Table of Contents
Introduction
A V-shaped face is a key element of facial attractiveness. It denotes a high cheekbones, plump cheeks with a well-defined jawline and sharp defined chin which is regarded as the “Triangle of Youth”. The base of this triangle is the cheeks, while the point is at the chin. Many Asian deemed the V-shaped face as the most desirable face shape reflecting youth, feminism and elegance.
- The “Golden Ratio” helps us to understand and decipher beauty.
- A visually balanced face is approximately 1.618 times longer than its width.
- The distance from the top of the nose to the center of the lips should be around 1.618 times the distance from the center of the lips to the chin.
- The model ratio of volume in the lips is 1:618 (the lower lip having slightly more volume than the upper lip).
- The “Rule of Thirds” principle also states that in most attractive faces, the forehead height should be one third of the total height of the face and approximately equal in height to the mid and lower face.
Anatomy Of The Face
A youthful face has a good quality skin, muscle and ligament maintaining its tone and well supported facial fat. There are about 9 main types of face shapes and each with its distinctive characteristics. Due to the natural physiognomy, genetics and bone structure, some individuals’ facial structures tend to be either square, round, pear, oblong, oval, rectangle, triangle, diamond or heart shape.
Predominant genetic influences have been reported to influence the anterior face height, relative prominence of the maxilla and mandible, width of the face/nose, nasal root shape, naso-labial angle, allometry and centroid size. The human face has an array of variable physical features that makes each of us unique and distinguishable.
Factors Influencing Face Shape
Aging and loss of skin laxity are responsible for changing the face shape which often invert the “triangle of youth”. As we age, the face shape becomes more square with bulging of buccal fat pad and facial jowling as a result of our fat pad losing its support. The sagginess will diminish the desirable V-shaped facial features such as the chin and jawline. Water retention or weight gain can also change a V-shaped face to a more round and less defined face eg., puffy cheeks, double chin and upper neck widening.
Other factors that affect the face shape over time include insufficient sleep, stress, medication, illness and bruxism (excessive teeth grinding). Bruxism can alter the contour and shape of the lower face, giving it a squarer and wider appearance, which may appear more masculine. Smoking or over exposure to the sun, may also affect the skin and face shape.
Any of the above elements, may alter the facial shape away from the desired V-shaped face. Based on facial structure, angles and proportion, there are different treatment options to achieve a V-shaped face. Achieving a defined jawline, small jaw muscles, slim cheekbones and sharper chin, there are a variety of non-surgical or surgical treatments to choose.
Who is an ideal candidate for a V-shaped face? Well, any individual who desires a more youthful look with clearly defined facial features can undergo our facial contouring procedures.
Non-Surgical V-Shaped Face Treatments
Dermal Fillers
These are non-surgical cosmetic procedures consisting of gel-like substances made of hyaluronic acid, commonly used for restoring volume loss and facial sculpting. To slim the jawline and change the profile of the face, dermal fillers can be injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume and enhance jaw contours. It helps to increase chin projection and length, hence achieving a more defined profile matching those of a V-shaped face. Dermal fillers also minimize the hollowing of the cheeks (caused by aging), hence producing the plump cheek appearance.
Botox
Jaw botox can help those with square-shaped or bulky jawline, to achieve a V-shaped face. Botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox) can be injected to slim the jaw and it relaxes the jaw muscles (masseter) by blocking the signals between the nerves and muscles. When the jaw muscles are relaxed, muscle size is also reduced, hence creating that V-shaped face. This procedure is simple, non-invasive and designed to correct overdeveloped masseter or jaw muscles that can detract from your overall appearance. Jaw reduction treatment requires standard dosage of 2-5 injection points in each masseter muscle.
Thread Lifts
With the advancement in aesthetic medicine, you can achieve a V-shaped face without invasive surgery. Face thread lift is a minimal invasive procedure, a good alternative to a face lift surgery. This procedure requires a trained doctor to insert 100% biocompatible and bioabsorbable threads into your face under the skin. These threads act as scaffolding to lift and tighten the sagging skin which gives us a sharper face contour and more youthful appearance. The advantage of this procedure is the immediate effect of a more defined V-shaped face, higher cheekbones, defined jawline and a general softness of the face.
Ultherapy
Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved non-invasive procedure that lifts the neck, chin, brow. Microfocused ultrasound energy is delivered precisely to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) layer where it is scientifically proven to stimulate new collagen growth. This procedure usually takes around 45-60 minutes to complete and does not cause much pain. However, some patients may feel mild discomfort, but this usually dissipates quickly. You can expect to resume your routine without any downtime or period for recuperation.
At Kaiteki clinic, we pride ourselves with personalized and tailored treatment plans based on each individual needs and desired outcome. Most of the V-shaped treatment procedure takes between 30 – 60 minutes, depending on the amount of treatments. A local anesthetic (numbing cream) can be applied prior to the treatment if clients experience minor discomfort.
Surgical V-Shaped Face Treatments
Facelift Surgery
To achieve the desired aesthetic V-shaped face, a popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedure is jawline reduction surgery also known as mandibuloplasty. The angle of jaw, the lower border or the chin are the most frequently reshaped areas.
Recovery And Aftercare
What about aftercare? Aftercare treatment will vary depending on your initial skin condition and the treatment received. Some clients might be confused between side effects and temporary reactions, so it is important to be briefed by your physician prior to each procedure.
The majority of temporary reactions are redness, swelling, bruising and tenderness after the injection. These usually subside a few days after the treatment. Cold compress may be used after the treatment to reduce swelling and decrease soreness. Your doctor will create an aftercare plan that enables you to heal quickly with minimal discomfort. Always discuss with your physicians on any possible side effects and contraindications for each treatment. You will usually need to return to the clinic in 2 weeks to check if some touch-up is necessary, especially for V-shaped face botox.
To sustain the V-shaped look over a longer period of time, physicians may recommend a combination of treatments to target different structures of the skin eg., combining botox injections over the jaw muscles and chin fillers. These quick and safe procedures are relatively painless and are designed to contour the face giving it a slimmer and smoother look. Recovery time is fast, so you are not required to take extended breaks from work, study or other responsibilities. You can continue your usual skincare routine even after these procedures.
Potential Risks & Side Effects
While injectables are minimally invasive, there are few important notes to keep in mind pre and post injection. Downtime for these procedures are quite minimal, you might experience some swelling, redness and bruising but most people can go back to normal routine right away.
Pre injection notes:
- Stop aspirin or any form of blood thinners a week before and after the procedure
- Avoid supplements such as fish oil, omega 3, vitamin E, Gingko, ginseng
- Refrain from alcohol consumption
- When in doubt → come to Kaiteki to seek answers directly.
Post injection notes:
- Avoid massaging the treated area
- Refrain from strenuous exercises, sauna or alcohol
- Ice pack or Arnica gel helps in case of bruising.
Contact your doctor immediately if you develop any symptoms such as fever, blanching of injected areas, and increasing pain. If you are unhappy with the way filler looks, don’t panic! The fun fact is that hyaluronic acid fillers can be adjusted or dissolved with enzymes that can be injected over the area.
Risks associated with getting Botox during jaw slimming procedure include unnatural facial expression such as a reduction in mouth width upon smiling. This is usually resulted from inadvertent injection into the risorius muscle. Always consult with your doctor if you have any enquiry.
Before-And-After Transformation
1cc Juverderm Voluma chin filler
Summary: Embracing Your V-Shaped Beauty
With so many fake beautician offering injectable services at saloons, spas and even hotel rooms, and so many botched jobs, it is of utmost importance to receive your treatment from someone with proper credentials and well-trained. Don’t rush or be blinded by superdeals advertisements.
In order for us to find the right treatment to help you change from a square shaped face to a V-shape, we need to understand your expectations, as well as your physiology and bone structure. Feel free to drop by Kaiteki clinic for a free consultation to have a better understanding of your face shape!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
There are few ways to help you get a V-shaped face naturally. Facial yoga incorporates facial exercises to train the muscles around your face. By flexing and stretching these muscles, you can remove wrinkles, baggy eyes and sagging skin which is like a natural facelift.
There are a number of face lifting creams that work by reducing water retention and swelling, as well as firming the muscles. Another thing to try is facial slimming massage or you can purchase your own facial massage that sculpt the face and get rid of water retention. This is done by draining the lymph nodes around your face to include firmer skin, toned facial muscles and a brighter complexion.
For any of the V-shape face treatments outlined here, the results are not permanent. The longevity of dermal filler results depends on the products used, volume injected and also treatment areas. Botulinum toxin results, on the other hand, can be seen in 1-2 weeks, and can last between 4-6 months, depending on the individual’s capabilities to metabolize this toxin. This is just a temporary effect and therefore, no worries about any disfiguration.
While botox injection and many dermal fillers generally offer results that last less than a year, thread lift stands out for their long-lasting results. Thread lift results vary among patients, but often last 18 months or more. Natural, noticeable results from energy-based devices like Ultherapy can be seen within 2-3 months which can last up to 1 year.
Recovery after V-line surgery often takes several weeks. Your face will feel swollen at first. Feeling some pain and discomfort is common. You will need a compression garment to wear around your chin, jaw and neck to ensure your incisions heal correctly.
Serious allergic reactions are rare, but some people do develop allergic symptoms like itchy rashes, hives, difficulty breathing; or swelling of the face, tongue, and throat. Any suspected allergic reactions should be reported immediately to a medical professional.
