Cosmetic surgery for the jawline and chin is used to enhance facial features for those who either feel they would like their jawline to be more defined or less pronounced. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as adding a chin implant for additional volume, or shaving down the jawline. In either case, this is done under general anesthetic.
To prepare, your doctor may advise you to follow certain rules, such as not smoking and avoiding any blood-thinning medications such as NSAIDs. Afterwards, you may need to take two to three days off from work as you recover, with an additional day for the actual procedure, during this time you may be asked to remain in hospital. In some cases you may also need to get braces to realign your teeth.
For those seeking similar, less-permanent effects to jawline and chin surgery, one option is to get dermal fillers, which is where a jelly-like substance is injected into the soft tissue of the jaw. Another option is Botox (another option for TMJ sufferers), which temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles. If you have already tried these and are still unhappy with the results, you may be a good candidate for surgery.
Is This Surgery Right for Me?
It’s important to set realistic expectations: cosmetic surgery cannot change your life. If you are already experiencing mental and emotional issues such as low self-esteem or a traumatic time (such as a divorce or bereavement), it’s better to get support with this first so it’s important you feel strong enough in yourself before making any major changes.
Similarly, cosmetic surgery should not be undertaken due to pressure from another person: it is a personal decision that should be made because you want to, not because someone else does. If you are healthy and emotionally healthy and feel that the surgery could act as an added confidence boost, this can be a positive motivation.
It’s also important that you are legally old enough to undergo cosmetic surgery: growth spurts can dramatically alter the results, and since this type of surgery is permanent, it’s important to take your time making the decision to get it and be sure that you want to, not before you are ready.
How Much Is It Likely to Cost?
Cosmetic procedures to the jawline tend to cost from around $6,500 to $56,000 depending on how intensive the procedure is and your chosen surgical provider. A cheap deal doesn’t necessarily mean high quality, and since jawline surgery is irreversible, this is important.
Before booking your appointment, check with a number of cosmetic surgery providers to see that they are licensed, fully-qualified and that they have excellent hygiene standards and a good rapport with their clients. Beware any practices that try to rush things or refuse to have a full consultation with you to make sure you’re still okay to go ahead with the procedure.
In some instances people have cosmetic jawline surgery for medical reasons, for example if they have an uneven jaw, experience pain when chewing or experience temporomandibular (TMJ) pain when chewing. If this is the case, it may be classed as a medical procedure, which can be covered by your health insurance (check with your provider for details).
