6 April Inverted triangle: The beauty of the face
Direct answer: a young and harmonious face draws a Inverted triangle, with a wide base at the cheekbones and the apex at the chin. With age, that triangle tends to invert: volume is lost in the upper part and sagging and a double chin appear below. To restore it, we work on the soft tissues: to enhance cheekbones (with its own fat or hyaluronic acid), to contour the cheeks Bichat's balls Define the chin and neck (Double chin liposuction). Everything must be evaluated and indicated by a doctor.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, when we apply make-up we highlight the cheekbones and hollow the cheeks: this is how we perceive a beautiful and harmonious face. This harmony creates what we call the «inverted triangle», with the wide base at the top, at the cheekbones, and the vertex at the bottom, at the chin. Facial beauty resides above all in the hard tissues of the face (bones and cartilage), but, except in rhinoplasty, modifying the bone structure solely for aesthetic reasons is a very aggressive intervention that should not be recommended. The alternative is to act on the soft tissues to achieve facial balance. If you want to assess your case, you can find out about Facial rejuvenation in Girona with our team. Below we explain how the inverted triangle is restored.
How is the inverted triangle restored
There are three key soft tissue procedures to restore the triangular shape of the face. Each addresses a distinct area; the details and indications are always specified during the medical assessment.
| Area of the face | What is being sought | How is it done (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheekbones (base of the triangle) | To increase the volume and widen the upper part of the face to define the cheekbones. | With your own tissue (fat via lipofilling) or with hyaluronic acid, depending on the case |
| Cheeks | Refining and slightly «hollowing» the cheek to stylise the face | Bichat's fat pad removal (bichectomy), a simple surgical technique |
| Neck and jowl (vertex) | Reduce sagging jowls and define the jawline towards the chin | Neck liposuction; straightforward, around 60 minutes with light anaesthesia. |
| Chin | To improve chin projection if it is considered to be improvable | With your own tissue (fat) or hyaluronic acid, depending on assessment |
The specific combination of techniques, materials, and the suitability of each step are determined by the doctor after studying each person's anatomy and objectives.
Inverted Triangle Effect: The Three Steps
Augmenting cheekbones with autologous tissue
Highlighting the cheekbones widens the upper part of the face and restores the broad base of the triangle. Cheekbones can be treated with the patient's own tissue (fat from the patient, via lipofilling) or with hyaluronic acid; in each case, we recommend the most suitable treatment according to anatomy and the desired outcome.
2. Sculpting the cheeks: Bichat's fat pads
Slightly hollowing the cheek stylises the face and reinforces the contrast with the cheekbone. This is achieved by removing the Bichat's fat pads (bichectomy), a simple procedure. It is a minimally invasive treatment with a surgical technique lasting around 60 minutes and with light anaesthesia.
3. Eliminate double chin and define the chin
Reducing a double chin with neck liposuction defines the jawline and outlines the vertex of the triangle. If we consider the chin projection to be improvable, we correct it. The cheekbones and chin can be augmented using your own tissue (fat) or with hyaluronic acids, depending on each case.
Soft tissues, not bones
Facial harmony greatly depends on hard tissues (bone and cartilage), but modifying bone structure is very aggressive and should not be indicated for aesthetic reasons alone (except for rhinoplasty). For this reason, we work on soft tissues, which allow us to balance proportions with much less invasive procedures.
How do I know what I need?
There is no one-size-fits-all formula: the plan depends on your anatomy and what proportion you want to balance. As a general guideline:
- Flat or low volume top end: Cheek augmentation with your own fat or hyaluronic acid.
- Rounded face or full cheeks Bichat's fat pad removal (bichectomy).
- Double chin or poorly defined jawline Neck liposuction.
- Receding chin Correction with own tissue or hyaluronic acid.
Several of these steps are often combined into a single personalised plan. It should always be assessed and prescribed by a doctor.
Design your face plan with the medical team
Personalised assessment to harmonise your facial proportions, in Girona.
Frequently asked questions
The inverted triangle face shape.
How is the inverted triangle restored?
Why isn't bone modified to beautify the face?
What are Bichat's balls and what are they removed for?
Cheekbones and chin are augmented with what?
Is a double chin liposuction a complicated procedure?
Treatments and related units
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We serve patients from all over the province of Girona
Our clinic is located in the centre of Girona (Plaça Poeta Marquina, 3) and we regularly see patients from the city and the entire surrounding area and the Costa Brava. If you are coming from further afield, we coordinate appointments to group assessments and tests on the same day.
Plaça Poeta Marquina, 3, 17002 Girona · easy access from the AP-7 and N-II · How to get there and opening times
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