Introduction
A custom jawline implant is a fully individualized implant designed to enhance the definition, symmetry, and overall contour of the jawline. Unlike standard chin or jaw-angle implants, a custom jawline implant is created specifically for the patient’s bone structure, aesthetic goals, and facial proportions. Extending from angle to angle, it can provide:
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Stronger, more defined jaw angles
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A sharper and more continuous jawline
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Improved facial symmetry
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A smoother transition between the chin, jaw body, and angles
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Increased lower-face width or projection
Patients who may benefit from a custom jawline implant include those seeking to:
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Strengthen a weak or narrow jawline
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Improve overall facial harmony by enhancing the lower third
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Correct congenital asymmetry
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Restore contour after trauma or previous surgery
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Achieve a more sculpted, angular, or gender-specific look
Advantages of a custom jawline implant include:
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Permanent results
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Precise anatomical fit
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Improvements that standard implants cannot achieve
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More natural, continuous contouring
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Reduced risk of visible edges or irregularities
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Ability to correct asymmetry
A very common use of a custom jawline implant is to achieve a connected, cohesive jaw augmentation effect that standard, separate implants—limited by their shapes, sizes, and lack of connectivity—cannot provide.
Case Study
This middle-aged male patient had previously undergone a sliding genioplasty combined with standard widening jaw-angle implants. He presented with modest asymmetry of the existing angle implants. A 3D CT scan confirmed their position.
His goal was to achieve a connected jawline augmentation with improved jaw-angle symmetry. A custom jawline implant was designed that included 12 mm of jaw-angle width, 10 mm of vertical lengthening, and 2 mm of additional chin projection, with a total implant volume of 17.5 cc.
The existing jaw-angle implants were removed and measured 8 mm in width, with the anterior portion of each implant previously trimmed.
During surgical planning, the mental nerve foramina were noted to be positioned low and close to the intended implant design. To avoid potential nerve injury, the approach was modified: instead of the traditional front-to-back insertion, a back-to-front method was chosen. The custom implant was split into two pieces at the midline, allowing the thinner anterior portions to be safely passed beneath the mental nerves before being reassembled.
Discussion
A custom jawline implant is often used to achieve a level of jawline enhancement that standard implants cannot provide—either because standard options are too limited in shape and size, or because they cannot create a smooth, continuous, angle-to-angle augmentation.
Key Points
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Standard implants do not create a continuous, linear jawline contour.
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A custom jawline implant can integrate seamlessly with a previous sliding genioplasty, creating a squarer chin and smoothing any contour irregularities.
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Mental nerve anatomy must be carefully evaluated, as its position can dictate the safest implant placement technique.
Dr. Barry Eppley
World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon