In the past few years we’ve seen an explosion in jawline contouring treatments, particularly those with hyaluronic acid (HA) based filler. Many before and after photos show the results of these treatments in profile, and they often look good. However, to truly judge the result of facial filler, you have to look at the face from all angles.

We sometimes see jawline filler looking ok from the side or profile, but when viewed straight on the effect is a widening of a more slender face or an unnatural “cotton ball” appearance, both of which appear unnatural and fail to achieve the desired result. Some individuals may benefit from hyaluronic acid filler in the face, but we are seeing these treatments being used more and more in patients who are not well suited for it, or who would benefit more from a different approach.

So what do we recommend if not HA filler for jawline contouring? Here are our top 3 treatments to sculpt and shape the jaw.

FaceTite for Jaw Definition

FaceTite is usually the best way to get a strong jawline contour, especially if sagging skin, excess tissue, or fullness in the lower face and neck is your concern. Also, if these are your concerns, you really don’t want to add extra volume to the area with filler. This will only exacerbate the lack of jawline definition, not improve it.

FaceTite offers a very targeted approach to skin tightening on the face, which is why, for the right candidate, it can yield a really defined jawline. The reason we find FaceTite to be one of the best treatments for jawline sculpting is because restoring definition to the face non-surgically is really the main goal of this treatment.

FaceTite uses radiofrequency technology to shrink collagen fibres and tissue, as well as to melt fat underneath the surface of the skin. Because of this it’s semi-invasive and a little more aggressive as a treatment than filler or other jawline contouring treatments, but the results speak for themselves (70% reduction in tissue) and they are long lasting (anywhere from 1-5 years).

Creating a Contoured Jaw with a Thread Lift

A thread lift is a less aggressive approach to jawline contouring than FaceTite. It involves having dissolvable (PDO) threads inserted just below the surface of the skin, which are then strategically manipulated in order to lift the skin around the jawline in order to add more definition. It offers some really beautiful results for the right patient, but it’s less targeted.

You can think about a thread lift as offering more overall lift and skin tightness to the jawline. It’s not going to reduce tissue or melt fat like FaceTite. So if you’re someone that needs just a bit of a pick me up in the area, a thread lift is a great option. It also offers long lasting results (just a little over 1 year) by giving your body that much needed collagen boost.

Radiesse, the Best Filler for Jawline Contour

Sometimes filler is required and we like Radiesse for jawline contouring. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main ones are that Radiesse has the highest degree of G prime factor, which basically means it’s one of the most cohesive dermal fillers on the market—it maintains its shape really well. Because it’s a firmer filler it allows for a high degree of tissue lift and will maintain that really refined contour in the jawline.

The other thing that we like about Radiesse for the jawline is that because it’s not a hyaluronic acid (HA) based filler, but rather composed of calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa), it doesn’t draw water in the same way that HA based fillers do. This basically means that as a filler what it does best is lift sagging tissue as opposed to adding too much volume, which is exactly what you want in order to have more definition in the jawline area. It also stimulates collagen production in your body, meaning that your results can last for almost 2 years.

The treatment you choose should really depend on what your concerns are. Some individuals need to improve laxity in order to create that angled look, while other people simply need more volume. Our point is that there’s not always a one-size fits all treatment in order to get the same effect. There are different ways to achieve the same end goal, and the most important thing is to choose the right treatment that will ultimately give you the best and most natural looking result: in this case, a beautiful, contoured jawline.