Some people are born with a receding chin, and children often grow out of it as their bones grow. But other people develop a weak chin over time. A pronounced overbite may lead to a weak chin and a weak jawline. Age might, too.
The main causes of a weak jawline are often hereditary, where an undefined jaw may be a familial trait.
In some cases, a small jaw and weakened chin can also be the cause of facial trauma, injury or fracture to the mandibular which physically sets the jaw back. Another cause can be due to loss of volume, tissue and fat around the chin which is one symptom of the ageing process.
Who does micrognathia affect? Micrognathia is most common in babies who are born with certain genetic conditions, such as Pierre Robin syndrome, progeria or cri-du-chat syndrome. Sometimes it occurs as a random genetic mutation. People can develop micrognathia later in life, though this is less common.
By 6 years of age, jaws are almost 80% of their adult size, with most of the growth occurring in the first 4 years.
People with underdeveloped jaws undergo corrective surgery. Although surgery is a good option to fix the jaw, it has various downsides. Surgery is invasive, requiring the surgeon to give the patient anesthesia, make incisions, and cut through the muscles to correct the law.
Eating difficult to chew foods at an early age strengthens the jaw muscles and promotes bone growth by helping to lay down the bone matrix, allowing the jaw to develop to its full potential.
If you have a double chin despite being skinny, your body just happens to genetically store extra fat around the jawline. There's really nothing unusual about it, but it does present a challenge in that your chin fat is much harder to target through diet and exercise alone.
Having a weak jawline means having an issue with the bones, which is something orthodontics can't resolve. The only effective use of braces or orthodontic treatment in adults with receding chin, is to treat their overbite. As we've mentioned before, orthodontics can only treat conditions pertaining to teeth.
When you look from the front, the line from the tip of the chin out to the mandibular angle is strong and smooth. The mandibular angle itself is well-defined, but it does not look bottom-heavy. When you look from the side, the lines from the chin down to the neck are seamless, and there is no fat or double chin.
For male faces, researchers have found that a square jawline and an oval-shaped face were the most attractive. This is especially true if they were paired with blue eyes, medium-thick eyebrows, brown hair, average lips, straight eyebrows and a straight, slim nose. For a celebrity example, think of David Gandy.
Jaw Angle and Attractiveness
While some studies have reported an obtuse angle jawline, and a contoured mandible like that of Angelina Jolie, to be features of attractiveness, there are also studies that find narrow-angle jawline to be a feature of attractiveness in women.
Exercising the neck, chin, jaw, and other facial muscles can lead to subtle changes in your face, including sharper cheekbones and a more prominent jawline. One study found that performing regular facial exercises over the course of 20 weeks led to fuller cheeks and a more youthful appearance.
Nonsurgical options. Nonsurgical options are best for patients who have mild to moderate fat obscuring the jawline, a fairly well-defined chin area and minimal to moderate loose skin around the jawline. Options include dermal fillers, neurotoxins, fat melting injectable agents and surgical threads.
If muscle or soft tissue dysfunction exists, jaw growth is altered. Muscle and soft tissue dysfunction include an improper swallow, prolonged thumb/pacifier habits, overactive lip and cheek muscles, mouth breathing, a resting open mouth posture, and low tongue posture… to name a few.
During adolescence, between ages 12 to 21, a longer, i.e., greater growth of mandible is observed compared to maxilla. This is especially prominent in males.
For their research, the surgeons obtained serial radiographs of eight men and eight women, and discovered that, over their lifetimes, the patients' mandibles continued to grow and widen as they aged.
Typically, jaw growth stops by age 16 in females and 18-21 in males. Orthognathic surgery is usually done when the jaws stop growing. The need for surgical orthodontics occurs when the jaws do not line up correctly, and a proper bite cannot be achieved with orthodontics alone.
Due to a lack of respiratory efficiency, people are overbreathing through the mouth, even when performing non-strenuous tasks. Breathing chronically through the mouth causes a change in rest posture for the jaw; over time, this can significantly alter jaw development in children, as well as adults to an extent.
How can I tell if I have a weak chin? Ideally, the front most point of the chin is approximately in the same vertical plane as the lips when looking at a person from the side. You can see this by having someone take a profile picture of you. Another useful tool is called the Rickett's Esthetic Line.
When the lower half of the jaw is too small, it makes the upper jaw hang over when the jaw is shut. This is called an overbite. When the opposite happens (the lower half of the jaw is larger than the upper half), it's called an underbite. When teeth don't line up as they should, this can interfere with chewing.
Body fat percentage: A higher body fat percentage can contribute to the appearance of a softer jawline. If you have excess fat in your face and neck, it can obscure the definition of your jawline. Muscle tone: The muscles in your jaw and neck play a role in the appearance of your jawline.