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
Changes in muscle activity, skin quality, and natural ageing can influence the shape of the lower face, jawline definition, and the appearance of wrinkles.
Assessment begins with a personalised consultation. This allows discussion of your concerns, facial structure, and the range of suitable options that may help address wrinkles and facial contour in a safe and appropriate way.
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
- 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 cosmetic treatments, 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.
- Sharpen the jawline & enhance chin contours.
- Tighten the lower face with HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
If your profile is suitable for slimming, treatments can give the desired results. The masseter is powerful muscle is the culprit that gives facial bulk, a great look for males, but too strong a look for females.
The vast majority of my time is spent assessing & planning for the treatment. 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.
Is this procedure painful?
Facial slimming procedures are very well tolerated. 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 treatment.
Repeated treatments may be required at 6 weeks if you have any imbalance.
View our Treatment Gallery
How long do the results last?
5 months to several years, depending on the treatment used.
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 treatment 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 hydrating treatments- 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.
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
- Prescription only medication that can only be discussed in a medical consultation as per TGA guidelines 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, prices strat from $800 and go up to $4990 for surgical procedures.
I will give you an accurate quote at the time of consultation. Some cases are straight forward, whilst older patients may require more skin tightening.
For liposuction procedures in Brisbane, I refer to a qualified plastic surgeon – Dr Assad Bangash at Cutis Clinic.
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 cosmetics & 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. The strategic use of hydrating treatments (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.
