Younger patients are increasingly turning to off-label neurotoxin injections for a snatched, defined look without the overfilled appearance that fillers can sometimes create. By relaxing specific muscles, treatments like Botox Cosmetic, Xeomin, Dysport, Jeuveau and Daxxify help contour the face, with jawline sculpting being one of the most popular requests. According to CivicScience, 30 percent of U.S. adults aged 18-24 have had an injectable treatment of some sort and they’re not chasing wrinkles. “The jawline was the first area I started injecting over a decade ago to sculpt the face,” says Southlake, TX dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD. To learn more about neurotoxin facial reshaping, we spoke with expert injectors who confirm it’s now a frequent ask in their practices.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Janine Hopkins is a board-certified dermatologist based in Southlake, TX and Monroe, LA
- Dr. Elaine Kung is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
- Dr. Lee Ann Klausner is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York
- Dr. Deborah Longwill is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami
- Dr. Purvisha Patel is a board-certified dermatologist in Germantown, TN
1. Contouring the Jawline
Neurotoxin facial reshaping can slim and sculpt the jawline by targeting the masseter muscles. “A common area for neurotoxin injections is the masseter muscles, which can help create the appearance of a slimmer face. Another possibility is injecting the platysma near the chin to create a more sculpted jawline,” says New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD. This is particularly popular for creating a more heart-shaped facial appearance by reducing the bulk of these muscles.
2. Lifting the Eyebrows
Wrinkle relaxers also can elevate the eyebrows by relaxing muscles that pull them down. Dr. Hopkins shares: “One of the most common asymmetries I correct is when one eyebrow is lower than the other. By relaxing the lateral orbicularis muscle, I can elevate the lower brow to match the other more evenly.” This technique helps create a more balanced and refreshed look.
3. Sculpting the Nose
For a temporary try-on, neurotoxins can subtly enhance the nose by lifting the nasal tip or reducing the appearance of a gummy smile. This nonsurgical nose refinement can give patients a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing profile.
4. Smoothing the Neck (Nefertiti Lift)
Dr. Hopkins describes the popular “Nefertiti neck lift,” which involves injecting Botox into the platysma muscles to define the jawline and reduce neck bands. “Injecting the masseter muscles is also very popular to slim a wide face and square jawline,” she adds.
5. Defining the Chin
Chin dimpling can be smoothed with neurotoxin injections for a more defined chin. “One way I use Botox outside of wrinkle reduction is for pore reduction,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann Klausner, MD. “Patients with glandular skin or large pores sometimes experience congestion.”
6. The Lip Flip
Botox injections around the lips can help patients achieve a fuller-looking upper lip by rolling it outward slightly. Known as the “lip flip,” it’s ideal for those seeking subtle enhancement without adding volume through fillers. “The ideal lip flip candidate is someone with a hyperactive muscle around their mouth that pulls their upper lip up when they smile or turn in,” says Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill.
“It can also be used to combat smile lines of the face and in the corners of your mouth to help alleviate a downturned smile,” adds Germantown, TN dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD.
7. Reducing Under-Eye Wrinkles
Botox can soften fine lines and wrinkles under the eyes, smoothing this delicate area. It’s a popular choice for younger patients looking to address early signs of aging without more invasive treatments. “To ensure natural results, skilled injectors, like myself, use precise techniques and appropriate dosages,” adds Dr. Kung.
8. Enhancing Cheekbones
While neurotoxins don’t add volume, they can still enhance the appearance of cheekbones by reducing muscle movement around the cheeks, giving a more defined look. “Our face and muscle architecture are made of opposing muscles. This means that work they against each other and our facial structures to create movement and animation. When we paralyze the muscles that pull down, the muscles that pull up can take over, creating a lift,” says Dr. Patel.
9. Sculpting the Forehead
Although an on-label use, preventative Botox is frequently used to smooth out forehead lines and wrinkles. According to Dr. Hopkins, “Most of my patients want to have some natural expression to look ‘pleasantly surprised’ but ‘never worried.’ It’s all about placement and control of the dose.”
