Prejowl Sulcus Treatment Melbourne
Smoothing the Hollow in Front of the JowlThe prejowl sulcus is a hollow on the jawline just in front of the jowl, roughly below each corner of the mouth. A ligament anchors the tissue here to the bone. When the bone thins, the tissue over it wears down or the jowl drops behind it, that tied-down point canโt move with the rest of the face, and a depression forms. Treatment aims to soften the dip, and firm the skin over it where it has loosened.
Your AHPRA-registered nurse gently lifts the jowl back with a fingertip to see how much of the hollow itโs causing, then looks again front-on under overhead light, where the hollow casts the most shadow. Treatment is available at our Brighton, Camberwell and Moonee Ponds clinics.
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Understanding Prejowl Sulcus
The prejowl sulcus sits over the mandibular ligament, where three muscles that pull the lower lip and mouth corner downward attach to the jawbone and the skin above it. The jowl fat lies behind the ligament and a separate pad of fat lies in front of it, but only a thin cover of tissue sits over the ligament itself, so this spot has less padding than the jawline around it.
That difference grows over time, usually because of one or more of these:
VOLUME CHANGES
facial volume can reduce or shift between areas over time
SKIN & LIGAMENTS
changes in support structures and skin quality
CHIN & JAW SHAPE
your baseline anatomy influences the appearance
WEIGHT & GENETICS
weight shifts and inherited tendencies affect facial balance
Whether the hollow sits deepest in the bone, the tissue over the ligament or the skin decides where volume is used and whether the skin needs firming too.
Prejowl Sulcus Treatment by Cause
The hollow often appears before a jowl is obvious, so for many people itโs the first visible sign that the lower face is starting to change.
Each cause is assessed on its own, then planned together, since most hollows have more than one.
The front of the jawbone, below each corner of the mouth, slowly loses bone with age. As it recedes, the ligament anchored to it moves back with it and the skin above follows, so the hollow forms in the bone first, before the tissue on top has changed. A hollow from bone loss feels firm under a fingertip and looks the same whether you smile, talk or look down.
Volume-based treatments are used along the bone at the base of the hollow, aiming to rebuild the support the bone has lost so the skin above it sits level with the jawline again. Itโs built in small steps and checked front-on, since too much here can leave a visible bump below the mouth corner.
How firm the hollow feels under a fingertip Whether it changes as you smile and talk Depth of the hollow front-on under overhead light Whether both sides have hollowed evenly Previous treatment along the jaw and its timing - โWill it leave a bump?โ Volume is built in small steps and checked front-on and in profile, aiming to bring the hollow level with the jawline around it.
- โWhy has this appeared when my skin still looks good?โ Bone loss happens underneath, so the hollow can show while the skin over it is still firm.
- โWill I feel it when I talk or eat?โ The area may feel firm or tender for a few days, and that usually settles on its own.
- โIs the result permanent?โ Volume softens over time and the bone keeps changing with age, so your review checks whether more support is needed.
- A shallower hollow below each mouth corner
- Less shadow in front of the jowl front-on
- A smoother line along the lower jaw
- Support that softens gradually and is reviewed
- The nerve to the lower lip exits the bone close by, so itโs located first
- Dental implants or jaw surgery in this area are reviewed beforehand
- Each side is measured separately, as bone loss is rarely even
- Volume is added gradually to avoid a ridge along the jaw
- A firm hollow below the mouth corners
- A hollow that doesnโt change with expression
- Hollowing that has developed slowly with age
The mandibular ligament anchors three muscles that pull the lower lip and mouth corner downward to the jawbone, just in front of the jowl. The tissue over it is held in place while the face around it moves. A cushion of fat and connective tissue normally covers the ligament and hides that tie. As the cushion thins with age, the skin over the ligament is drawn inward and a soft dip appears, often deepening when you pull the corners of your mouth down.
Volume is used at the dip, aiming to replace the cushion that has thinned so the skin over the ligament sits level with the jawline around it. Small amounts are used and checked with your mouth at rest and moving, since the area is in almost constant motion when you talk and eat.
How soft the hollow feels compared with the jaw around it Whether it deepens as you pull your mouth corners down How the skin over it moves as you talk Thickness of the tissue covering the ligament Whether the hollow is matched on both sides - โWhy does it look worse when I talk?โ The muscles that attach here pull on the skin as you speak, so the dip can deepen with movement even when itโs mild at rest.
- โWill it feel stiff?โ Small amounts are used so the area keeps moving with your mouth, and any firmness usually settles within a couple of weeks.
- โIs this the same as marionette lines?โ Marionette lines run down from the mouth corners. This hollow sits lower, on the jawline in front of the jowl, though both can appear together.
- โCan it move out of place?โ Volume is checked with your mouth moving before you leave, and your review confirms how it has settled.
- A softer dip in front of the jowl at rest
- Less deepening as you talk or pull your mouth down
- Skin that sits more level along the jaw
- Change that may settle over the first two weeks
- Small amounts are used, since the area moves constantly
- Hard chewing is avoided for a few days afterwards
- Earlier treatment around the mouth corners is reviewed first
- Cold sores near the mouth are treated before planning
- A soft hollow that deepens with expression
- Thin tissue over the area in front of the jowl
- A hollow that shows most when talking
Behind the mandibular ligament, the jowl fat sits loosely over the jaw with nothing tying it down. As the skin and supports above it loosen, that fat settles lower, while the ligament keeps the skin in front of it in place. The jowl fills out behind a point that canโt move, so the hollow in front of it looks deeper even when the hollow itself hasnโt changed, and it shows most when you look down.
Volume is used in the hollow in front of the jowl, aiming to bring it level with the fullness behind it so the jowl stands out less. Only the hollow is treated here. The jowl is assessed for how much it adds, and the amount used is matched to it so the jaw isnโt widened.
How far the jowl sits below the jawline as you look down How much the hollow eases as the jowl is gently lifted The difference in fullness between hollow and jowl Skin firmness over the jowl and the hollow Any recent weight change - โWill treating the hollow make my jowl look bigger?โ Volume is kept to the hollow and matched to the fullness behind it, aiming to blend the two so the jowl stands out less.
- โWhy is the hollow worse when I havenโt lost volume?โ A jowl settling behind it deepens the contrast, so the hollow can look worse even when the area itself hasnโt changed.
- โDo my jowls need treating too?โ Not always. If the jowl is large or the skin very loose, your nurse explains whether it needs its own plan.
- โWhy does it show more in photos?โ Looking down at a phone or camera pushes the jowl forward, which deepens the hollow in front of it.
- A smoother line from the hollow to the jowl
- A jowl that may stand out less front-on
- Less shadow in front of the jowl when you look down
- A lower face that may look less heavy in photos
- The amount used is matched to the jowl so the jaw isnโt widened
- Weight should be stable, since further loss can deepen the jowl
- Very loose skin over the jowl is assessed before planning
- Heavy jowls may need a surgical opinion
- A hollow that has deepened as a jowl formed
- Early jowls with a visible dip in front
- A hollow that shows most when looking down
Collagen and elastin keep the skin over the jaw firm and springy. Natural ageing, years of sun and smoking all break them down, so the skin thins and loses its ability to spring back. Loose skin drapes into the hollow and creases across it as you talk, so gravity and every movement of the mouth make the dip look deeper than it is.
Morpheus8 and Fotona 5D aim to firm the skin over the hollow, with change building gradually across a course of sessions. Microneedling with exosomes and Rejuran may improve the skin’s thickness and quality alongside them. Where a dip remains once the skin is firmer, volume may be used to soften it.
Skin firmness over the hollow, checked with a gentle pinch Creasing across the area as you talk Sun damage and texture along the jaw Fine lines running into the hollow Smoking history and your current skincare - โIs there downtime?โ Morpheus8 and Fotona 5D may leave redness and swelling for a few days. Rejuran and exosome treatment can leave small marks for a day or two.
- โHow many sessions will I need?โ Most options run as a course spaced several weeks apart, and your nurse confirms the number after assessing your skin.
- โWill skin treatment alone fix the hollow?โ It may soften a mild hollow by firming the skin over it. Where bone or tissue has been lost underneath, volume is usually needed too.
- โDoes stopping smoking help?โ It may slow further breakdown of collagen, which can help any change last longer.
- Firmer skin over the hollow across several months
- Less creasing along the jaw as you talk
- Smoother texture across the lower face
- Change that tends to build gradually
- Retinol and exfoliants may be paused beforehand
- Skin tone is checked, as some lasers can mark darker skin
- A recent tan delays laser treatment
- Daily sunscreen helps protect new collagen
- Loose or crepey skin over the hollow
- Creasing along the jaw when talking
- Sun damage across the lower face
Why the Hollow Is Felt as Well as Seen
In a mirror, a hollow from bone loss, thinning tissue, a forming jowl or loose skin looks much the same. Under a fingertip they feel different: bone feels firm, thinned tissue feels soft and moves as you talk, a hollow driven by the jowl eases when the jowl is lifted, and loose skin gathers in a gentle pinch. Thatโs why your first visit includes a hands-on check of each side before anything is planned. Thereโs no obligation to go ahead.
Mapping the Hollow Before Treatment
The prejowl hollow is small, so a little volume or skin firming goes a long way, and too much shows quickly. Your consultation works out how much each cause adds on each side, so treatment goes only where itโs needed.
What we cover in your consultation
MEDICAL HISTORY AND SUITABILITY SCREENING
including medications, previous cosmetic treatments, and relevant health factors
THE HOLLOW BY TOUCH
bone, soft tissue and skin felt on each side
JOWL POSITION
how far the jowl has settled below the jawline
MOVEMENT
how the hollow changes as you talk and frown
SKIN QUALITY
firmness, creasing and sun damage over the area
A PLAN AND QUOTE
what is used where, and across how many visits
Where a plan includes both, the skin course often starts first, and volume is added once the skin has firmed and any remaining dip is clear.
Before Your Appointment
WHAT TO BRING & KNOWThe hollow is judged by sight and by touch, both at rest and while you talk, so anything that hides or adds shadow along the jaw makes it harder to read.
Skip contour, bronzer and foundation along the jaw on the day
Bring a photo that shows the hollow the way it bothers you
Pause retinol on the lower face for a few days beforehand
Allow around 30 minutes for the consultation
During Treatment
WHAT TO EXPECTThe hollow is marked with your face relaxed, then checked again as you talk. Each side is treated in small steps and compared front-on before the other is started.
The jaw cleansed and all makeup removed
The hollow marked at rest and while talking
Both sides compared front-on before you leave
The option to pause at any point
Aftercare & Follow-Up
WHAT HAPPENS NEXTTenderness when you talk or chew and mild swelling below the mouth corners are common for a few days, and the area can feel firm while it settles. Skin treatments may leave the jaw red for a day or two. Your review checks the hollow at rest and while you talk.
Skip makeup along the jaw for 24 hours
Avoid pressing or massaging below the mouth corners
Avoid resting your jaw on your hand while it settles
Use sunscreen daily along the jaw after skin treatments
Treatment Is a Process, Not a Single Decision
The prejowl hollow builds slowly. The cushion over the ligament keeps thinning and the jowl keeps settling for years, so a hollow that has been softened can gradually return.
That pattern starts with how the area is built. A study that re-examined the anatomy of the jowl and mandibular ligament found the jowl is fullest just behind the ligament, and suggests the tissue there lengthens and loosens with age while the ligament itself stays anchored to the bone.
Each part of a plan also changes at its own pace. Volume softens over time, and skin firming builds across a course and then gradually fades, so your reviews check the hollow at rest and while you talk to see which part needs attention.
CLIENT REVIEWS
What our clients say
Explore More Treatment Options
The platysma, the broad muscle of the neck, is one of the muscles anchored at the mandibular ligament, so bands in the neck and the hollow share an attachment point. The jowl behind the hollow sits along the jawline, and the same loosening that lets it settle often deepens the folds running from nose to mouth.
Rejuran
a skin booster for thin skin over the jawline
Thread lifts
threads that lift a jowl settling behind it
Exosomes Treatment
exosome serum to support repair and skin quality
Lip Enhancement
lip shape and support above the mouth corners
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
a concentrate of your own plasma for skin quality
3 accessible clinic locations across Melbourne
All locations
Camberwell
1172 Toorak Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationMoonee Ponds
30-32 Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationHave Questions? Your Consultation Is a Good Place to Start.
Frequently Asked Questions
SAFETY & SUITABILITY
Are there nerves near the prejowl area? 
Can I have treatment if I get cold sores?
Can treatment change how my mouth moves?
RESULTS & TIMELINE
Will I see a difference right away?
Does the hollow keep deepening after treatment?
Can treatment make my jowl look smaller?
AFTERCARE & LOGISTICS
Can I wear a face mask afterwards?
When can I book a facial after treatment?
Is there a set price for prejowl sulcus treatment?
WHERE TO START
At what age do prejowl hollows usually appear?
Is treatment worthwhile if Iโm considering a facelift later?
MYTHS, WORRIES & 'WHAT IF'
Does looking down at my phone cause prejowl hollows?
Will treating the hollow make my lower face look heavier?
What if the hollow still shows after treatment?
COMPARISON
Prejowl hollow vs jowls: whatโs the difference?
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