Chin up: plastic surgery for the chin is on the rise

Constantly bending your head to check your smartphone can make your jawline saggy — but help is at hand
Chin Up - Main Beauty
Leah Hardy26 April 2012

A new survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has revealed that chin implants, or “chinplants”, are the fastest growing cosmetic surgery trend. Why? Because US surgeons say that people are increasingly appalled by the reflection of their sagging jawlines as they stare down into their gadgets, smartphones and laptops, especially when Skyping or video-conferencing.

ASPS president Dr Malcolm Roth says: “The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of ageing. As more people see themselves on video chat technology, they may notice that their jawline is not as sharp as they want.”

London doctors are also reporting increasing numbers of men and women bothered by saggy jowls, double chins and “marionette lines” — the creases from the corners of the mouth down the chin.

This ageing look has been dubbed “smartphone face” and, says Dr Mervyn Patterson of Woodfordmedical.com, may be the result of our addiction to technology. “If you sit for hours with your head bent slightly forward, staring at your iPhone or laptop screen, you may shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jowl area, leading to a drooping jawline,” he explains. Other causes include a naturally short, weak chin, weight fluctuations and even exercise and diet. “People who jog and diet lose volume from their faces and their skin can become saggy and loose, especially around the chin area,” says Dr Nick Lowe of the Cranley Clinic.

Fortunately, you don’t have to have an implant to solve this problem. And now Londoners are queuing up for the latest skin tightening cosmetic technologies and treatments. Say hello to the “chintervention”.

The Chinjection

Consultant plastic surgeon Rajiv Grover resculpts chins with Restylane SubQ or Juvederm Voluma. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and requires the application of a local anaesthetic cream before the injection of filler deep under the muscle — preferably with a cannula as this almost eliminates any of the bruising that can result from injecting with a needle. There will be swelling for about two days, after which the treatment lasts for up to two years. This, says Grover, “allows the patient to have a tailor-made treatment each time as the face changes with age”. Weak chins instantly become chiselled and a rebalanced profile can even make a long nose look smaller (from £600, rajivgrover.com).

Patterson adds: “Small amounts of filler in front of and behind the sagging jowl just under the jawline straighten out the droop and give the jawline a straighter look.”

The Nefertiti Lift

“Strong muscles in the neck can pull on the jaw, causing sagging,” says Patterson. “The Nefertiti Lift (£350) softens the pull using injection of Botox. This sharpens the edge of the jaw and makes the neck look more tucked up under the jawline.”

Skin Tight

For jawline skin sag, there is a new generation of skin tighteners. Nick Lowe (drlowe.com) favours Thermage radiofrequency treatment (£3,000) and the new hot needle technique, Intracel, which passes radiofrequency heat into the deep layers of the skin via hair-fine needles (£800). “Both require very little downtime, which works for my busy London patients, especially as the recession means taking time off work is a no-no,” he says.

For a step up, cosmetic surgeon Angelica Kavouni (cosmetic-solutions.co.uk) offers radiofrequency skin tightening and resurfacing in one with Fractora (£950), which requires up to five days recovery time. Ulthera (from £2,000) with Dr Rita Rakus (ulthera.com) is a new ultrasound skin-tightener that can work on the deep muscle layer. Studies show a measurable result three months later but it is said to be very painful.

Double trouble

Vaser lipo (£2,600) can whisk away pesky double-chin fat, while the laser tightens skin. Performed under sedation, results can be akin to a facelift. Dr Mike Comins (theprivateclinic.co.uk) says: “Results are instant but improve with time. But you do have to wear a compression bandage around the head for up to 24 hours afterwards.”

The pain-free lift

Not crazy about needles, scalpels or pain? For a special occasion, or that vital Skype conference, a facial (£115) with Debbie Thomas (harissalon.com) is a great way to get a Keira Knightley jawline, thanks to her de-puffing use of radiofrequency waves. Or try Paolo Lai’s transformative, facelifting facial massage at Neville Hair and Beauty (£120, neville-hairandbeauty.net)

For the ultimate in DIY, the PY Neckline Trainer (paulyounane.com) is a home gym for your jawline, owned by nearly two million Americans. Used for two minutes a day, it promises to tone and lift the neck and chin area, and at under £30, it’s a lot cheaper than a chinplant.

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