Would a genioplasty or neck lift be the better option to improve the appearance of my jaw line? (photos)

your jawline looks good. can consider lipo to improve mandibular definition, but an implant would be the slam dunk procedure.

Hello Alias4. Thank you for your question regarding the best surgical option to improve the appearance of your jawline. Your detailed history and the photos you provided are very helpful for understanding your concerns.

In evaluating facial structure, it's crucial to analyze from the inside out. Successful plastic surgeons typically assess the bone structure first, then the soft tissue, followed by fat, and finally the skin. Accurate diagnoses lead to successful surgeries by addressing the root cause of the aesthetic concern.

From your description and analysis, it appears you have a recessed chin, also known as a recessed menton. In males, the chin should ideally project slightly beyond a vertical line drawn from the upper to the lower lip when viewed in profile. This suggests that the optimal procedure for you would likely be chin augmentation, either with an implant or by modifying the bone itself.

Undergoing just a neck lift without addressing the underlying bone structure (the primary defect) would only redrape the neck skin over a still recessed chin. Similarly, a chemical peel to tighten the neck skin would not resolve the fundamental issue of the recessed chin bone.

There are several options for chin augmentation:

Chin Implants: These can sometimes be placed in an office setting. Whether or not screw fixation of the implant is necessary depends on the specific case and surgeon preference.
Sliding Genioplasty: This involves surgically cutting the chin bone, advancing it, and securing it with screws. This procedure is typically performed in an operating room setting and not in an office.
Chin augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure. Please allow about two weeks for initial recovery, although swelling can last from 8 to 12 weeks.

Given your specific concerns with the jawline's appearance due to the combination of larger digastric muscles, excess skin, and fat, a genioplasty would likely provide a more definitive solution by addressing the bone structure and improving the overall contour and projection of your chin.

I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your facial structure in detail and discuss the best surgical options for achieving a balanced and aesthetically pleasing jawline.

Good luck, and I hope this helps clarify whether a genioplasty or neck lift is more suitable for your needs.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs. I think you are right in stating that the digastric muscles contribute to the contours under the jawline, and potentially, further laterally, there may be a contribution from the lower part of the submandibular glands.

Genioplasty surgery is not likely to produce an adequate correction for the neck contours along the lines that you seem to want to achieve.

An anterior neck lift intervention would be a potential solution and does not require any skin tightening because you do not have any skin excess.

The procedure is carried out through an incision under the chin and typically focuses on volume reduction, which affects both the appearance in a neutral position and in neck flexion.