Facial Slimming At A Glance
- Best Results1-2 treatments
- Treatment Recovery0 days
- Procedure Time10 min
- Skin SpecialistDermatologist, Davin Lim
- Duration of Results4 to 6+ months
- AnaestheticNil required
- Back to WorkImmediately
- Cost$$-$$$
Facial Slimming
Non-surgical facial slimming can make a tremendous aesthetic difference for patients. This gives a slimmer profile, also known as ‘V’ shaping. I employ injectables including dermal fillers, muscle relaxants as well as skin tightening procedures to reshape the lower face.
FactsFacts on Facial Slimming
- An aesthetically pleasing silhouette is a V shaped face
- This gives the impression of higher cheekbones, a slimmer & sharper jawline
- A wide face is more common in some ethnicities including Asian-Chinese
- In most cases it is due to overactive masseter muscles
- Injectables can reduce the muscle bulk & slim the face
- Dermal fillers can highlight cheekbones, define the jawline & chin area
- Ultherapy or HIFU & Radiofrequency can provide skin tightening
- Threads can also achieve lifting of the mid-face
Why Facial Slimming?
V-shaping characteristics include a slimmer & more defined jawline as well as a tapered (not sharp) chin. This gives the impression of a slimmer, more youthful & aesthetically pleasing appearance.
V shaping can be achieved with injectables, threads & skin tightening. The combination of all three gives predictable results.
Certain ethnicities have a genetic predisposition to a broader face with a less prominent chin (Asians for example). Using non-surgical techniques I am able to recreate contours to improve aesthetics.
How do I do it?
- Decrease width of the face with injectable muscle relaxants.
- Sharpen the jawline & enhance chin contours with dermal fillers.
- Tighten the lower face with HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
If your profile is suitable for slimming, simple injectables can give the desired results. Muscle relaxing injections are placed in a zone just in front of the ear into a muscle called the masseter. This powerful muscle is the culprit that gives facial bulk, a great look for males, but too strong a look for females.
The procedure itself takes only 1-2 minutes to complete, however the vast majority of my time is spent assessing & planning for the injections. Placement must be exact otherwise other important muscles may be accidentally treated. This can result in an awkward smile or worse still, drooling & problems talking.
I normally use 4-5 injection points per side. In some cases I treat another injection point in your hairline, as other muscles attach to your jawbone.
Is this procedure painful?
Facial slimming procedures are very well tolerated. I use approximately four to five injection points. This treatment takes 15 minutes to complete. I spend the majority of time planning as this is the most important part of the procedure.
Dermal fillers are virtually painless as they have a numbing effect when injected. Skin tightening devices like Tempsure or Pelleve are not painful, whilst more powerful devices such as Ultherapy & Ultraformer III may require some numbing gas during the procedure.
When will I notice the results?
Slimming takes 4-10 weeks for maximal effect. This is because muscles require time to shrink after the injections. In some cases I perform dermal fillers & skin tightening 4-6 weeks after injections to relax the masseter muscle.
Repeated injections may be required at 6 weeks if you have any imbalance. In this situation you only require ⅕ of the initial dose of injections.
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How long do the results last?
5 months to several years, depending on what injectables I use. Muscle relaxants last 4-6 months before injections require to be repeated. Dermal filler lasts 18 to 36 months.
Do you also have teeth grinding & headaches?
Prominent masseters, the muscles that give you a broad face, can also be responsible for a condition called bruxism. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, teeth grinding as well as wearing out the dentition of your back teeth.
Simple muscle relaxing injections coupled with a dental splint can reduce the symptoms of bruxism. In some cases another muscle group contributes to the action of the masseters. Occasionally I also treat the temporalis muscle located in the frontal hairline. Simple dental splints can be purchased online.
What is HIFU or Ultherapy & how can it help with facial shaping?
V shaping is a basic procedure in younger patients (age 18 to 26+). Slimming of the face with good skin tone will result in a slimmer profile, especially if combined with dermal fillers- where appropriate.
Facial slimming in more mature patients (over age 28 to 35), is more involved as we have to consider skin laxity. If the elastic recoil of skin is not optimal, shrinking the sides of the face can lead to more laxity & even jowling. This is because excess skin does not contract as much as we hope for.
Slimming in the more mature age group should ideally be followed up with skin tightening procedures of the jawline & lower face. My device of choice is either HIFU or Ultherapy (high intensity focused ultrasound), or Ultraformer III. I also use RF devices & RFM to contract collagen.
Why are dermal fillers used for reshaping the face?
Dermal fillers can create length, highlight cheekbones, project the chin & cheeks, as well as provide traction & contertraction. This results in reshaping of key facial features such as the cheekbone.
Fillers in the chin area can project the chin forward but importantly give length. This results in a ‘V’ shape.
The jawline area is frequently overlooked. Fillers can provide better definition of the jawbone thereby improving facial aesthetics– especially on profile or obliquely.
Can threads help with facial shaping?
Threads including PDO monofilament & suspension threads have the potential to lift & define. Ideally patients should have mild to moderate skin laxity. I often combine threads with HIFU & other collagen stimulating devices.
I use a variety of threads, depending on the area & severity of laxity.
What other options are available for facial slimming, contouring & shaping?
Options really depend on your facial shape. As a guide I perform the following procedures to augment & enhance your profile & shape-
- Neck liposuction & contouring
- RF + RFM lower face
- Muscle relaxants to lower face (neck bands)
What is the cost of facial contouring or V shaping?
Cost depends on how much material I use, namely the amount of injectables. As a guide-
- Muscle relaxants cost between $790 to $1190
- Dermal fillers cost between $1190 to $2790
- HIFU or Skin Tightening starts at $990
- Threads start at $990
- Chin & neck liposuction $3490 to $4990
I will give you an accurate quote at the time of consultation. Some cases are straight forward (anti wrinkle injections only), whilst older patients may require more skin tightening & jawline filler work.
Do face masks help slim the face?
No. Facial masks can be a relaxing treat. They can provide hydration to the skin & offer an excellent feel good sensation. They do not tighten muscles & they can not re-volumize the skin.
Face masks can be useful for increasing the absorption of certain nutrients, including retinol, niacinamide, antioxidants & ascorbic acid. For effective facial shaping, procedures are required.
Can microneedling help with facial contouring & shaping?
Microneedling is a good treatment for improving skin texture. It can improve fine wrinkles, enlarged pores as well as mild acne scars. Microneedling does not provide any demonstrable correction for volumetric changes associated with age.
For reproducible outcomes, injectables & energy devices such as HIFU can reshape, lift, tighten & contour.
Davin’s Viewpoint on Facial Slimming
Facial slimming with injectables & energy devices can enhance your profile & aesthetics.
As a guide, for females we ideally want a soft tapered ‘V shape contour. In the majority of times this can be achieved with non-surgical slimming using muscle relaxing injections. The strategic use of dermal fillers (where appropriate), can highlight the cheekbones & provide a nice transition from the jawline to the chin.
In patients close to 30 or over, facial slimming should always be conducted in parallel with skin tightening as slimming can result in increased laxity. My go to device is known as microfocused ultrasound or high intensity focused ultrasound. This machine tightens the deeper layers of skin, whilst preserving the upper layer.
