Non-Invasive Procedures
Wrinkle Reduction (Botox/Dysport)Face Contouring (Fillers)Hand RestorationHair RestorationLip AugmentationNose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty)Face & Neck Lift TreatmentsFacial Rejuvenation (Aquagold)
The eyes, lips, and nose are often considered to be the primary contributors to one’s overall appearance; however, the cheeks and jawline are equally as important, as their particular shape and size enhance the visibility of these major features. This crucial supportive role is responsible for the heavy emphasis on the defined cheekbones and jawlines seen in magazines, runways, and social media. The majority of the population is not born with sculpted, narrow cheeks and jaws. Fortunately, advances in cosmetic medicine have led to the advent of innovative, minimally-invasive procedures that can contour these background aesthetic structures so that your mid-face features can steal the show.
Buccal fat pad reduction is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure intended to reduce cheek puffiness and define the jawline and the cheekbones. Dysport/BOTOX-based masseter and parotid gland slimming helps convert the shape of the jaw from square to oval or heart shaped and enhance overall facial symmetry. K-Slim, a proprietary treatment offered by Dr. Hooman Khorasani, combines masseter muscle and parotid gland slimming with buccal fat pad removal to comprehensively contour the cheek and jawline. Finally, facial liposuction can be used to eliminate stubborn fat pockets of the jowel and under the chin to uncover the natural shape of your lower face and neck.
Dr. Khorasani is a quadruple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has spent over a decade helping patients achieve their ideal facial aesthetics through a combination of minimally-invasive and non-invasive treatments. This extensive experience combined with Dr. Khorasani’s commitment to procedural perfection directly benefits each patient, as your individualized therapy plan is carefully customized to provide you with optimal cosmetic results.
To find out whether a cheek or jawline contouring procedure can help facilitate your aesthetic goals, visit Dr. Khorasani at our New York City practice. To request a consultation, text message us securely, or contact our Manhattan office by phone at 212-230-3378.
This in-office procedure surgically removes the buccal fat pad from the hollows of the cheeks. Located just below the cheekbones, this collection of fat is easily identified when the lips are pursed. Excising this particular fat reservoir is performed with local injections of numbing medication, requiring less than an hour to complete. This is a scarless procedure as the incision is done from inside the mouth.
This procedure addresses full cheeks and adds more definition to the jawline. Although the buccal fat pad is relatively small, its impact on the contours of the cheek and jawline are significant. Removing this fat instantly reduces lower facial fullness to permanently banish unwanted puffy cheeks. Additionally, this intentional loss of volume enhances the prominence of the aesthetically pleasing cheekbones and jawline. The result? Sculpted, defined cheeks and a jawline that naturally compliment other facial features.
Gently suck in your cheeks, just slightly, between the upper and lower molars and take a selfie. If this facial contour gives you the appearance you desire naturally, then you may be a candidate for buccal fat pad reduction. This minimally-invasive surgery is ideal for healthy, non-smoking patients with unwanted cheek fullness. Patients that regularly contour their cheeks and jawline with makeup may also be candidates for buccal fat pad reduction, as this procedure produces a permanently sculpted look.
The buccal fat pad is extracted using an incision inside the cheek, allowing for a recovery with minimal visible signs of surgery. Consequently, most patients are able to resume their usual schedule one to two days after the procedure.
Swelling of the cheeks following this treatment is expected; however, this will subside significantly within three to five days and completely resolve within two to three weeks. Some patients also report mild discomfort for twenty-four to forty-eight hours following surgery. We, therefore, recommend that our patients take two tablets of Extra Strength Tylenol every four to six hours for pain control. Additionally, patients should follow a soft diet for the first few days after surgery to avoid disturbing the stitches inside the cheeks. There is also no need for suture removal since Dr. Khorasani uses self absorbing sutures for this procedure.
Immediately following the procedure, the cheeks and jawline will be significantly contoured; however, post-surgical swelling may obscure the final results. Consequently, maximal cheek and jawline sculpting may require up to three months to fully appreciate. This prolonged wait period is rewarded by a permanently defined cheek and jawline profile.
The masseter muscle and the overlying parotid gland are located just in front of the ears, extending from the cheek bones to the angle of the jaw. Enlargement of these muscles or glands may be attributable to genetics or overuse from habitual teeth grinding and chewing. Strategically placed injections of neuromodulators such as Dysport or BOTOX are used to immobilize and reduce the size of these structures without impacting your ability to chew or produce saliva.
Excessively full masseter muscles and parotid glands are often responsible for overly prominent or asymmetric jawlines. Slimming the dimensions of these structures transforms square, broad jawlines into soft oval or heart shapes. Additionally, this non-invasive treatment can enhance the symmetry of the jaw contour.
Patients seeking to narrow the shape of wide, square-like jawlines are excellent candidates for this injectable therapy. Years of chewing causes a gradual increase in the size of the masseter muscles. However, certain populations may be more prone to masseter enlargement called masseter hypertrophy. In particular, female athletes are prone to get a “square” shaped jawline due to grimacing while lifting heavy weights. Patients with habitual grinding, malocclusion such as an overbite or underbite, and TMJ may also suffer from masseter hypertrophy. Unilateral hypertrophy of the masseter muscles can also be seen with habitual gum chewers. Chronic parotid enlargement may be genetic and is seen in healthy individuals. The enlargement of this gland may also be seen in patients with excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, HIV and in bulimic patients.
Aside from its efficacy, patients love masseter muscle and parotid gland slimming since this treatment is associated with zero downtime. As dictated by your own personal comfort, you may resume normal activities immediately after treatment. We do, however, recommend that you avoid massaging the treated area for at least four hours after treatment. Some patients endorse a slight weakness when chewing for the first few days after treatment; however, this typically resolves within one week. Professional woodwind players should avoid this procedure as they may not be able to play certain notes for a few weeks.
Dysport/BOTOX in any form requires multiple days to exert its effect on the treated area. Furthermore, the effect of this procedure contributes to the thinning of the muscle fibers and glandular tissue. As such, maximal jawline shaping may not be visible for up to 8 weeks after the procedure. Please note that, as with all injectable treatments, the contouring effects of masseter muscle and parotid gland slimming are temporary. Most patients will require a repeat session after 8 weeks. However, unlike a Dysport/BOTOX treatment of the forehead, most patients do not need to come in every six months. Once the muscle and gland are thinned out, it requires a few years before one goes back to baseline.
K-Slim is a novel new therapy pioneered by Dr. Khorasani that is inspired by South Korean cosmetic surgery literature. This comprehensive treatment combines masseter and parotid gland slimming with buccal fat pad removal into a single in-office procedure. Although initially intended for an Asian audience, this minimally-invasive surgery has been widely adopted by patients of all ethnicities seeking to maximally sculpt and define the cheek and jawline. Please see our above sections what is a buccal fat pad reduction and what is masseter muscle and parotid gland slimming for further procedural details.
This three-in-one treatment offers optimal contouring of the lower face and jaw in a manner that avoids visible scarring. Reduction of the buccal fat pad eliminates cheek heaviness and highlights the definition of the cheek and jawline. Simultaneously, Dysport/BOTOX injections into the masseter muscles and parotid glands narrows the lower face to produce a heart or oval shaped face. These combined effects diminish the appearance of unwanted fat, muscle, and glandular tissue, allowing one’s aesthetically pleasing jawline and cheekbones to be revealed.
Patients seeking to concurrently reduce cheek fullness, emphasize the cheekbones, and induce a heart or oval shaped jawline are most likely to benefit from a K-Slim procedure. As with all cosmetic surgeries, patients must be healthy and able to abstain from smoking for at least two weeks before and after the procedure.
The recovery from a K-Slim procedure is similar to that of a stand-alone buccal fat pad removal, as the masseter muscle and parotid gland slimming requires zero downtime. Please see what does the recovery from a buccal fat pad reduction entail? above for further details regarding what to expect.
Immediately following the procedure, the lower cheeks will be less round and the cheekbones will be more prominent; however, post-surgical swelling may obscure the final results. Consequently, maximal cheek sculpting may require up to three months to fully appreciate. Dysport/BOTOX-induced modifications to the jawline are first visible within 8 weeks, but optimal shape changes are achieved 8 weeks after the second round of injections. Although this combination therapy comprehensively contours both the jawline and cheeks, please note that maintenance treatments every 1- 2 years are required to preserve the changes in jaw shape. This is in contrast to Dysport/BOTOX for the forehead which usually requires treatments every six months.
Liposuction has been a staple of Dr. Khorasani’s decade-plus career and he is proud to have helped thousands of patients look and feel their best using this minimally-invasive surgical procedure. Fortunately, the fat banishing powers of liposuction are not limited to the body, as this versatile treatment can be used to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat from beneath the chin and jaw. Removal of the fat from this area uncovers the jawline to clearly define your natural face shape. This in-office procedure is performed using local injections of numbing medication and is strategically planned to extract as much fat as possible while also minimizing scarring.
Liposuction of the jawline provides two significant benefits in one treatment. First, this minimally-invasive procedure helps banish unwanted pockets of fat beneath the chin, jaw and the jowl area that are notoriously resistant to traditional weight loss measures. Second, loss of these camouflaging fat collections allows the underlying contours of the jaw to be appreciated. The result? A slim, defined lower face and neck.
Liposuction procedures are intended for patients with superficial fat pockets that contain enough material for extraction. As such, those bothered by medium to large-sized fat collections beneath the chin and jawline are ideally suited for this treatment. The extracted fat can then be reutilized and transferred back to the chin to further sculpt the face. Learn more about this procedure on our Fat Transfer page.
Patients wishing to target fat that is localized to the lower cheeks may be candidates for a buccal fat pad removal. Please see our Buccal Fat Pad Reduction section to determine if this facial fat reduction procedure, alone or in combination with jawline liposuction, can provide you with optimal lower face contouring. Furthermore, many of our patients opt for head-to-toe liposuction to maximally sculpt the face and body. Please visit our Liposuction page to determine if this comprehensive surgical treatment can help you achieve your ideal silhouette.
Discomfort during the first few days after surgery is usually effectively managed with Extra Strength Tylenol every four to six hours, but we will also prescribe you a stronger pain medication that may be used if the Tylenol is insufficient. For the first five to seven days following the procedure, an elastic chin wrap will be worn to compress the treated area and ensure optimal cosmetic results. During this period, significant swelling and bruising of the area is expected; however, these side effects typically improve within five to seven days and resolve completely within two weeks. Consequently, as dictated by your personal comfort, you may resume normal activities five to seven days after surgery.
We understand this recovery time can be difficult. Our office staff is available for you at any time during this process to discuss your questions or concerns. We are always here for you!
The loss of unwanted fat and enhanced prominence of the jawline curvature are first appreciated within fourteen days of the procedure; however, the treated area requires multiple weeks to fully heal. As such, the final contouring results may not be visible for up to six months. This prolonged wait period is rewarded by a permanently sculpted jawline for patients that maintain a stable weight.
Dr. Khorasani is quadruple board-certified in Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery. Additionally he led the Division of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at Mount Sinai for over ten years. His passion for providing patients with cutting-edge treatments to achieve their aesthetic goals has led to his involvement in multiple research projects investigating novel applications and advanced clinical techniques for various skin tightening devices.
As an academic and clinical physician, Dr. Khorasani is constantly investing time and energy to research, acquire and master the latest skin tightening technologies. You can rest assured that any treatment received in our offices adheres to the highest standard of medical care and is optimized to provide you with the greatest results possible. Additionally, over the course of his decade-long career, Dr. Khorasani has developed expertise in treating a broad range of other cosmetic complaints. As such, you have the ability to address multiple issues with one provider who has dedicated his practice to helping patients feel like their most beautiful self, inside and out. Each treatment plan is tailored to your personal needs - we never employ a “cookie cutter” approach!
From the moment you contact our office, you are a priority. Dr. Khorasani and his staff are there for you at all times to ensure all your questions are answered and needs are met. We look forward to working with you as a team to transform your goals into reality.
Dr. Khorasani and his highly-specialized team look forward to working with you to transform your medical or aesthetic goals into reality. To expedite a request for a consultation, message us securely, or contact Dr. Khorasani’s Manhattan office by phone at 212-230-3378. For more information about how to get in touch:
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