Interest in jawline contouring, a technique that reshapes the mandibular line with hyaluronic acid injections, continues to grow. Driven by an increasingly codified aesthetic — particularly on social media — this medical procedure attracts a diverse population: men and women, young adults or older patients, all seeking a more structured, defined face without resorting to surgery. But at what stage of life can this intervention be reasonably, effectively, and medically considered? Is there a minimum age? And are the motivations the same across generations ?
From a strictly legal and ethical standpoint, hyaluronic acid injections are not performed before the age of 18, except in exceptional medical cases (post-traumatic reconstruction, congenital pathology). Outside of these rare situations, any aesthetic treatment must be reserved for a legally adult and fully consenting patient.
However, chronological age alone is not sufficient to determine the appropriateness of a treatment. What matters in medicine is the indication. And the indication is based on the morphological analysis of the face, the degree of bone maturity, skin quality, and above all, the nature of the request. Thus, a 22-year-old patient with a receding chin or a poorly defined jawline may, in certain cases, benefit from moderate jawline contouring to harmonize the face. Conversely, a patient of the same age motivated by a trend or idealized image, without any real anomaly, should not receive injections.
The role of the doctor is therefore to rigorously evaluate the legitimacy of the request and to distinguish between an objectively identifiable facial imbalance and a temporary social influence or unrealistic expectation. Jawline contouring is a serious, technical procedure and should not be considered trivial, even though it is not a surgical intervention.
Among young adults — particularly between 20 and 30 years old — requests for jawline injections are often motivated by a desire for increased facial definition. The goal is not to restore lost structure, as in older patients, but to enhance an existing line or compensate for underdeveloped bone structure. Most often, this is purely an aesthetic choice, sometimes inspired by public figures with very defined features.
This request is not illegitimate in itself, but it must be approached with caution. At this age, the face is still undergoing physiological stabilization: metabolism is fast, the skin is firm, and self-perception is constantly evolving. In this context, it is essential to respect the natural dynamics of the face. Injections should be light, reversible, progressive, and performed with preservation in mind, rather than radical transformation.
Moreover, the indication can only be determined after a thorough clinical examination, including analysis of the chin, mandibular angles, underlying bone structure, and dental occlusion. Injecting a jawline in a young patient without considering a possible mandibular disorder or retrognathia would be a mistake. Even in the absence of pathology, the doctor has the responsibility to make a complete diagnosis before performing any technical procedure.
In patients over 35, the concern evolves. It is no longer solely about defining a line, but often about compensating for natural structural loss related to bone resorption, fat atrophy, and skin laxity. Jawline contouring then has a corrective function, aiming to restore the continuity of the facial oval, enhance lost angles, and recreate support in the lower third of the face.
In this age group, the indication is more frequent, sometimes combined with other procedures such as chin treatment, double chin cryolipolysis, or collagen-inducing injections. The amount of product injected is greater and distributed across multiple bony anchoring points. In this context, the patient is not seeking to transform the face, but to preserve it in a coherent and toned version of themselves.
This distinction is essential: a mandibular line injected at 40 years old does not follow the same logic as one injected at 23. The products used — denser or less dense, offering more or less projection — vary according to age, tissue quality, and therapeutic objectives.
There is no universal “ideal age” to consider jawline contouring with hyaluronic acid. The right time is when :
For some, this indication may appear as early as their twenties, as part of a harmonization approach. For others, it arises more often after 35 or 40, with a focus on structural support. In all cases, the indication must result from a thorough dialogue with the doctor, not from an impulse or a trend.
It is this clinical perspective, combined with attentive listening, that allows for a measured, natural, and fully justified treatment. Redefining a jawline is not just about injecting a product: it is about placing volume within a living, evolving, and unique facial architecture.
There is no strict maximum age beyond which hyaluronic acid injections for the jawline are formally discouraged. However, from a certain age — generally beyond 65 — anatomical conditions change significantly, which can make jawline contouring less relevant.
The first limiting factor is natural age-related bone resorption. Over time, the mandibular bone slightly retracts, leading to loss of the mandibular angle, chin recession, and overall sagging of the lower face. Performing injections when bone support is weakened requires great precision and, sometimes, larger volumes to compensate for this deficit — which increases the risk of an unnatural result if the procedure is not perfectly mastered.
The second factor is loss of skin elasticity. Beyond a certain age, the skin no longer follows tissue expansions related to injected volumes. The risk then is adding weight to already sagging tissues, which can worsen rather than correct the issue. For these patients, treatments with collagen inducers (such as radiofrequency, laser photorejuvenation, or Sculptra) are often preferable.
Finally, the psychological profile of senior patients must also be considered. Some have a legitimate desire to firm the lower third of the face without seeking a visible transformation. Others may have unrealistic expectations, fueled by idealized images inappropriate for their age. In these cases, the doctor’s role is to reshape the aesthetic plan appropriately to avoid disappointment or inappropriate procedures.
Jawline contouring after 65 can be performed, but it must be part of a comprehensive, cautious approach, often combined with other treatments. Injecting the mandibular line without addressing neck laxity, jowl ptosis, or midface volume loss can disrupt facial harmony. The right procedure, at the right time, with the right goal: this triad ensures a relevant aesthetic result at any age.
The scientific literature on jawline contouring in young adults is still limited, but several recent publications provide interesting insights into feasibility, motivations, and observed results.
From an anatomical perspective, it is generally accepted that complete mandibular development is reached around 20 to 22 years of age. From this point, the bone structure is sufficiently stabilized to allow injections without interfering with growth. However, in some patients — particularly men — later facial maturation can occur, highlighting the importance of a personalized clinical assessment that goes beyond chronological age.
Regarding indications, several studies show that requests for mandibular line injections in young adults are most often for aesthetic purposes rather than correction of deficits or sagging. The goal is to strengthen the structure of the lower third of the face, especially in profile, to create a sharper contrast between the jaw, neck, and cheek.
Publications also emphasize the need for careful supervision. An article published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2022) points out that early injections, if poorly indicated or executed, can alter facial balance in the long term. A poorly placed product can migrate, create inappropriate volume, or affect the dynamics of the smile. Structural hyaluronic acid use should therefore be rational, reversible, and employed sparingly.
The literature also warns against aesthetic standardization, which suggests that all faces would benefit from a more pronounced jaw. The mandible plays an essential role in facial harmony: emphasizing it without considering the forehead, nose, chin, or dental occlusion can disrupt the natural architecture.
In summary, jawline contouring in patients under 30 is possible, but it must be based on a relevant medical indication, not an artificial aesthetic ideal often dictated by digital filters or unrealistic models.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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