Is jawline sculpting the right treatment for you?

A defined jawline is a sought-after facial feature synonymous with attractiveness and youth. While not everyone is born with a contoured jawline, a number of treatments exist that claim to enhance definition. A common theme in the cosmetic industry is over-promising results and setting unrealistic expectations. A quick sale is often priorities over helping you make an informed choice.

At Cosmetic Connection, we witness day-in day-out people who have been promised the jawline of their dreams, having undergone a multitude of procedures, only to be left disappointed. Sadly, they make the decision to see our team for a transparent assessment after wasting thousands on treatments that simply were never going to work.

So, we’ve written this article to help guide you towards making an informed choice about jawline sculpting. We’ll help you work out not just if jawline sculpting is right for you, but which treatments are more aligned with your concerns and jawline goals.

The anatomy of your jawline

The jawline has a number of anatomical structures that give it its appearance.

• Mandible: the jaw bone, forms the foundation of your jawline, giving a baseline shape, width and projection.
• Masseters: the chewing muscles at the back of your jawline which contribute to the width of your lower face.
• Facial fat: lower cheek, jowl and under chin fatty tissue impact the shape and fullness of your lower face and neck.
• Skin: draped over the deeper structures, skin sagging is the most common reason you lose jawline definition with age.

Safety first

Non-surgical procedures, while less invasive than surgery, aren’t risk free. The most effective way to reduce the risks of your jawline sculpting treatment is to see a qualified doctor at a reputable cosmetic clinic. There are countless red flags to look for that indicate inexperience or practitioners who don’t care about your safety.

• Discounted procedures: Unrealistic pricing often compromises quality and safety standards. It may also reflect the use of fake products.
• Lack of clear qualifications: Verify their credentials through cosmetic colleges like the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine.
• Clinic location: is it a proper clinic, or a rented room in a nail salon, or a converted bedroom at the ‘clinician’s’ house?
• Pressure to proceed: An ethical professional will respect your decision-making process and address your concerns transparently.
• Vague answers to your questions: Clarity and transparency are crucial. If they hesitate or avoid answering your questions directly, seek another practitioner.
• Clinician behaviour: do the clinicians trivialise risk? claim they are the best without substantiating the claims? downplay risk without facts? Do not proceed with such individuals.

Treatment options for jawline sculpting

Dermal Fillers

• Benefits: Add volume and structure along your jawline to enhance definition immediately.
• Risks: Improper injection technique can lead to vascular occlusion, poor results, or filler migration. Allergic reactions and infections may occur.
• Suitability: Ideal for mild to modest concerns.

Muscle slimming injections

• Benefits: Relaxes the masseter muscles, slimming the shape of your jawline.
• Risks: Injection errors can cause an uneven smile. This will resolve on its own, but takes time.
• Suitability: Effective for addressing enlarged masseter muscles, but be cautious if you have sagging skin, which can be temporarily worsened by this treatment.

Fat dissolving

• Benefits: Permanently reduce fat cells, tightening your jawline definition.
• Risks: Improper placement can cause temporary lower lip weakness and skin damage.
• Suitability: Only suitable for mild to moderate fat tissue under your chin. Multiple treatments are typically required.

Thread Lifts

• Benefits: Minimally invasive option for lifting and tightening the jawline.
• Risks: Improper placement can lead to poor results and thread migration. Infection is a possible but rare consideration.
• Suitability: Only suitable for mild jawline sagging, and best used in combination with dermal fillers.

Which jawline treatments to choose?

Don’t ever ‘choose’ a specific jawline treatment without consulting a qualified doctor with expertise in cosmetic procedures. Typically a combination approach achieves the most natural results. Always consider the risk, cost, downtime and potential result, and a good clinician will be able to tailor the treatment to your preferences.