by Abraham Gómez, M.D
When I consider the face and what constitutes a youthful and attractive look, many things come to mind. A youthful brow contour, full cheeks, smooth skin and, of course, a well-define jawline are some key characteristics of a youthful face. Of these, a sharp jawline contour is perhaps the most influential for producing a younger, and more appealing profile. So, what makes a well-defined jawline so attractive?
Characteristics of an attractive jawline
In youth, a tight, well defined jawline is present. The key to making a jawline contour stand out is a combination of factors that work together to define where the face ends and the neck begins. These factors include the ligaments that stabilize the fat pockets of the face, normal skin elasticity, and sufficient cheek volume. The most important of these is the tone of the ligaments of the face that create an anatomical framework where skin and fat is added like paint on a canvas.
The problem arises when these ligaments lose their tone, and therefore, allow the fat compartments to sag under their weight. When this happens, the fat that belongs in the cheek descends, and in turn, occupies the upper neck. This erases the attractive jawline contour of youth. Another factor that contributes to the aging of the jawline is loss in skin elasticity. The effect is jowling, where skin sags and hides the beautiful jawline that characterizes young faces.
How to treat jowls
There are a few options for reducing jowls in men and women. It is important to consider that in order to get long-lasting results, surgery is the best option. It is true that facial fillers can help to define the jawline in younger patients with little skin laxity and fat descent. However, most people with significant jowling will only achieve a good result with a surgical procedures that lifts the descended fat and tightens the ligaments and skin. This is accomplished with an operation called facelift. Liposuction of excess jowl fat is added to the facelift procedure to ensure that the jawline is elegantly defined above the neck.
A facelift is an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia. Some surgeons may want to keep their patient in hospital overnight. The recovery time of this operation is about three weeks, although some patients may experience swelling for up to two months.
Skin resurfacing procedures, such as laser or chemical peels are also necessary for improving skin appearance and restoring elasticity. These can be added to a facelift operation but will prolong the recovery time.
Facelift surgery in Costa Rica
A facelift may be performed by a oculofacial plastic surgeon in a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility. Costa Rica boasts facilities that meet international standards as well as highly trained professionals.
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