I Have No Jaw, my Neck Runs Straight to my Chin. What Can I Do?

Question

I am very self conscious about my profile. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

It's best to begin by consulting with a surgeon in-person to discuss your options. During your initial examination, your #chin will be evaluated along with the neck and jawline. A weak #chin implies a lack of chin support for the skin along the neck line. In younger individuals a chin implant alone is usually all that is needed to improve the appearance of the neck. Subsequently, it will also improve the overall #balance of the face and can create the illusion of a smaller nose. As a stand-alone procedure, chin augmentation can be performed in the office under local #anesthesia. For individuals with signs of #aging in the neck, a chin implant added to one of the recommended procedures above, will provide optimal results. Also, #liposuction under the chin is also another option your doctor can discuss. If you are not a candidate for chin or neck rejuvenation at the time of your #consultation, your board certified plastic surgeon can recommend alternatives to address your concern. 
However, there may be additional options to improve the appearance of your concern to improve the overall balance of your face. Such can be best evaluated in-person. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in #face, #neck and #chin procedures is important to ensure you are receiving the best advice, care, and surgical experience possible.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

It is difficult to say without seeing you in person, but there are a few options that may benefit you. A chin implant could be a good way to increase projection and definition in the chin, while liposuction to the neck could help to get rid of any excess fat that may be causing your neck to run straight to your chin, as you say. If your problem is loose skin instead of fat, a surgical neck lift or facelift could be a better option. A neck lift will address drooping skin and “turkey neck” very efficiently and create a youthful, sculpted jawline. I perform neck lifts by tightening deep tissue and the platysma muscle, allowing for a smooth and defined neck and jawline. The results of a neck lift will last for a very long time as long as you take proper care of your skin. A neck lift can be performed in conjunction with liposuction to the neck and jowls for optimal results. Please see a board-certified facial plastic surgeon for a consultation to find the best treatment plan for you. I hope this helps.

Thomas A. Lamperti, MD · Answer

A few options that may be beneficial in your case include chin augmentation, neck lift and/or neck liposuction. More could be said after seeing your neck and assessing your anatomy.

Barry M. Weintraub, MD, FACS · Answer

Without photos or an in-person examination, it is difficult to discuss the best modality for your specific case. However, speaking in general terms, I will describe what can be done depending on your configuration and age. If the jawline/neck is obscured with excess fat, and you are relatively young (meaning that your skin possesses good elasticity), then you might benefit from liposuction of the neck to help sculp the jawline and to eliminate the “neck goes straight to my chin” look. If you are older, and you have excess skin as well as fat (and less elasticity in your skin), then a full neck lift might be required since the skin would need to be addressed in addition to the fat. If liposuction itself, or liposuction + neck lift would be required, I perform both procedures by hiding the incisions so you will not have any obvious scars. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I do both procedures using the finest  cannulas to remove the fat, and you would (in either circumstance) need to wear a head-dressing bandage for three days, so the recovery is pretty quick. Some patients also benefit from a chin implant to help improve the jawline if they have recessive chins. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon in person so that you can discuss your goals and concerns to see which procedure(s) would be best for you.

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

It is hard to be very precise without seeing your photos.  Generally a chin augmentation coupled with neck liposuction will give you your desired result.

Jacques Haddad, MD · Answer

with heavy neck, definition is difficult to obtain.chin implant will be indicated for weak chin feature if we have fatty neck with good chin contour, lipossuction with neck lift can be the best option.adding chin implant will help only if on top of it we have chin contour deficiency.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

If there is a retrusive chin present a chin implant is the best option for this deficiency.  A neck lift can be performed, which removes fat above and below the platysmal muscle as well as a platysmaplasty to create a 90-degree angle to the neck.  Typically, for patients under the age of 50, a neck lift alone sufficient, while a face/neck lift is required for patients over the age of 50 due to skin laxity. For many examples of the combination of neck lift and chin implant, please see the link below to our neck lift photo gallery

Michael S. Godin, MD · Answer

....I liken this situation to positioining a canvas on a frame. If the frame is too small, the canvas sags. If the frame is OK but the canvas sags anyway, the canvas should be firmed and the excess trimmed.

	In practical terms, I lengthen the frame by placing a chin implant. If there are problems with the temperomandibular joints (the hinge joints of the jaw)  or the way the teeth come together (malocclusion) I have the patient see an oral surgeon for consideration of jaw surgery.

	As far as the soft tissue (canvas) goes, if it sags I perform some type of lift - lower face and neck lift, neck tuck-up, or the MicroMini Lift TM I have developed. This depends on the patient's age and the amount of work to be done.

	Liposuction of the area under the chin may need to be performed as well, either with a lift or by itself. Hope this helps.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

Neck liposuction and chin implant work well together to lengthen the appearance of the jaw and sculpt the neckline. In general, this is very effective. Without photos, I cannot speak to your concerns, specifically. I would recommend a consultation with a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon to assess the suitability of these procedures for you.
	Thank you for your question.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Your problem description is a classic one and most likely could be improved by a chin implant and neck liposuction. If you are older, you may also benefit by some type of a jowl or necklift if there is loose skin. It would be very helpful to see a profile picture of you to give a more specific answer.

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