Contouring the Chin and Lower Face for Different Face Shapes

A 2017 review by a group of dermatologists and aesthetic physicians argued that injectable treatment of the chin, jawline and lower face should be planned around a person's overall facial type and face shape, rather than a standard set of injection points. It is an expert opinion piece rather than a trial, but its core idea, that the same treatment does not suit every face, is a useful one for patients to understand.

Why this was studied

The lower face changes noticeably with age. The jawline can soften, jowls may form, the corners of the mouth can turn down and the chin can lose projection. These changes come from shifts in bone, fat, muscle and skin all at once, and they do not happen the same way in everyone.

The authors felt that injectable treatments for this area are often described as fixed recipes. They wanted to set out a more individual approach, drawing on their own clinical experience and on earlier work describing different patterns of facial ageing.

What the authors proposed

The paper groups faces in two ways. The first is by "morphotype", a description of how a person's tissues tend to age:

• Worn: lower body weight, an oval or diamond-shaped face and gradual volume loss. The authors see this type as generally well suited to filler.
• Wrinkly: thin, sun-damaged skin with little underlying fat, where skin-focused treatments are emphasised.
• Deformed: thicker skin and more fat, with sagging. The authors suggest surgery may be the more appropriate option for many people with this pattern.
• Muscular: strong facial muscles, less fat and a jawline that tends to stay well defined.

The second grouping is basic face shape: oval, long, square, round, heart or diamond. The authors suggest, for example, that heart- and diamond-shaped faces tend to show a hollow in front of the jowl earlier, and that people with heart-shaped faces often benefit from treating the chin and the lines beside the mouth together.

They then describe how they adjust technique by area and severity, such as where filler is placed in relation to the chin muscle, how the jawline is supported at different stages of jowling, and when a neuromodulator might be used first to relax an overactive chin muscle. Our article on chin dimpling and the mentalis muscle explains that last point.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a narrative review based on expert experience. It does not report a group of treated patients, measured results, satisfaction scores or complication rates. The categories describe women of European ancestry and may not apply in the same way to men or to people of other backgrounds. The authors themselves acknowledge that there is little published data on how face shape affects attractiveness or ageing.

So the paper is best read as a framework for thinking, not proof that one approach gives better results than another.

What it means for you

The most practical message is that a good assessment comes before any plan. Two people who both say "I want a sharper jawline" may need very different things, or one of them may be better served by no injectable at all. During an assessment, a physician will usually look at:

• Your face at rest and while talking and smiling
• Bone structure, fat distribution and skin quality
• Symmetry, and the balance between chin, jaw, lips and nose
• How much sagging is present, and whether a non-surgical approach is realistic
• Your goals, and what you do not want to change

For some concerns, such as significant sagging skin or excess fat under the chin, filler is not the right tool, and a referral to a surgeon or a different treatment may make more sense. Our article on non-surgical options for a double chin covers that area, and jawline and chin filler explains the basics of lower-face filler.

A plan built around your own anatomy may also mean treating less than you expected. Small, staged adjustments allow you and your physician to see how each change looks before deciding on more, and they make it easier to stop at a point you are happy with.

Risks and who should wait

Filler in the chin and jawline carries the usual risks of swelling, bruising, tenderness and occasional lumps, as well as the rare but serious risk of filler entering a blood vessel. Treatment should be delayed for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active skin infection or cold sore in the area, or have upcoming dental work. People with certain autoimmune conditions or a history of reactions to filler should discuss this in detail first.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• What do you see as the main reasons my lower face looks the way it does?
• Is filler likely to help, or would another approach suit me better?
• How will the plan keep my face in proportion?
• Could this be done gradually, over more than one visit?

Frequently asked questions

Does face shape decide what treatment I should have?

It is one factor among many. Skin, fat, muscle activity, bone structure and personal goals matter at least as much. The review's categories are a starting point for discussion, not a rule.

Can chin filler change my face shape?

It can change proportions, such as adding projection or length to the chin, which may alter how the face looks overall. The aim is usually balance rather than a dramatic change, and results vary from person to person.

Is filler ever a substitute for surgery in the lower face?

For mild changes, sometimes. For more pronounced sagging, filler may add weight or volume without lifting, and surgery may give a more natural result. An honest assessment should tell you which applies.

If you are thinking about the chin or jawline, HealthPark Medical Aesthetics can assess your facial structure at a consultation and talk through realistic options, including when treatment may not be the right choice.

Source

Yutskovskaya YA, Sergeeva AD, Kislitsyna AI, Landau M. Contouring of Lower Face and Chin in Consideration of Facial Morphotypes and Shapes: Is it a More Accurate Approach? Madridge Journal of Dermatology & Research, 2017;2(1):26–31. Read the study