Thursday, April 3, 2008

Chin and Jawline Augmentation in Male Plastic Surgery

Chin and Jawline Augmentation in Male Plastic Surgery
The facial features most associated with masculinity is the
chin and jawline. A stronger chin and jawline conveys
increased masculinity, smaller chins and ill-defined
jawlines convey timidity and weakness. While this
perceptions may not always be true (and often aren't), they
certainly help create a first impression by their
appearance. In today's plastic surgery, newer generation
implants make this look possible more than ever before.

Chin implants have really evolved over the past decade with
many new styles and sizes. The most important change has
been that they have been extended in their shape rather
than small 'buttons'. The idea is to have an enhanced chin
that flows better into the surrounding jaw. This requires
an implant that 'extends' back from the chin to create a
smooth transition from the augmented chin to the back of
the jaw. These newer implants are longer and more tapered
at the ends, although they can still be placed through a
small incision right under the chin. Because they extend
back further they give an enhanced but natural appearance
to the chin. This is achieved by filling in the jawline
between the chin and the back of the jaw, slightly widening
the anterior jawline making the overall look more balanced.
In addition to jawline width, chin and jawline height can
also be lengthened by having a 'wrap-around' implant that
extends lower than the existing edge of the bone. Prior to
these type of implants, only cutting the bone or bone
grafting could have achieved this look. This increases the
height of the lower third of the face, a very
male-enhancing effect.

New implant options also exist for bolder cheekbones and
more square jaw angles. Small cheekbones generally are not
as obvious as a smaller chin but the effect on the
appearance of the face is just as real. Small cheek bones
create a flatter facial appearance or even a longer thin
face look. Several styles of cheek implants exist to fill
out different areas of the midface, from creating higher
cheekbones to improving that sunken cheek look. Cheek
implants are placed through an incision in the mouth so
there is no scarring. A more square and well-defined jaw
angle is a very masculinizing look and can only be created
with implants. Jaw angle implants can eitehr widen the back
of the jaw, make it more longer and more square, or both.
Like cheek implants they are placed inside the mouth so
scarring is never any issue.

It would not be uncommon to perform several areas of facial
enhancement in the male to get the overall look that they
want. Since an appreciation of facial shape and how the
different areas can be changed and how they would look from
implants mandates that computer-imaging be used. I find it
usually takes at least two consultations to thoroughly
cover all the options and make sure the patient has
complete understanding of the facial look that they desire.


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Dr Barry Eppley runs a private plastic surgery practice
through his hospital-based medspa locations at Clarian
Health in Indianapolis. To learn more about the latest
trends in plastic surgery, spa therapies, or skin care, go
to his daily blog, http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .

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