Nip & Tuck

Is it possible to change my jawline without surgery?

EVERY week the leading cosmetic doctor answers your questions on how best to tackle the signs of ageing . . .

QI HAVE a really small chin and an overbite that affects my smile and the way I chew. But what I hate the most is how it makes my nose look — it is very prominent. I don’t really want surgery to correct it, at 50 I feel too old — is there anything else I can do without going under the knife?

AAN OVERBITE or a weak bottom jaw is actually quite a common problem as we get older. A receding chin can appear to accentuate the nose, particularly in profile. This is because the lower-half of the face lacks the definition of a stronger-looking jawline and it can make the face look unbalanced.

Since beauty is subjective, it’s not necessarily unattractive. But for those people who are self-conscious about it, rather than having surgery, there is an injectable procedure that will remodel the chin and re-balance the features.

This is achieved by altering the mandibular contour, which determines the shape of the lower part of the face.

Injections of hyaluronic acid can be placed deep onto the jawbone through the skin. The naturally biodegradable filler will project the chin forward, which in turn, will rebalance the facial features and give a more pleasing sense of proportion. It is a surprisingly painless technique and the results are immediate with very little downtime — if any.

Most often, a one- off procedure is all that is required and the results last for a year, if not longer.

With this treatment I usually find the level of satisfaction for the patient is enormous.