Jawline Surgery vs. Implants, Fillers, and Botox

Jawline surgery, as well as facial fillers, implants, and Botox, can all be used to enhance your jawline’s appearance.

Each option has pros and cons. Understanding how each works and how it may affect your facial structure is essential.

This article will discuss jawline surgery vs. implants, fillers, and Botox to assist you in determining which option best serves your goals.

Jawline Surgery

Jawline surgery, which also goes by the name orthognathic surgery, basically reshapes or repositions your jaw to improve its function and that of your teeth.

Correcting these irregularities also helps improve your appearance and, consequently, your self-esteem.

Pros:

• Improves the overall function of your jaw
• Improves the alignment and function of your teeth, making biting and chewing easier
• Balances the appearance of the middle and lower face features
• Improves jaw closure issues such as open bite, i.e., when your upper and lower teeth don’t touch when your mouth is closed
• Repairs your jaw structure due to facial injuries, congenital disabilities, genetic conditions, or bone disease or conditions
• Corrects problems with swallowing
• Improves speech impediments
• Allows for better sleep
• Relieves temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and other jaw pain

Cons:

• Possible complications such as excess bleeding, infection, poor cosmetic results, nerve injury, adverse reaction to anesthesia (e.g., lightheadedness and low blood pressure), and need for further surgery
• Jawline surgery is expensive. According to CostHelper, orthognathic surgery can cost anywhere from $20,000 to well over $40,000 for patients without insurance.
• If for cosmetic purposes, your insurance may exclude the procedure from coverage.
• The recovery period of jaw surgery can take up to three months, during which you will need to avoid some activities.

Jaw Implants

Jaw implants are a type of facial cosmetic surgery that can help reshape the lower portion of the face, providing a more defined and aesthetically pleasing look.

They are used to treat an overly broad or round lower jaw or to increase the size of a naturally small jaw, restoring balance and symmetry to the face.

Jaw implants can also help improve the face’s profile, making it look more defined and attractive.

With the help of a qualified surgeon, the procedure can produce dramatic results with minimal downtime and discomfort.

You may be a suitable candidate for jaw implants if you have a weak jaw to make it appear more angular and defined. And, consequently, balancing out the proportion of your facial features.

Most candidates for this procedure have misaligned teeth, a receding chin, an open bite, an overbite, or other bite problems that impact their overall facial attractiveness.

The materials typically used for jaw implants are silicone or porous polyethylene. The implants are usually customized to fit your face shape.

A jaw implant surgery can be performed alone or combined with other facial implants, such as nose, chin, and cheek implants, to achieve better results aesthetically.

Pros:

• Improved facial proportions
• Redefined jawline
• Long-lasting results, which are noticeable immediately after surgery
• Enhanced self-esteem
• Customized treatment

Cons:

• Long recovery period
• Possible asymmetry
• Possible complications such as nerve damage, excessive bleeding, a shift in implant position, infection, complications from anesthesia, and allergic reaction to jaw implant
• They are typically considered cosmetic surgery and hence not covered by insurance.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a popular and effective way to improve the appearance of your wrinkles, fine lines, and skin folds.

They are minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments that can plump up and add volume to the face, smoothing out unwanted lines and wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are made from natural, biocompatible substances injected into the treatment area to restore lost volume, fill in wrinkles, and give the skin a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance.

Dermal fillers, when used correctly, can provide long-lasting results that can make you look years younger without surgery.

Pros:

• No waiting time for results as results are immediate
• Achieves a youthful look
• Your results can be long-lasting or permanent, depending on the choice of dermal filler.
• Achieves subtle results hence a more natural look
• Minimal or no downtime is required following the procedure.

Cons:

• You may require regular maintenance treatments depending on the dermal filler used.
• Permanent dermal fillers can be difficult to reverse
• Possible risk of asymmetry, infection, lump formation, bleeding from the injection site, scarring due to damage to the skin, and allergic reaction

Botox

Botox is a type of botulinum toxin type A injection that works by blocking nerve signals to muscles, which prevents them from contracting.

The muscle injected then ceases to grow in size and begins to atrophy, reducing its prominence.

When injected into the masseter muscles, botox helps slim and contour your face into a V-shape in a procedure known as jawline slimming.

The goal of jawline slimming with botox is to reduce a prominent or asymmetrical jawline by weakening the masseter muscles with botox injections.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, treatment will generally require about 30 to 60 units of botox on each side to achieve visible results.

Effects will typically last about 3 to 4 months.

Pros:

• Slims your overall facial shape
• Helps TMJ symptoms
• Relieves tension in the jawline
• You may resume normal activities immediately

Cons:

• Results are not immediate since botox treatment is a gradual process
• Results are temporary, meaning you will require maintenance treatments several times a year
• Potential side effects such as temporary bruising, redness, facial drooping, muscle weakness, slurred speech, breathing problems, headache, and nausea

Learn More: Everything you need to know about Botox injection

Which Option Is Better?

It’s difficult to say which option is better because it depends on the individual’s needs and goals.

However, here is some information about each of these treatments that may help you make a decision:

• Jawline surgery: A surgeon alters the shape of the jawline to make it more defined or balanced with the rest of the face. Recovery can take several weeks, and the procedure can be invasive.
• Implants: A surgeon inserts implants through tiny incisions to augment the jawline or other facial features. Recovery can take several weeks, and there is a risk of complications.
• Fillers: A healthcare provider uses a fine needle to inject hyaluronic acid or another substance into the skin to enhance the look of your wrinkles and other signs of aging. Your results may be immediate but are not permanent.
• Botox: A healthcare provider injects botulinum toxin into the skin using a fine needle to paralyze the muscles that cause wrinkles temporarily. It results in smoother, more youthful-looking skin. The effects can last for several months but eventually wear off, and you will have to repeat the treatment.

It is crucial to remember that each of these treatments has benefits and drawbacks, and your specific needs and goals will ascertain the best option for you.

Consult a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your options and determine the best action.

How to Find a Provider

The decision to have a jaw enhancement procedure involves many choices, the most crucial being selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Also important when vetting potential surgeons are checking whether a surgeon has proven experience and results, their ratings by previous clients and if they work in an accredited or state-licensed facility.

You can find a plastic surgeon in your area that’s board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) or Locally certified boards in your state using our doctor’s directory.

ASPS is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).