Dr. Jacono and Allure Talk Jaw Fillers

Information about jaw filler procedures in New York, NY with Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono and Allure Magazine.

The Age of the Cut Jawline

The jawline is one of the most aesthetically important parts of the face. It provides shape, structure, and overall symmetry. Because of this, even the subtlest changes to the jaw can completely alter the character of the face. In other words, jawlines are difficult to cosmetically finesse. It takes an extremely experienced professional to achieve outstanding results.

“The jawline is considered to be the final frontier,” says Dr. Jacono. “People tend to focus on other parts of the face, like the nose, the cheeks, and the eyes. However, these days, sleek jawlines are trending into the mainstream. People are awakening to the fact that slight alterations can make a person look more masculine or feminine. Celebrities and influencers can attest to this; I have never seen more people post about jawlines than I have in the last few months.”

Dr. Jacono and his colleagues are no strangers to patients who want to look more refined. Typically, these professionals use one of two methods of jawline enhancement: surgical procedures and noninvasive injections.

On the surgical side, plastic surgeons cut into the deeper facial tissues, excising fat, lifting swathes of muscle, and sometimes adding implants. Surgery is the most dramatic solution to imperfect jawlines, providing results that last for many years, and in some cases, a lifetime.

On the non-surgical side, dermal fillers have made a major splash in the cosmetic treatment sphere. These injectable options are temporary but enhance the jawline without the need for deep structural work. For this reason, fillers have become the go-to-market choice.

Dermal Fillers: What Are They?

Dermal fillers’ chief purpose is to add volume to specific areas of the face. Their active ingredients quite literally fill pockets of skin and tissue with gel-based liquid, smoothing troughs, reversing wrinkles, and enhancing glow. When injected into the jawline, dermal fillers add tautness and contour.

The most popular dermal filler is hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body that, when isolated and injected, strengthens skin and tissue. There are many hyaluronic acid brands, including Restylane, Juvéderm, and Voluma, and their purposes are multifaceted. Whereas some, like Voluma XC, focus on the cheeks, others, like Restylane Defyne, target the chin and smile lines. Still, others can be used for non-surgical nose jobs, evening slopes and temporarily correcting crookedness.

“There are plenty of dermal fillers on the market, and the vast majority are tailored to treating particular problems,” says Dr. Jacono. “This is why dermal fillers are so popular. They can improve virtually any part of the face without the downtime and potential complications of invasive surgery.”

Dermal fillers last anywhere from 9 to 18 months, depending on the injection area and the amount used. They are also reversible, meaning if a patient is unhappy with their outcome, their doctor can remove the product.

How Do Facial Fillers Affect the Jawline?

The overarching goal of jawline injections is to improve overall facial harmony by restoring proportionate beauty to the lower face. This balances the jawline with the rest of a patient’s head and neck.

“When done appropriately, adding definition along the jaw creates an elegant contour as it transitions into the neck,” says Dr. Jacono. “Some patients request a more chiseled jawline versus an elongated one. For patients who want more than jawline definition, I recommend using facial fillers in addition to treatments like Kybella, which eliminates under-chin fat. This makes the face’s entire lower third look tight, smooth, and youthful.”

Patients should be aware that, for all the benefits of dermal fillers, there are some drawbacks. While their results are consistent, they are not as dramatic as those of surgery. This is because invasive treatments directly manipulate and alter the structure of the face, correcting the causes of certain problems rather than addressing the superficial symptoms.

Worse, dermal fillers don’t last as long as surgery. A nip-and-tuck’s results extend for many years; dermal fillers last up to a year and a half before the patient must return for maintenance. Over time, this can become a hassle, not to mention far more expensive than a single surgical procedure.

“Of course, it’s up to the patient to decide what is best for their needs,” says Dr. Jacono. “Some of my younger patients are perfectly content with getting fillers for the duration of their twenties and thirties. However, I have noticed a trend where clients eventually become dissatisfied with the diminishing returns of fillers and opt for surgery anyway.”

Lastly, as is the case with any cosmetic procedure, dermal fillers carry a few risks. Patients may experience bruising for a few days after treatment. In rare cases, there can be skin necrosis due to accidental injection of filler into a blood vessel.

Despite jawline fillers’ drawbacks, however, patients can rest assured that they do their job quite well. They aren’t popular without good reason!