Face Shape Matters
Ever shop for sunglasses based on your face shape? How about choosing a hairstyle? When thinking about dermal fillers, face shape is just as important, maybe more.
Facial Assessment For Dermal Fillers
Evaluating face shape is an essential step in planning a dermal filler treatment to achieve natural beautiful results. Different face shapes require different treatment strategies and areas of focus. To find out your best dermal filler application areas, read more.
Face Shapes
Dermal Fillers and the Heart Face
The heart-shaped face has a prominent cheek area with narrowing in the lower face and chin. With age, the face loses support and becomes thinner resulting in an angular appearance. Heart-shaped faces benefit from the softening effects of dermal fillers.
Treatment Strategy
Treatment should focus on the lower third of the face, restoring volume to the tissue below the cheeks to help soften the angular appearance. Dermal filler can also be strategically placed in the chin and along the jawline to create a more oval shape. If needed, a small amount of dermal filler can be added to the apples of the cheeks to soften the nasolabial folds.
Dermal Fillers and the Oval Face
Those fortunate to be born with an oval face have excellent facial proportions and symmetry: a wider midface (cheek area), with a gradual taper to the chin. However, the oval face shape may begin showing aging earlier in the area under the eyes.
Treatment strategy for the oval shape
The midface should be the focal point of treatment. Adding support and restoring tissue volume with dermal filler placed along the cheekbones improves the shape of the cheek and light reflection. Treating this area indirectly supports multiple areas of the face including the under-eyes, the nasolabial folds, and the jawline. A small amount of filler may also be placed along the jawline and chin to decrease the appearance of jowls and improve the jawline contour.
Dermal Fillers and the Angular Face
A prominent jawline defines the angular/triangular face shape. This face shape has a strong structure in the lower third of the face. Luckily, this face shape takes longer to show aging. However, when it does, slackness and sagging skin become apparent along the jawline, neck, and under the eyes.
Treatment Strategy
When rejuvenating the angular shape, the focus should be harmonizing the lower half of the face with the upper half. The mid-face is the focus, with filler placed in the cheeks both under the eyes and laterally along the cheekbone. Typically only a small amount of filler is needed in the lower face to decrease the appearance of jowls. Neuromodulators (i.e., Botox, Dysport) can help thin the lower face if the masseter muscles are large (frequently seen in people who grind their teeth at night). When Botox is injected into the masseter muscle, the muscle will decrease in size, resulting in a narrower lower third of the face and improving overall facial balance.
Dermal Fillers and the Round Face
This face shape has full cheeks and a rounded jawline. The vertical distance from the lower lip to the chin is shorter than the other shapes.
Treatment Strategy
The treatment goal is to improve the vertical proportion of the face by giving the lower third structure and support. This can be achieved by dermal filler treatment in the chin to improve projection and vertical height.
In Conclusion
Good facial harmony is what makes a face pleasing to the eyes. It does not mean perfect symmetry but rather a balanced proportion of the vertical thirds and horizontal fifths. Due to the natural aging process, facial harmony becomes interrupted because of decreased tissue support, bone mass, and deep fat pad volume. The study, assessment, and adherence to the natural laws regarding face shape create dermal filler results that are naturally you and naturally beautiful.
Not sure what you need? Book a consultation with Dr. Brigham to get a personalized plan of care to look and feel your best.
Site Reference
Indian J Plast Surg. 2020 August; 53(2): 230-243.
