men usually require a custom implant design to achieve a high cheekbone look many women can use a standard cheek implant to achieve an anterior-inferior cheek fullness
Dr. Barry Eppley
World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon