The desire for a sharper, more defined jawline is one of the most common aesthetic goals held by men and women alike. A sleek look around the neck and under the chin can be achieved with both surgical and non-surgical techniques, and even slight changes have the potential to powerfully improve the entire facial appearance. At our Newport Beach practice, facial plastic surgeon Ali Sepehr, MD takes a personalized approach to helping individuals contour the jawline region.

What is Neck/Jawline Contouring?

Jawline contouring refers to a range of techniques designed to smooth and/or slim the area surrounding the chin and neck. Depending on your needs, this may include reducing jowls, getting rid of excess fat, or smoothing horizontal neck bands. The ultimate goal of treatment is to achieve more definition in the neck and accentuate the jawline. Based on your personal preference and desired results, Dr. Sepehr can incorporate facial plastic surgery procedures and/or non-surgical cosmetic enhancement into your treatment plan. Patients often achieve the best, most comprehensive results through a combination of both modalities. For the majority of patients, this involves one of the following dual treatment options:

Is Jawline Contouring Right for Me?

Multiple treatments, procedures, and techniques can be utilized to sharpen the jawline and better define your facial profile. A jawline contouring plan is usually most successful for individuals who specifically seek to accentuate sleek angles in their chin and jawline. Consulting with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Sepehr can help you confirm the best approach to achieve your goals, but good candidates for surgery should generally be:

In good health
Near their ideal weight range
Positive about the outlook of surgery
Able to maintain realistic expectations for the potential results

If the primary goal of seeking treatment is to improve the contour of your lower face or neck, you may be better served with a facelift and neck lift. RadiaLift offers a comprehensive approach and a highly effective treatment plan to improve signs of facial aging in a holistic, integrative fashion. Dr. Sepehr will help you formulate an ideal treatment plan during a consultation.

Chin augmentation using:

Chin implant
Dermal fillers

Reduction of excess fullness/volume under jawline with:

Submental liposuction
KYBELLA® injections

What are My Treatment Options For Jawline Contouring?

Jawline contouring is performed entirely with your goals and anatomical needs in mind and the following factors will help determine the best approach for you:

The extent of redundant fat and skin/muscle laxity experienced
Desires for the longevity of the outcome
Your facial balance and proportions
Whether you are willing to undergo surgery

These considerations will be discussed during a consultation with Dr. Sepehr, after which he will be able to formulate an ideal jawline contouring treatment plan. In general, there are two approaches to achieving a sharp, well-defined neck and jawline:

Jawline Structural Enhancement with Chin Implants or Dermal Fillers to Strengthen Bony Framework

If a recessed, undefined chin is compromising your facial profile, Dr. Sepehr may suggest a customized chin implant to help you attain a more pronounced jawline. According to the principles of aesthetic beauty, a weak or diminutive chin can unintentionally communicate a meek presence. Chin implants are often an effective technique to strengthen the jawline, balance the proportions of your facial features, and even offset the appearance of a large nose. Implants also vary in shape, size, and degrees of projection, allowing patients a tailored solution for their unique facial shape.

Patients who experience mild jowling and/or loss of contour can also achieve improvement with volume-enhancing dermal fillers. These products are composed of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps the skin retain moisture. While they are temporary, our JUVÉDERM® and and Restylane® fillers can be an excellent non-surgical treatment to restore youthful contours and fullness in the jawline.

Reduction of Excess Fullness and Volume Under Jawline With Submental Liposuction or KYBELLA®

For patients whose jawline is obscured by excess fat, submental liposuction can slim the appearance of the face and make the neck contours more visible. As the most common way to reduce a “double chin,” this technique works by extracting redundant fatty deposits from the neck via a long, thin cannula. This submental fat removal can sculpt the jawline for a result that virtually lasts a lifetime, although dieting and exercise after surgery is pivotal to preserving the outcome.

Injections of KYBELLA®, an FDA-approved substance designed to gradually break down fat cells, can also be administered to enhance your surgical results or as an alternative to neck liposuction. With both treatments, it’s important for patients to have good skin tone in the submental area so the skin is able to “snap” back into place after fat removal.

What Can I Expect From the Jawline Contouring Recovery Period?

Since the procedures and techniques used to sharpen the jawline vary according to patients’ needs, the recovery period is not universal. For patients who are able to achieve their goals with only non-surgical approaches, there may be little to no downtime necessary.

In general, patients who underwent a surgical procedure can expect swelling, bruising, tenderness, and an overall feeling of weakness during recovery. We encourage patients to get plenty of rest for the first few days after their procedure. This does not preclude light walking, and in fact, lightly ambulating is recommended right away. It’s also important to wear any bandages and compression garments for the amount of time prescribed by Dr. Sepehr. Most patients can return to work after one to two weeks depending on the details of their treatment plan and the nature of their job. Exercise and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least four to six weeks.

How Long Will My Results From Jawline Contouring Last?

The lifespan of your results will depend on which procedures were part of your treatment plan. The outcome of surgical fat removal with submental liposuction should last indefinitely as long as patients maintain a stable weight. KYBELLA® injections can also offer long-lasting results, as fat cells are permanently destroyed. However, it is very important to commit to an active lifestyle after KYBELLA®, as any additional weight gain can still be distributed to surrounding fat cells.

Chin implants usually provide permanent results without the need for retreatment. Any enhancement with dermal fillers is temporary and the outcome can last anywhere from 9 to 24 months, depending on which product was used.

Questions? Dr. Ali Sepehr can help you determine the most effective treatment to achieve your desired look. Call our Newport Beach practice today for more information, or if you would like to schedule a consultation.

Will Jawline Contouring Leave Visible Scars?

With an experienced facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Sepehr, scarring is often discreet and inconspicuous. He conceals incisions within the natural lines and contours of the face whenever possible, allowing little to no evidence of surgery. Once you meet Dr. Sepehr in person, he will show you where any scarring is likely to be hidden. This should give you a better understanding of what you can expect regarding post-surgical scars. It’s important to follow Dr. Sepehr’s instructions on incision care, as this can help ensure incisions are well-hydrated and improve the likelihood of scars fading over time.

How Much Does Jawline Contouring Cost?

The cost of jawline contouring is personalized according to the nature of each person’s treatment plan. Factors that can affect the total cost estimate include:

Whether surgical or non-surgical treatments were performed
Whether a chin implant was utilized
Fees for anesthesia, the surgical facility, etc. (if applicable)
The overall complexity of your jawline contouring plan

Don’t hesitate to call our office if you have any questions about the costs of our services or plastic surgery financing. We accept plans from qualified patients via CareCredit® and Prosper® Healthcare Lending.

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Questions? Dr. Ali Sepehr can help you determine the most effective treatment to achieve your desired look. Call our Newport Beach practice today for more information, or if you would like to schedule a consultation.