What to Ask Before Getting Lower Face Filler

Injecting the lower face is a completely different game from smoothing a forehead line or plumping lips. It’s one of the hardest areas to treat well and one of the easiest to overdo. Before you book your injectable appointment to redefine your jawline, here’s what expert injectors recommend asking before going under the needle. 

Featured Experts

• Dr. Janine Hopkins is a board-certified dermatologist in Monroe, LA
• Dr. Marina Peredo is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Dr. Kally Papantoniou is a board-certified dermatologist in Melville, NY

Which fillers work best for sculpting the lower face?

The right filler to use depends on whether the goal is structure or gradual improvement. Southlake, TX, and Monroe, LA dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD typically uses biostimulatory fillers Radiesse or Sculptra. “Radiesse gives immediate, sharp definition, while Sculptra lifts and restores volume over time,” she explains. “It depends on whether the patient needs immediate structure or long-term collagen remodeling.”

For men and women, the approach differs. “Men want a strong, angular jaw, especially at the gonial angle,” adds Dr. Hopkins. “I use Radiesse for that contour. For women, I go for a softer, lifted look with Sculptra or a gentle blend of both to keep it feminine without adding bulk.”

Another popular option is Juvéderm Volux, the only FDA-approved filler specifically indicated for jawline definition. It’s designed to provide firm support and shape the lower face.

What should I ask at my consultation?

The best place to start, according to Dr. Hopkins, is asking what the safest and most effective strategy is for enhancing the lower face while keeping features balanced. “It’s not about chasing lines,” she says. “It’s about understanding facial anatomy and restoring harmony.”

Are concerns about looking overfilled valid?

They are, and it’s something Dr. Hopkins addresses regularly. “Patients worry about looking bulky or unnatural. The truth is, with the right injector and precise placement, you can get a lifted, youthful look that still feels like you. But it’s critical to choose someone who understands vascular anatomy. This isn’t an area where you want guesswork.”

Is filler enough, or do I need a combination approach?

“The lower face is probably the hardest area to treat just with filler,” says New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD. “A lot of times, it’s a combination.”

She coined the term “Firmatherapy” to describe her preferred approach: using skin-tightening energy devices like Ultherapy or Sofwave first, then layering filler and toxin to enhance and define. “Especially in patients over 50 or those who’ve lost weight, there’s often laxity. I’ll start with one of those treatments to lift and tighten the skin, then go in with filler along the jawline and follow with a Nefertiti lift using neurotoxin.”

She often performs all of these treatments in the same session, but not always. “If someone is prone to bruising or wants to stagger it for budget or tolerance, I’ll break it up. The key is combining the right tools in the right order.”

When is it time to consider surgery instead?

There’s a limit to what injectables and energy devices can accomplish. “If someone has a lot of skin laxity, like post–weight loss, I’ll tell them honestly, noninvasive treatments might give you 30 to 40 percent improvement. If that’s not enough, I refer them to my son for surgical options.”

She also explains that some patients fall into what she calls a “gap zone,” where they’re not quite surgical candidates but need more than filler. “That’s when we consider things like FaceTite, Morpheus8 or threads to bridge that gap.”

Are there areas people forget to treat?

Chin projection is a major player in facial shape and often gets overlooked. “As we age, especially in women, the heart-shaped face becomes squarer. It’s not as soft or feminine,” says Dr. Peredo. “If the chin is receding or the lower face is heavy, I may inject under the mentalis or along the bone to elongate or lift.”

She also looks at lips and vertical lines around the mouth. “I’m not adding volume to the lip—I’m restoring what’s lost. Sometimes I use a very thin filler like Redensity to define the border so lipstick doesn’t bleed into those lines. It makes a huge difference without changing their natural shape.”

Should I get my nasolabial folds injected?

“Not as the first step,” says Dr. Peredo. “People come in asking for filler right in the fold, but the issue is usually volume loss above. “If the fold is hanging, it’s usually because there’s volume loss higher up. I tell patients we need to lift the cheeks and temples first—treating just the fold won’t give a satisfying result.”

She likens the approach to building a house. “You don’t fix the walls before fixing the roof. Once we lift the midface with cheek and temple filler, the folds usually soften on their own.”

Will I need to treat my chin as well?

In many cases, yes. According to Dr. Hopkins, the chin plays a key role in overall lower face balance and harmony. “If the chin is recessed or lacks projection, it can throw off the proportions of the entire face,” she explains. “Adding subtle structure to the chin can enhance definition and support the jawline contour.”

She often includes chin filler as an important step when looking at the lower face. “It’s not just about the jawline, it’s about restoring the shape of the lower third so everything flows together naturally.”

Who should I go to for this type of filler?

Lower face filler isn’t something to leave to chance. New York dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD says that experience is everything when it comes to achieving natural results. “The lower face can be a tricky area due to its dynamic nature,” she says. “You want to make sure your injector is someone who knows how to create natural, balanced results without making the lower face look heavy or overdone. It’s important to ensure you only see an Expert Injector for all your injectable needs.”

She also recommends asking what you truly need and if filler is even the best option. “Would noninvasive skin tightening be more effective? Could Botox help? Often, the most natural look comes from combining and layering treatments, not just relying on one.”