by Mariam Alimi, MSN, FNP, BC  

Contouring has been a popular buzzword for years and it is often mentioned in the beauty/makeup industry to accentuate certain facial features.  Contouring can show lifted, defined cheeks bones and it can also define other areas of the face including the nose, jawline and the chin.  Contouring with makeup can use light and dark make up to help create illusions and shadows and highlights.  It is common for women to desire to highlight their cheek bones because it is a sign of youth and lifted face. 

While makeup can do wonders, did you know that dermal fillers can help supplement and help change your existing bone structure.  Facial contouring with dermal fillers can lift areas and pull back areas up that have lost elasticity.  One can also use FDA approved fillers such as Restylane Lyft, Juvéderm Voluma and Radiesse to help change the shape of the face for example an ideal face shape is heart shaped or contoured with strong cheekbones and jawline. 

CHEEK AND JAWLINE CONTOURING: MASCULIZATION AND BEUTIFICATION 

One should always start with the cheeks when doing facial contouring because often when a person determines our age, we look at the eyes and the surrounding area, cheeks and under eyes.  Celebrities that come to mind with strong jawlines that come to mind for example Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.  For men it is imperative to have a chiseled jawline as evolution has determined this is a sign of attractiveness for men.  There are points on the face for example for men that can be contoured with dermal fillers, for example the mid face, square chin and jawline to help give them achieve a more masculine, rugged appearance.   

On the other hand, for women there are areas of the face that we can highlight and make more feminine such as contouring the cheekbones and chin.  These areas anchor the face and help tighten and pull back, so using dermal filler to restore volume loss will lift the lower face.  

Dermal filler such as Restylane, Juvederm, Voluma, Kysse are amazing option to really make those cheekbones ‘pop’.  Using dermal filler for facial contouring can also restore balance to the face. Whether it’s a result of genetics or environmental factors, such as sleeping predominantly on one side of the face, filler can correct asymmetry as well.   If you would like to find out more, or interested in getting evaluated for treatment, call us at our Fairfax office for a free consultation at 703-273-0001.