Chin Augmentation
Facts
- Average Treatment Cost
- $2,705
- In/Outpatient
- Outpatient
- Recovery Time
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Procedure Time
- 1 hour
- Anesthesia
- Local with sedation or general
- Duration of Results
- Permanent
What you should know
Chin Injectables and Fillers
Who fillers are for:
- For those who desire a more defined chin
- For those who complain of a chin that is too pointy, bony, pronounced or angular
- For those with a dimpled or cleft chin
Who fillers are not for:
- For those with substantive volume loss
- For those with substantive skin laxity
Chin Implants
Implants:
Who implants are for:
“People who suffer from mid-face hypoplasia, when the cheeks appear sunken because the bones of the cheek did not fully develop, are ideal candidates for cheek implants, along with others who want to accentuate their cheekbone area,” Pittsburgh plastic surgeon James Fernau, MD, says. “Chin implants are [also] best for people with weak chins, and it gives them a more chiseled look.”
Also for:- For those who complain of a square or wide face
- For those who complain that their nose is too large
- For those who desire a more defined chin
- For those who want to offset the signs of aging
Who are they not for?
- For those who complain their chin is too pointy or projecting too far outward.
- For those who want to downplay their chin rather than enhance it
- For those who have a dimpled chin
Chin Injectables and Fillers
To de-emphasize a chin that’s too pointy or pronounced, facial fillers and injections may be the solution. Without surgery, fillers such as Juvéderm, Restylane and Perlane can soften harsh angles and injectable toxins such as Botox—used off-label—can relax muscles to smooth contours. Hyaluronic acid fillers are also used to detract attention away from a dimpled or “cleft” chin. According to Robert Singer, MD, “When volumizing the face, you want to create natural curves so that the end result is appropriate.”
“With central volumization, the face tends to gets more square and rectangular over time. Lateral volumization brings the face back to its natural form—gentler, rounder, softer and very hard for the naked eye to detect that something has been done,” adds Sarasota, FL, dermatologist Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD.
For more permanent results, your doctor may recommend fat grafting: a procedure where fat is removed from an area such as the thighs, stomach or buttocks and injected into the deep tissues of the face to restore volume.
Inside Tips: Cheek Augmentation
Keep in mind that some areas are simply best addressed together when it comes to augmenting facial features. The chin is often addressed along with the nose.
In addition to improving the face aesthetically, implants also slow down the effects of how bone ages. If you have strong cheekbones and a prominent jawline, you may age at a much slower rate than someone who has weaker bones. Chin implants can start making this positive impact as early as one's 20s or 30s.
Post-Treatment Care: Chin Augmentation
To control swelling, it is helpful to sleep with your head elevated.
Most doctors use removable sutures that come out in seven to 10 days, and during that time, you will need to keep the incision clean.
Men should avoid shaving the area for 14 days and then use only an electric razor for the following two weeks.
Chin Implants
Whether your chin naturally recedes or your face has lost volume with age, a weak chin may give the appearance of sunken cheeks, small lips and an oversized nose. Implants will help to restore facial contours, define a jawline, and revolumize an otherwise unbalanced facial structure.
If you’ve suffered significant volume-loss over the years, surgically placing an implant in the chin can help return facial youth. “The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of aging," says American Society of Plastic Surgeons president Malcolm Z. Roth, MD, who recently shared ASPS statistics that name chin implants as the fastest growing procedure in 2011.
Oftentimes when a patient feels their nose is out of proportion, the plastic surgeon may suggest augmenting the chin rather than performing a rhinoplasty or nose job (It’s also common for a chin augmentation to be performed in conjunction with rhinoplasty). For example, a proportional nose may appear oversized if your chin is recessed. Opting for chin implants rather than reducing the size of your nose can give you the facial balance you desire.
According to Pittsburgh plastic surgeon James Fernau, MD, chin implant surgery can also complement other procedures. “Females can balance a rhinoplasty with chin implants and look a lot better. It gives them a more sophisticated look,” he explains. In a female patient, the implant should be in proportion and not overly large to avoid a masculine appearance, according to La Jolla, CA, plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD.
What is Chin Augmentation?
A surgical procedure that creates a larger or more defined chin. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon places an implant in the chin region through an incision either inside the mouth or under the chin; it is barely noticeable after healing. Temporary fillers or long-lasting micro-fat grafts are oyher options for patients with more minor chin retrusion.
A chin reduction is also an option for those with an overly prominent chin. For this surgery, a plastic surgeon will make an incision inside the mouth or under the chin to access the bone. The physician will set it back so that it appears less angular, or slide it forward if it is bony and angular, which will soften the contours.
What to Expect With Chin Augmentation
A silicone chin implant will effectively increase the volume of the chin and bring balance to the face.
Most patients will experience some swelling and bruising, so many surgeons recommend taking off from work for up to a week. Some tightness is normal, and you may feel restricted to fully smile in the first few months.