Jawline Lift

This surgery is also a type of regional subcutaneous fascia lift. Its two main goals are as follows: preventing and improving the skin conditions after mandible reduction, such as lower cheek and jawline drooping or laxity, and simultaneously performing upper neck lift to ensure that the reconstructed face is almost perfect as oval or “V” shape. During the procedure, Dr. Chuang will make a 3–4-cm “S”-shaped incision from the front to the back of the earlobes first; he will then detach the skin and superficial fascia along the jawline from the incision forward to the mouth corners, excise partial preauricular fascia, lift it backward to the back of the ears, and tightly fix the fascia on the periosteum with lift sutures. After checking the tension of skin flap, some extra and loose skin should be removed and wound is closed. If patients have severe or obvious skin laxity, Dr. Chuang can also perform lower face MACS lift or utilize Endotine Ribbon implants to obtain a much better tightening result than ordinary lifting threads. Because the surgical range is limited in the subcutaneous layer that keeps an obvious distance away from the subperiosteal spaces for mandible reduction, these two procedures would not interfere with each other. Therefore, this procedure can be performed with mandible reduction at the same time or nay be combined with lower face or chin liposuction to enhance the result of face slimming. The result of this surgery will last for 3–5 years.

Surgical conditions

Duration

0hr
  • Type of anesthesia: IV sedation or general anesthesia
  • Type of incision: Approximately 3–4 cm at the preauricular and retroauricular hairline
  • Recovery: 3–5 days
  • Removal of stitches: 7–10 days

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

0hr
  • Exposing the wound to cold water should be avoided for 5 days postoperatively.
  • Pulling the face, as in case of cosmetic skin care, should be avoided for 3 months postoperatively.
  • Scar care should be continued for 6 months postoperatively.

Ideal candidates

  • Those who have excessively wide mandibles and can have chin skin loosening after mandible reduction.
  • Those with severe square-shaped faces and who have to undergo extensive mandible resection.
  • Those who already have round or double chins before mandible reductions.
  • Those undergoing mandible reductions who are ≥35 years old.
  • Those who have the side effect of skin loosening on the lower face or jawline after a previous mandible reduction.
  • Those who pursue extremely “V’-shaped or pointed faces.

Potential complications

  • Poor wound healing
  • Scar hypertrophy
  • Earlobe deformity

Surgical advantages

  1. Will prevent and treat lower cheek and jawline loosening caused by mandible reduction.

  2. Will be performed with mandible reduction and simultaneously resolve the problems related to bones and skin.

  3. Will enhance the V-shape of the lower face after mandible reduction and highlight the result of face slimming.

  4. Surgical scars are on the edge of the earlobes and are not clearly visible.

  5. Will delay potentially premature skin aging caused by mandible reduction.

  6. Repeatable in the future.

Surgical drawbacks

  1. The surgical result will not last long (average 3–5 years).

  2. If performed with mandible reductions, the result of jawline lift can be affected due to long time or excessive swelling.

  3. The results vary depending on the extent of cheek sagging and skin elasticity.

  4. Will change the position and shape of the earlobes.

  5. Scars can still be permanent.

Possible procedures in conjunction