Jawline augmentation has traditionally been thought of as male procedure. Envisioning a defined and strong jawline is a well known facial feature that has historically implied masculinity and a strong personality. But in today’s world a good jawline is no longer gender specific. Many women of all ages (although more so in younger than older women) now seek jawline enhancement. Undoubtably driven by jawline shapes of well known celebrities and models, and the strong influence of social media as well, female jawline augmentation is an emerging aesthetic facial surgery procedure.
Regardless of whether it is a male or female, one benefit not often appreciated about a stronger jawline is the structural support that it provides to the soft tissues of the lower face at any age. This can be seen in jaw angle reduction surgery where some patients complain of the soft tissue sagging that occurs when the jaw angles are removed. Restoring or augmenting the jawline shape lifts up loose or sagging tissues which are obtained from the neck rather than that of the face. (in other words tissues are pulled up not down in jawline augmentation)
While jawline augmentation provides definition to the younger jawline, an often overlooked benefit is what it can do in the older jawline. With the descent of facial tissues over the jawline with aging (jowling), a jawline implant can help smooth out these soft tissue redundancies. Depending upon the amount of jawline and neck sag, a jawline implant can be done alone or in conjunction with some form a lower facelift.
In the thin older female with jowling and a mildly weaker jawline, a thin jawline implant can be very effective. It does not provide any jaw angle width augmentation as it stops short of the jaw angle region. It provides chin and jawline definition and in many ways is a jawline extender. Such a long but thin implant can be inserted through a submental incision or even intraorally.
In the female facelift patient such an implant should be considered. While once managed by a chin-prejowl implant placed at the same time, a more contemporary approach employs this more complete jawline augmentation approach.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana