Pre-Jowl and Chin Filler

The pre-jowl sulcus is the hollow or indentation that forms just in front of the jowl area along the jawline. As the face loses volume with age and soft tissue begins to descend, a notch develops between the chin and the jowl that breaks up what was once a smooth, continuous jawline contour. This indentation is what makes jowls look more pronounced, because the contrast between the hollow in front and the fullness behind it draws the eye directly to the jowl. Filling this sulcus with a small amount of filler blends the area together and visually restores a cleaner jawline without touching the jowl tissue itself.

The mental crease is the horizontal line or crease that forms between the lower lip and the chin. It can appear as a single deep line, a series of fine horizontal creases, or a cobblestone or dimpled texture on the chin itself. It develops as the chin loses volume with age and the mentalis muscle, the muscle that controls chin movement, becomes more prominent beneath the thinning skin. A small amount of filler placed precisely in this area can smooth the crease and restore a softer transition between the lower lip and chin.

It improves the appearance of early to moderate jowling, but it does not remove jowl tissue or tighten loose skin. What filler does in this area is fill the sulcus, the indentation in front of the jowl, so the jaw reads as a smoother, more continuous line. This visual correction can be meaningful and makes the jawline look more defined, but it works best in patients with mild to moderate jowling where the soft tissue descent is not yet so significant that the hollow cannot be adequately bridged with filler. Patients with heavy or advanced jowling will be told honestly at their consultation what filler can and cannot achieve for their anatomy.

We use Revanesse Versa+, an FDA-cleared hyaluronic acid filler for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds in adults 22 years and older. It integrates naturally into the tissue and provides smooth, consistent correction. The product also contains lidocaine, a built-in local anesthetic that helps keep the treatment comfortable.

One syringe is often sufficient when treating the mental crease or pre-jowl sulcus as a single zone. Patients who want to address both areas in the same visit, or who are also treating the marionette lines or jawline more broadly, may benefit from a second syringe. Your nurse practitioner will walk you through a specific volume recommendation during your consultation so you know what to expect before any product is used.

Yes, and they are frequently treated together. The marionette lines, the pre-jowl sulcus, and the mental crease are all part of the same lower face aging pattern. Addressing them as a connected zone in a single visit tends to produce a more balanced and cohesive result than treating any one area in isolation. Your provider will assess all three zones together during your consultation and recommend the approach that makes the most clinical sense for your anatomy.

Most appointments take 30 to 45 minutes. The consultation and anatomy review take a few minutes, topical numbing cream is applied if desired, and the injections themselves typically take 10 to 15 minutes. You can return to your normal schedule the same day.

Downtime is minimal. Mild swelling and possible bruising in the lower face and chin area are normal and typically resolve within 3 to 5 days. Some patients notice firmness or tenderness along the treated zones for a few days. You can return to work immediately. We ask patients to avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, and significant heat or sun exposure for 24 to 48 hours, and to avoid sleeping face-down on the first night to minimize pressure on the treated area.

The most common side effects are swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness, and mild pain at the injection site, all of which typically resolve within a few days. Less commonly, patients may experience skin sensitivity, lumpiness, or acne-like eruptions. In rare cases, more serious complications can occur. As with any facial filler, there is a risk of unintentional injection into a blood vessel, which can lead to serious outcomes. This is why treatment is always performed by a licensed medical professional. A full risk discussion takes place at your consultation before any treatment is agreed to.

Results in the pre-jowl and chin area typically last 9 to 12 months. Individual longevity depends on facial anatomy, the volume of product used, metabolism, and lifestyle factors. Many patients schedule a maintenance appointment at the one-year mark to refresh and maintain their result.

Yes. Revanesse Versa+ is a hyaluronic acid filler and can be dissolved using hyaluronidase if you are not satisfied with your result. See our Dermal Filler Reversal page for full details on how the dissolution process works and what to expect.

No. A chin implant is a surgical procedure that permanently augments the bony projection of the chin using a solid implant placed through an incision. Chin filler is a non-surgical, temporary treatment that adds soft tissue volume above the bone to soften the mental crease, improve chin contour, or add subtle projection. The results are more modest than an implant and last roughly 9 to 12 months, but the treatment requires no surgery, no anesthesia, no incisions, and no recovery time. For patients who want subtle improvement without surgical commitment, filler is an appropriate place to start.