Dr. Steven Mobley presents jawline technique at AAFPRS meeting

Salt Lake City facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Mobley presented a neck-sculpting technique at the 2026 AAFPRS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, where he was one of only two Utah surgeons invited to speak. His session focused on defining the jawline while preserving the submandibular salivary glands.

Why it matters: - The technique addresses one of the most requested goals in facial plastic surgery: a sharper jawline and neck angle. - Dr. Mobley’s approach aims to improve definition while preserving the submandibular salivary glands, which help keep the mouth moist. - The presentation reflects a broader debate in the field over how aggressively surgeons should pursue a more defined jawline.

What happened: - Dr. Steven Mobley, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Salt Lake City, was one of only two Utah surgeons invited to speak at the 2026 American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. - He presented on Sunday, Sept. 27, during a special added session on the aging face. - His talk was titled “Achieving a 'Snatched' Jawline: Reliable Platysmaplasty in the Center Neck.”

The details: - Dr. Mobley described a simplified approach to platysmaplasty, the surgery used to tighten the neck muscle. - The technique uses his patent-pending surgical clamp and neck retractor. - The clamp is designed to make the operation more efficient and accurate. - The retractor gives the surgeon a clearer view of the surgical area. - Dr. Mobley said some surgeons are removing the submandibular salivary glands to create a sharper jawline. - He said the long-term safety of that approach has not yet been shown over many years. - His technique preserves the glands while still aiming for strong cosmetic results, including in patients with difficult neck anatomy. - Dr. Mobley is the creator of the 3D Neck® procedure, which combines platysmaplasty, neck liposuction and chin augmentation.

Between the lines: - The presentation positions Dr. Mobley on the conservative end of a surgical trend that is drawing interest for its dramatic aesthetic effect. - His message suggests that better technique and visualization tools can deliver definition without removing healthy structures. - The talk also reinforces how social media beauty standards are shaping patient demand in facial plastic surgery. - In his remarks, Dr. Mobley said, “Gland removal is very popular right now, but in almost 25 years of practice I've seen trends in surgery come and go.” - He added that he takes “a safe, conservative approach” and leaves the glands in place.

What's next: - Dr. Mobley will continue teaching facelift, neck lift and 3D Neck® techniques at national and international meetings. - He has taught those techniques more than 13 times over his more than 24-year career. - Dr. Mobley has practiced in Salt Lake City since 2002. - He previously served as director of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Utah. - He has authored more than 50 published works, including textbook chapters used in surgeon training.

The bottom line: - Dr. Mobley used a major national meeting to promote a jawline-shaping technique that aims for cosmetic definition without removing the salivary glands.