Jaw filler: What to know about the treatment on the rise

Most plastic surgeons and dermatologists lean toward reversible hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvéderm Voluma XC and Restylane Defyne (which, unlike some fillers, can be dissolved after injection if necessary) for the chin and jawline area because they are “predictable, adjustable, and safe,” says Dr. Kolker.

What are the benefits of jaw filler?

Jaw filler can offer a wide range of benefits to an even wider range of people, as patients of all ages now want in on this aesthetics procedure.

It can balance in the lower face.

Because the jawline and chin are foundational parts of the overall facial structure, it can make a huge difference when they’re adjusted. New York City-based double board-certified plastic surgeon Adam Kolker, MD, says that the jawline is usually addressed as “an aesthetic unit” when treated, meaning that the entire area is evaluated cohesively, even though some patients may only need enhancement in one specific area and not across the entire jawline. What’s more, they are a major consideration for plastic surgeons when evaluating other facial features, like the eyes, nose, and lips.

“The overarching principle of jawline filler is to improve facial harmony by restoring proportion and balance with other facial features,” explains Dr. Kolker, who adds that a ‘deficient’ jawline can appear in many different ways. “The chin may be small and retrusive, or in profile, it may not reach the line of lower lip projection. The lower jaw bone angles could also be weak.”

But really, it’s all about balance, says New York City board-certified facial plastic surgeon Andrew Jacono, MD. “When done appropriately, [adding] definition along the jaw creates an elegant contour as it transitions into the neck,” he explains. He also notes that some patients request a more chiseled jawline versus an elongated effect. This means jaw filler could be a good option for those who have considered Kybella to treat submental fullness, which is doctor-speak for a “double chin.”

They can camouflage fine lines.

Though some chins are smaller due to genetics and nature, others shrink with age, which can change the shape of the face and deepen fine lines. “Our bones change with age, and the lower face gains volume while the jawline becomes wider,” explains Dr. Kolker, which can make sagging skin, or jowls, appear more prominent in the jawline and neck region.

By strategically placing filler in the chin itself, as well as in an area Dr. Kolker calls the “pre-jowl sulcus,” or the dip beneath the chin where it meets the jowls, the chin will have a more pronounced projection to plump the area and minimise the appearance of superficial wrinkles, as well as smooth and rejuvenate jaw contour temporarily.

It can be used to proportion other parts of the face.

The presence or absence of a more structured chin influences the way our other facial features look, especially when viewed and appreciated as a whole, versus a collection of individual areas.

“A lot of jaw contouring or chins with fillers, and it gives you the biggest bang for your buck,” says Dr. Sieber, which he admits often surprises his patients who visit him for an entirely different concern. “Chin fillers not only improve the profile, but they can also make your nose look smaller as the proportions change.”