Do you long for a sharper, more defined jawline?
Not all of us are lucky enough to have this feature, while some people just happen to be born with the chiseled jawline of our dreams.
While there’s nothing wrong with having a less defined jaw, it’s natural to search for ways to enhance the appearance of your features to improve your confidence. The good news is that there are many things you can do to define your jawline and chin.
In this article, we will explore the reasons behind your weak jawline or receding chin and a variety of fixes ranging from exercises, lifestyle changes, and cosmetic procedures.
What Is a Weak Jawline and Receding Chin?
A weak jawline refers to having a less pronounced jawbone, which may not be distinctly visible or sharply defined. You might find that the edge of your jaw has a more rounded and softer angle.
A receding chin is characterized by a chin that tapers back towards the neck rather than naturally projecting forward.
Both of these features can impact your facial symmetry and aesthetics.
Causes of a Weaker Jawline
Understanding the potential causes of why you might have a weaker jawline can help you find the right solutions to improve your confidence.
Here are some common causes of having a weak jaw:
Genetics
It’s no surprise that your genetics play a very significant role in determining both the structure and shape of your face.
If the members of your family have less defined jawlines or a receding chin, there’s a high chance you might have these facial features as well.
Mouth Breathing
Chronic mouth breathing can result in a weaker jawline since it often leads to the improper position of your tongue, which fails to support the natural arch of the upper jaw, resulting in a longer, narrower face and a less defined jaw. (1)
Additionally, the habit of mouth breathing can contribute to dental malocclusions (i.e. a “bad bite”) such as overbites and underbites, further affecting the jaw's appearance by making it either seem recessed, sunken, or overly pronounced.
The most effective way to stop mouth breathing is by using a high-quality mouth tape like Dream Recovery Mouth Tape which is made from luxurious, breathable organic bamboo silk and hypoallergenic adhesive for even the most sensitive of skin.
Aging
It’s normal to start noticing less definition in your jawline as you age.
Aging can decrease the sharpness of your jawline due to bone resorption, reduced overall facial volume, and changes in fat distribution.
Aging also causes reduced skin elasticity thanks to the loss of collagen, which can result in a sagging appearance around your jawline, chin, and neck. (2)
Having an overbite
An overbite is a misalignment of your teeth that occurs when your upper teeth overlap over your bottom teeth more than they’re supposed to, which can cause your lower jaw to recede.
With an overbite your chin might be pushed backward relative to your upper jaw, leading to a weaker jawline appearance and receding chin. (3)
Only eating very soft foods
If your diet only consists of predominantly soft foods, your jaw muscles aren’t challenged sufficiently, which can weaken the definition of your jawline.
Chewing tougher foods that offer some resistance to your jaw muscles, also known as the masseter muscles, can help to build definition in this area over time.
Ways to Strengthen Your Jawline
Enhancing your jawline involves both lifestyle habits and possible cosmetic surgical and non-surgical interventions. Here are some of the top fixes for a weak jawline and receding chin:
Breathing and Tongue Posture
Correcting bad breathing habits and adjusting your tongue posture can significantly impact your jawline.
Nasal breathing encourages proper tongue posture, where the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth, supporting proper jaw alignment.
This not only helps in defining the jawline but also improves your overall well-being, since nasal breathing has been shown to increase relaxation, improve sleep quality, protect cardiovascular health, and more! (4) (5)
Fixing a weak jaw with facial exercises
Regular facial exercises can strengthen your jaw muscles, contributing to a more defined jawline. Some of these targeted exercises include:
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Neck curls: Lie on your back and lift your head towards your chest, then lower it back down.
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Mewing: Close your mouth and lightly press your teeth together, then flatten your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
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Fish face: Suck in your cheeks and lips to create resistance. Then try to smile while you hold this position for 20 seconds.
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Jawzrsice: This device is a silicon ball designed to create up to 50 pounds of resistance when you bite down on it, exercising your jaw muscles.
- Chewing hard gum: The simple activity of chewing gum works out the jaw muscles to build definition. You can see our guide on choosing the best chewing gum for jawline definition.
Creating a Jawline With Cosmetic Surgery and Non-Surgical Options
If you’re seeking a more immediate or dramatic change to your jawline definition, various surgical and non-surgical options are available to choose from:
Chin Implants
Chin implants are a popular solution for a receding chin, enhancing the silhouette of the jawline and balancing facial features.
They are permanent and are usually made out of medical-grade silicone, as this material tends to look and feel natural.
Chin implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, as discussed with your physician.
Jaw Bone Reshaping
Jawline sculpting through bone reshaping can redefine the contours of the jaw and chin, providing a permanent alteration.
The procedure is also sometimes called mandibular contouring or jaw shaving and involves a surgeon carefully reshaping your chin and jaw bone to enhance definition and facial shape.
Chin Liposuction
Chin liposuction removes excess fat from under the jawline, enhancing its appearance and reducing the look of a double chin.
When undergoing chin liposuction, a small tube called a cannula is inserted into the chin. Gentle suction then removes fat to help sculpt your chin, jaw, and neck area.
Jawline Dermal Fillers
Jawline dermal fillers offer a non-surgical option for enhancing your jawline by adding instant volume and contour directly to this area.
This minimally invasive procedure involves a physician injecting substances called fillers underneath your skin to “plump it up”.
This is usually quick and can provide immediate results, improving the appearance of a weak jawline and receding chin with little to no downtime.
Thread Lifts
Thread lifts are a minimally invasive alternative to traditional facelifts, using medical-grade threads to lift and tighten the skin around the jawline.
The thread lift procedure can also stimulate your body’s own collagen production in the area they’re used. With time, this can improve your skin’s elasticity and provide you with a more defined jawline with results that can last up to several years.
Diet and Lifestyle to Lose Fat Around Your Jawline and Neck
If you’re serious about sculpting your jawline and reducing fat around your chin and neck area, you might see significant improvements by taking a holistic approach and focusing on your diet and lifestyle.
Prioritize fresh vegetables, and lean proteins to help fuel muscle growth and boost your metabolism. Staying hydrated can also help to reduce water retention which can make your face appear puffier, and your jawline less defined.
Regular physical activity can help you shed unwanted pounds to reveal a more defined jawline and chin. Aim for a combination of consistent strength training and cardio workouts for the best results.
Other Ways to Change the Appearance of Your Jawline
There are a few other alternative methods you can explore to alter the appearance of your jawline beyond traditional exercises and dietary changes:
Make Up
Make up can dramatically alter the appearance of your jawline through techniques like contouring.
Contouring make up involves using either a bronzer or a darker foundation/powder shade below the jaw and underneath your cheekbones to create the illusion of a sharper, more defined jawline.
Growing a Beard
Your facial hair can play a big role in how defined your jawline appears.
A well-groomed beard can effectively enhance your jawline by adding volume and shape to the area, making your jaw appear more pronounced and structured.
You may need to play around with different beard shapes in order to determine the best style to achieve the jawline changes you’re looking for.
Final Thoughts
A defined jawline and a strong chin are desirable traits that can greatly enhance facial aesthetics, but not everyone is naturally endowed with these features.
The underlying causes of a weak jawline and receding chin can range from genetics to lifestyle factors, like mouth breathing and diet.
Based on these causes and the type of changes you’re looking for, you can effectively choose the most suitable method to enhance your jaw’s appearance.
Whether through mouth tape, facial exercises, chewing gum, dietary adjustments, improved breathing techniques, or even surgical interventions, there are multiple paths to achieving a more pronounced jawline, slimmer chin, and improved confidence.
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References:
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Zheng, W., Zhang, X., Dong, J., & He, J. (2020). Facial morphological characteristics of mouth breathers vs. nasal breathers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of lateral cephalometric data. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 19(6), 3738–3750. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8611
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Varani, J., Dame, M. K., Rittie, L., Fligiel, S. E., Kang, S., Fisher, G. J., & Voorhees, J. J. (2006). Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin: roles of age-dependent alteration in fibroblast function and defective mechanical stimulation. The American journal of pathology, 168(6), 1861–1868. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2006.051302
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Ceylan, I., & Eröz, U. B. (2001). The effects of overbite on the maxillary and mandibular morphology. The Angle orthodontist, 71(2), 110–115. https://doi.org/10.1043/0003-3219(2001)071<0110:TEOOOT>2.0.CO;2
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Watso, Joseph C et al. (2023) Acute nasal breathing lowers diastolic blood pressure and increases parasympathetic contributions to heart rate variability in young adults. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.
- Allen, Ruth. (2015) The health benefits of nose breathing. Nursing in general practice.