Jawline Injections: Which Method Suits You?

In brief: Jawline injections mean defining the jawline with hyaluronic acid filler, lifting it with threads or relaxing the masseter muscle with botulinum toxin. A filler treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes, works immediately and usually lasts 5 to 8 months. Botulinum toxin takes effect after 2 to 3 days and lasts 4 to 6 months. The treatment suits a mild loss of contour without noticeable excess skin.

A clear jawline gives the lower face structure. It separates face and neck and makes the profile look orderly. With age, genetics or a strong chewing muscle, this line loses its sharpness for many people. In many cases an injection treatment can define it again, without an incision and with little downtime. Which method suits you depends on your starting point. You can find an overview of all injection treatments in Frankfurt on our treatment page.

What is a jawline?

The jawline is the lower contour of the face. It runs from the chin along the edge of the lower jaw to the angle of the jaw below the ear and forms the border between face and neck. When this border is clearly defined, the face looks structured in profile. When it blurs, the lower third of the face looks softer and often older.

How prominent your jawline is depends on several factors: the bone structure of jaw and chin, the strength of the masseter muscle, fat pads on chin and neck, and the elasticity of the skin. That is why there is no single treatment for everyone. If you want a more defined jawline, the first step is an analysis of which of these factors matters most in your case.

Jawline, chin line and jawlining

In medical terms the jawline is the lower border of the mandible. Through social media the word has come to mean a clearly visible, well defined contour. Jawlining accordingly describes the targeted definition of this line, usually with injections.

Chin and jawline: why they belong together

The jawline starts at the chin. If the chin sits slightly back in profile, the line lacks its front anchor point. The contour from the ear forward then runs out flat and the transition to the neck looks soft, even when skin and tissue are still firm. In every jawline treatment we therefore look at chin and jawline together.

For chin filler, hyaluronic acid is placed at the tip of the chin or along its lower edge. When chin and lateral contour are shaped together, this is often called chin line filler. The aim is to adjust the chin in length or projection so that it is in balance with nose and lips in profile. How the nose can be blended into the profile without surgery is explained in our article on non-surgical rhinoplasty.

Filler in the chin can make the chin line look firmer and the jawline clearer, because the chin area comes forward slightly and the skin below gains tension. If that is not enough, the edge of the lower jaw is contoured as well. How much product is useful where depends on your bone structure, the thickness of your skin and the proportions of chin, cheeks and neck.

What is a receding chin?

A chin is called receding when it sits behind the line of lips and forehead in profile. The jawline then looks shorter and the transition to the neck softer. In many cases hyaluronic acid filler can bring the chin forward without surgery: the gel is placed at the tip of the chin and lengthens the contour. The result is visible immediately, the final shape shows after about a week once the swelling has settled. It usually lasts 5 to 8 months. If the chin is set back very strongly, surgical chin correction is also an option.

Jawlining: the methods at a glance

What is a jawline treatment? It covers procedures that define or lift the jawline without surgery. They address different causes and can be used alone or in combination.

Jawline filler with hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance the body produces itself. For the jawline we use a highly cross-linked filler, a firm gel that holds its shape well. The filler is placed along the edge of the lower jaw and at the jaw angle. It adds volume where the contour has flattened, smooths small dents and can define the angle of the jaw more clearly.

The new shape is visible right after the treatment, although slight swelling may mask it at first. The body gradually breaks hyaluronic acid down, so the result is not permanent. If necessary, hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved again with an enzyme called hyaluronidase.

Thread lift: tightening the chin line

In a thread lift, fine dissolvable threads made of polydioxanone, PDO threads for short, are placed under the skin. They lift slightly sagging tissue along the chin line. The threads themselves dissolve after a few months, and during that time the surrounding tissue builds new collagen. The method suits skin that is starting to loosen while volume is still sufficient, for example with early jowls.

Botulinum toxin for the jawline: the masseter muscle

A very strong masseter muscle can make the lower face look wide and square. This is common in people who grind their teeth at night or clench during the day, medically called bruxism. Relaxing the muscle with botulinum toxin makes the jawline look slimmer. The effect starts after 2 to 3 days and is fully visible after about 14 days. How the treatment works and what it means for your teeth is explained in our article on botulinum toxin for teeth grinding.

Botulinum toxin for the jawline: the neck muscle

We also use botulinum toxin in the flat neck muscle, the platysma. Its fibres reach over the edge of the lower jaw and pull the skin downward there. When the muscle is relaxed at several points along the jaw and on the neck, this pull eases. The jawline then looks clearer, especially where face and neck meet. This treatment is also known as the Nefertiti lift and combines well with chin filler or botulinum toxin in the masseter.

Jawline treatment: the procedure

Analysis before jawlining

Before every treatment we look at chin, jawline, masseter and neck together, in profile and from the front, at rest and while clenching. We discuss what you would like and decide which method or combination suits your face. You will be treated by a physician from our practice.

Preparing for jawline injections

To keep bruising to a minimum, avoid blood thinning painkillers such as aspirin for a few days beforehand after consulting us, and avoid alcohol the day before. Never stop prescribed blood thinners on your own; mention them in your consultation instead. Plan the treatment about two weeks before important events so that any swelling has settled.

The treatment

The skin is disinfected and the injection points are marked. Before a filler treatment a numbing cream is applied; for a thread lift the skin is numbed locally. Filler is placed along the jaw and at the chin, threads are inserted through a few small entry points. Either takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the extent. Botulinum toxin is injected into the masseter at a few points; the treatment itself takes about 15 minutes, around 30 minutes including preparation.

After jawline injections

After filler or threads, mild swelling, redness and small bruises may occur. They usually settle within 1 to 3 days. After botulinum toxin in the masseter, swelling is visible on the day of treatment at most. To let the tissue settle well after filler, these rules apply:

• no sport for 24 to 48 hours
• no pressure on the treated areas, for example from tight clothing or sleeping on your side
• no make-up on the day of treatment
• no sauna, solarium or intense sun for 3 to 5 days
• no dental treatment and no facial massage in the first week

Who are jawline injections suitable for?

Injections are an option if the contour has softened, the chin or jaw angle lacks some volume, the chin sits back in profile or a strong masseter makes the face look wide. Early jowls can often be smoothed as well. If there is noticeable excess skin, a surgical lift is the better solution.

We do not treat anyone under 18, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If there is acute inflammation or infection in the treatment area, we wait until it has healed. With clotting disorders, certain autoimmune diseases or a tendency to excessive scarring, we decide case by case whether and how to treat.

Jowls

Jowls are small pads of tissue that form beside the chin and interrupt the jawline. With mild jowls, filler in front of and behind the pad can close the line again; with early sagging, threads are suitable. Once the skin has clearly loosened, injections are no longer the right solution. Where the line between the two approaches lies is explained in our article facelift or liquid facelift.

Jawline for women

For women the goal is usually a softly defined contour that makes the face look slimmer. A wide jaw angle caused by a strong masseter can be softened with botulinum toxin. Filler is placed so that the line looks clear without becoming angular.

Jawline for men

Many men want a sharper, more angular jaw. Filler for a male jawline is therefore planned differently than for women: jaw angle and chin are emphasised so that the contour looks stronger and the line between face and neck clearer.

The beard often plays a role. A clearly defined jawline gives it a clean edge so that it looks groomed and even. That is why we plan the contour to match your beard style. If the masseter is very strong, botulinum toxin can be useful as well.

In men, too, hyaluronic acid filler at chin and jawline usually lasts 5 to 8 months. How much product is needed depends on how pronounced the contour should be and how defined chin and jaw angle already are. If the chin sits back in profile, it can often be brought forward in the same session so that profile and jawline match. You can find an overview of further aesthetic treatments for men in Frankfurt on our treatment page.

How long do jawline injections last?

That depends on the method. Hyaluronic acid filler at chin and jawline usually lasts 5 to 8 months and is topped up at that interval. With PDO threads the lifting effect usually lasts 12 to 18 months, even though the threads themselves dissolve earlier. Botulinum toxin in the masseter usually lasts 4 to 6 months and is repeated at that interval. How long your result lasts depends on your metabolism, your muscle activity and the amount of product, among other things.

From treatment to final result

After filler, the new contour is visible immediately, but in the first days together with swelling that makes it look slightly fuller. After about a week the tissue has settled and the final shape appears; the difference from day one is subtle. After botulinum toxin in the masseter nothing visible changes at first. From the second or third day the muscle loses strength, and after about 14 days the full effect is reached.

Risks and side effects of jawline injections

After hyaluronic acid filler, swelling, redness, a feeling of pressure and small bruises are common and temporary. Rarely, palpable nodules or irregularities occur, the filler can migrate, or an infection or delayed inflammatory reaction can develop. Very rarely, filler blocks a blood vessel, which needs immediate treatment. In such cases hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.

After botulinum toxin in the masseter, small areas of redness, swelling or bruising at the injection site are common. Rarely, chewing firm food may be temporarily more tiring, the two sides may look uneven, a muscle bulge may form or the mouth may feel dry. Very rarely, the smile is temporarily affected or an allergic reaction occurs. After botulinum toxin in the platysma, swallowing can very rarely be temporarily more difficult.

After threads, swelling, bruising, a feeling of tightness and small dimples at the entry points are common and usually smooth out within a few days. Rarely, an infection occurs, the threads become visible or palpable, or the contour looks uneven.

Your personal risk depends on your health, your medication and previous treatments. We clarify this before every treatment. If you notice anything after a treatment, contact the practice rather than waiting.

Jawline surgery: when an operation is the better choice

Injections can add volume, define contours and relax a muscle. They do not remove excess skin, and they do not change bone. If the skin on the neck has clearly loosened, a pronounced double chin hides the line or the chin sits back very strongly, jawline surgery usually gives a better result.

Jawline surgery can mean different procedures. We offer a neck lift, chin correction and mini liposuction of the chin. Operations such as a neck lift or chin correction take place at the Berger Klinik under general anaesthesia. Smaller procedures such as mini liposuction of the chin are performed under local anaesthesia in our practice on Goethestraße. A jawline shave, by contrast, means removing bone at the jaw angle, an oral and maxillofacial procedure that we do not offer. You can find the facial procedures we perform surgically under facial treatments in Frankfurt.

Jawline injections: what the cost depends on

The cost of jawline injections can only be estimated after your face has been analysed. The amount of product has the greatest influence: defining chin and jaw angle needs more filler than a correction of the chin alone. With botulinum toxin, the effort depends on the dose, which depends on the strength of your masseter.

It also matters whether one method is enough or several are combined, and how many sessions are needed. Durability plays a role too: since none of the methods is permanent, top-ups are part of the cost, about every 5 to 8 months for filler and every 4 to 6 months for botulinum toxin. You receive the exact breakdown once your treatment plan is set.

Jawline injections in Frankfurt

Our practice is located at Goethestraße 25 in the heart of Frankfurt, and consultations take place at our satellite location on Fressgasse. Jawline injections are an outpatient treatment; you can go home or back to work afterwards. If the analysis shows that surgery makes more sense, Dr. Julia Berkei will plan the procedure with you.

FAQ on jawline treatment

How can you get a defined jawline without treatment?

Facial exercises and chewing gum train the chewing muscles, but according to current knowledge they hardly change the jawline visibly. Body weight has more influence: with weight loss the contour often becomes clearer because less fat lies along the lower jaw. If volume is missing at the chin or jaw angle, hyaluronic acid filler can add to the contour in a targeted way.

What can be done about a receding chin?

In many cases a receding chin can be brought forward with hyaluronic acid filler, without surgery. The gel lengthens the tip of the chin and the profile looks more balanced. The result usually lasts 5 to 8 months. If the chin is set back very strongly, surgical chin correction is an option.

How long do jawline injections last?

That depends on the method. Hyaluronic acid filler at chin and jawline usually lasts 5 to 8 months; with PDO threads the lifting effect usually lasts 12 to 18 months. Botulinum toxin in the masseter usually lasts 4 to 6 months. Metabolism, muscle activity and the amount of product affect durability.

How much do jawline injections cost?

The cost depends on how much filler your jawline and chin need, whether botulinum toxin in the masseter is also useful and how often you top up. Because every face is different, we only set the amount after analysing your face.

What should I keep in mind after chin filler?

Avoid sport for the first 24 to 48 hours and sauna, solarium and intense sun for 3 to 5 days. Do not put pressure on the chin and avoid dental treatment and facial massage in the first week. Swelling usually settles within 1 to 3 days.

Filler or botulinum toxin: which suits the jawline better?

The two work differently. Filler adds volume and redraws a flat or soft contour. Botulinum toxin relaxes a strong masseter and makes a wide, square face look slimmer. If volume is missing and the muscle is strong at the same time, both are often combined.

Hyaluronic acid filler or thread lift for the chin line?

Filler replaces missing volume, threads lift slightly sagging tissue. For a soft contour without sagging, filler is usually enough. If the tissue beside the chin sags a little, threads can tighten the chin line. If both changes are present, a combination is often an option.

Injections or jawline surgery?

Injections suit mild volume loss, a soft contour or a strong masseter. They do not remove excess skin and do not change bone. With clear sagging, a pronounced double chin or a strongly receding chin, an operation such as a neck lift or chin correction usually goes further.

Conclusion: jawline injections or surgery?

A defined jawline results from the interplay of chin, jaw angle, masseter and skin. Depending on the cause, hyaluronic acid filler, threads or botulinum toxin help, alone or combined. If the skin has clearly loosened, surgery is the better solution. Which approach suits you is something we clarify in a personal consultation at our practice in Frankfurt.

Sources

German Dermatological Society et al.: S1 guideline Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy, AWMF register number 013-077, 2022. register.awmf.org

German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC): Patient protection in aesthetic surgery, minimally invasive procedures, press release of 25 September 2025. dgpraec.de

Medically reviewed by Dr. Julia Berkei, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. Last updated: October 2026.