For better or worse, the “snatched” jawline has become a new beauty standard. The well-defined and angular jawline is seemingly everywhere; celebrities like Olivia Culpo, Angelina Jolie, and Bella Hadid all have similar-looking V-shaped jawlines—and it’s not a coincidence. There is a growing obsession with sculpted jawlines and, while some are genetically blessed, others are paying top dollar to achieve it.

It doesn’t matter if you have a little extra padding, loose skin, or a weak chin, you can still achieve a “snatched” jawline with a little cosmetic help. To understand what options are available, we tapped our network of board-certified plastic surgeons for their expert-backed insights on what works best for different aesthetic goals.

WHAT IS A "SNATCHED" JAWLINE?

It was a bit of a surprise for us to learn that the slang word “snatched” actually originated from New York City drag culture back in the 90’s. Now that the term has become more mainstream, it’s most commonly used to compliment someone’s appearance. It can be used to describe someone’s outfit, makeup, hair, or a physical feature, like a “snatched” waist or jawline.

So, what exactly defines a “snatched” jawline? NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, says that today’s beauty standards consider a sharp but tapered jawline desirable for women while a square or wide-set jawline is considered more masculine.

While many beauty trends are fleeting, research points to there being real benefits of a defined jawline. According to a recent study, people with thin jawlines were viewed as more charismatic and less aggressive.

“The jawline is not simply defined by the mandible. There is an interplay between submental fat, jowls, skin laxity, skin quality, and the platysma (neck) muscle that influence the appearance of the jawline,” Dr. Camp says. “Jawline treatments can improve overall facial balance, improving the appearance of symmetry.”

These are the top expert-recommended procedures to perfect your jawline and subsequently enhance your confidence and potentially boost your impression:

NON-INVASIVE JAWLINE TREATMENTS

Masseter Botox

Botox can smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, and it also can help temporarily slim the jawline. The muscles along the posterior jaw can become enlarged from overuse, especially among those with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (a.k.a TMJ). Botox blocks the platysma muscle’s ability to contract, reducing the muscle size over time. Treating this muscle can affect how it rests along the mandible to provide more shape in the appearance of the bone, says Dr. Camp. While Botox is extremely effective in re-contouring the face, injections are needed every three to four months, which can become expensive and time-consuming.

Dermal Filler

Those with a weak jawline who aren’t ready to commit to a chin augmentation might want to opt for filler to add definition. Since dermal filler mimics the appearance of bone, Dr. Camp says they can be placed along the jawline to accentuate the shape of the mandible. In doing so, they better define the transition between face and neck.

Radio Frequency (RF)

Skin laxity, or saggy skin, can hide the contours of the jaw bone. To tighten loose skin around the face, a lot of doctors like RF. These treatments rely on advanced technology to target deeper layers of the skin. David Shafer, MD, a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Shafer Clinic in New York City, says his favorite non-invasive technologies to use are NuEra Tight RF or EmFace with Genius RF.  He says these procedures can achieve tissue tightening in the deeper and superficial levels of the skin.

AEDIT Founder and board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. William Kennedy weighed in saying “For patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who aren’t ready for surgery, my go-to recommendation is Lumenis NuEra Tight. This RF treatment delivers targeted energy to stimulate collagen and elastin production, effectively tightening and lifting the skin over time.”

Fat Reduction Treatments

Whether from genetics, aging, or diet, fat can obscure the sharp lines of the mandible. Fortunately, there are several non-invasive fat reduction treatments that can dissolve unwanted fat. Dr. Kennedy finds that truSculpt® typically yields the best results when targeting the chin and jaw.

Dr. Kennedy says “To reduce submental fat and refine the jawline, truSculpt® yields the best results. It uses radiofrequency energy to not only destroy fat cells but also stimulate collagen production, tightening the skin in the process. This makes it a great non-invasive option for patients who want a more sculpted look without worrying about post-treatment laxity.”

For some patients, liposuction may be a more appealing solution. Dr. Kennedy advises “When deciding between non-invasive treatments and liposuction, I recommend patients consider their goals, downtime, and skin elasticity. If a patient has minimal fat and wants a gradual improvement, I recommend TruSculpt. However, if a patient has a larger fat deposit or wants more immediate and dramatic results, liposuction is the better option.”

INVASIVE JAWLINE PROCEDURES

Neck lift

For patients with significant skin laxity, Dr. Shafer says there is no way around needing a lower face or neck lift. The procedure removes excess skin and fat, which is a great way to redefine the jawline. But, depending on the individual’s face structure, they might opt for an additional procedure to achieve their desired look.

“Choosing which treatment or treatments depends on the patient's skeletal anatomy, tissue thickness, and degree of laxity,” says Dr. Shafer. “For a weak chin or jawline we often need to augment with a chin implant or structural injectables such as Volux.”

Renuvion and Mini Liposuction

When a neck lift is not indicated, Dr. Shafer says the best procedure for defining the jawline is Renuvion plasma tissue tightening in conjunction with mini liposuction of the neck. The mini liposuction removes excess fat while the Renuvion treatment contours and tightens the loose skin. It’s minimally invasive (i.e. downtime of a few days or weeks), but it can provide really powerful results that can last years.

Buccal Fat Pad Removal

While a lot of procedures target the neck and chin, a buccal fat pad removal sculpts the face by removing excess fat in the cheeks. This approach is best for individuals who find their face looks too full or round and want to create more definition around the cheekbone area.

According to Dr. Kennedy, “buccal fat pad removal is ideal for patients with naturally fuller faces who desire a more sculpted look." However, he says it’s important to be cautious. "If someone already has a lean face or is prone to significant weight loss, removing buccal fat could lead to a gaunt appearance over time. The results are permanent, but if a patient gains weight, some fullness may return” Dr. Kennedy advises.

Chin Augmentation

For those with a weak chin, there are chin augmentations. The surgery uses an implant to make the chin more prominent and improve facial balance. It can be an effective way to achieve the desirable V shaped jawline, but it can take weeks to months to recover.