The Skin Nerd: Want a sculpted jawline? Here's what I think

Facial reshaping has never been more in demand – but here are the treatments worth investing in...

The Skin Nerd: Facial reshaping has never been more in demand – but here are the treatments worth investing in

Gravity is constantly working against your jawline – and many of us are all too aware. So much so, that demand for aesthetic treatments and surgical procedures targeting the lower face have soared in recent years, with many looking to lift, tighten and sculpt the area prone to sagging and laxity. 

Despite being in high demand now, cosmetic treatments for the jawline aren’t actually new and were requested in the 1950s, when it was suggested that Marilyn Monroe had surgery to address what has been described as “mild flatness” in her chin. Fast forward to more recent times, and according to the Aesthetic Society, chin augmentation accounted for 29% of all aesthetic procedures in the United States in 2021. 

Today, there are a huge number of treatments available with the aim of tightening and lifting the jawline for a more defined look. "There has been an exponential increase in demand for skin tightening procedures for the lower face, jaw and neck in the past few years at our Cosmetic Suite," comments Professor Caitriona Ryan, of the Institute of Dermatologists, Ireland. Why are we all craving a proportional jawline?

 "I put some of this down to the dramatic increase in use of videocalls since the Covid pandemic when the unforgiving nature of Zoom, Teams or Facetime videocalls focused people to their sagging jawlines."

Studies have also shown that the jawline becomes more of an issue as we age. Having a ‘snatched’ jawline is also said to be key when it comes to a youthful appearance, however, this area tends to show ageing first and can be particularly challenging to keep looking youthful without intervention. "With the onset of perimenopause, there is a rapid decline in collagen production, with a 30% reduction in the collagen content of skin during the first five years of menopause," explains Caitriona. 

"After this, the decline is more gradual, with approximately 2% loss skin collagen each year. This reduction in collagen and the structural component of the dermis leads to skin laxity and wrinkles which can be very prominent around the eyes, jawline, jowls and neck. This is compounded by shrinking of the facial skeleton with loss of bone density in the cheek and jaw bones, and loss of subcutaneous fat and shifting of the fat pads, leading to descent of the face. The jawline sags and jowls appear."

So, what can we do to keep this area as snatched as possible? Future face-shaping is predicted to adopt a multi-disciplined, individualised approach but for now, there are still many techniques to try – although they are met with varying success rates. 

"Facial yoga can help to stimulate certain muscles that will elevate the jawline but does not prevent the reduction in collagen and volume depletion that occurs with ageing," Caitriona warned. "The best treatments to tighten the jawline are those that dramatically increase collagen production within the skin. My absolute favourite is the combination Secret Pro CO2 fractionated laser and Radiofrequency Microneedling treatment. CO2 greatly increases collagen production while radiofrequency microneedling stimulates deep dermal collagen production. Deep Ultrasound therapy with Ultherapy can also help tighten the lower face and neck through collagen production. I typically combine these tightening modalities with botulinum toxin injections to the platysmal muscles to reduce the pull of these muscles on the jawline. This is called the Nefertiti jaw lift as it produces a youthful sharp jawline. Strategically placed cheek fillers can also help revolumise the cheeks and jaw to give structural support and lift the sagging jowls and jawline."

Skincare solutions

NeoStrata Rebound Sculpting Cream (€79.95, available in your local pharmacy and neostrata.ietarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">) penetrates skin’s surface, targeting five key components of skin’s matrix, including collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin to visibly lift and sculpt the skin. This hydrating cream targets the look of collagen and elastin depleted skin for a lifted, recontoured appearance. IMAGE Max Stem Cell Contour Gel Creme (€142.50, available from theskinnerd.com and imageskincare.ie) contains Acetyl tetrapeptide-2, a specialised peptide that supports collagen and elastin fibres in the skin, resulting in a plumping effect, alongside sweet iris and orchid stem cells to improve tone and elasticity. Apply to cleansed skin in the morning and evening. Massage into the cheeks, jawline and under the chin using an upward motion for tightened skin. It’s also important, as ever, to remember to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.

 The most important skincare products are sunscreen to reduce the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and retinoids to increase the production of collagen.

Facial tools can also be useful for sculpting benefits. Use a facial tool such as a Gua Sha as part of a daily massage routine and work in an upward motion to aid lymphatic drainage, depuffing and draining excess fluid to enhance the contours of the face.

Don’t believe the hype

There are many tips and treatments showcased on social media, promising to add definition to the jawline, but of course, not all of these are truly effective. Mewing is one such technique that went viral on social media in the last year and has been met with mixed opinions. Mewing is whereby you place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth (rather than letting it rest on the bottom of your mouth, as many of us do). 

This has been suggested to help strengthen and reshape the jawline, but experts warn that there is a lack of scientific data to support this theory.