Chin Augmentation Surgery
When your chin sits in better balance with the rest of your face, your profile can look more harmonious, and you may feel more at ease with the face you see in the mirror.
Is this right for you?
Chin augmentation is usually considered when your chin is small or set back compared with the rest of your face, while your teeth and jaw still work normally. A consultation lets your surgeon decide whether this approach is a good match for you.
This may be a good fit if
- Your chin is underprojected, but your jawbone and bite function normally.
- You have tried a temporary soft-tissue filler in your chin and you are looking for a longer-lasting result.
- You are in good health with a normally working immune system, since this is an implant procedure.
- You would like a more defined chin, a wider chin, or a slightly longer face, and you understand that the result differs from one person to the next.
This may not be right if
- Your chin is long enough but lacks forward projection. In that case, a technique that moves the jawbone forward may suit you better, even though recovery takes longer.
- You currently have an infection in your mouth or teeth, or a condition that weakens your immune system.
- You are hoping for a specific result that someone can promise you with certainty. No surgery can do that.
How it works
Everything starts with an examination and a conversation. Your surgeon looks at the structure of your face, listens to what you are hoping for, and then talks through with you whether your chin should be fuller, wider, or your face slightly longer. Implants come in many shapes and sizes, and the one chosen depends on the change you want and the technique that will be used.
The implant material is biocompatible and approved by health authorities for use in the body, such as a solid silicone block or Medpor; a solid silicone block is the type used most often. Biocompatible means the material is well tolerated by your body once it is placed in the tissue.
In most cases the procedure is done through a small incision inside the lining of your mouth, so it leaves no scar that can be seen from the outside. Through this incision, your surgeon creates a pocket close to the lower jawbone, between the bone and the soft tissue of the chin, just large enough to place the implant onto the bone along the lower jaw.
Once the implant is positioned correctly, the incision is usually closed with stitches that dissolve on their own. The surgery takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A dressing is often used to hold the implant in place and to help reduce swelling over the first few days.
Realistic expectations
Chin augmentation adds volume to the jawbone in the chin area, so your chin can look more defined. It is not a substitute for other techniques when you have a different concern that needs to be addressed, and it does not promise a chin shaped exactly like anyone else's.
What this will not do
- It will not correct a chin that lacks forward projection when the chin is already long enough; that situation needs a technique that moves the jawbone.
- It will not change how your bite functions or how your teeth work together.
- It will not promise a set result in advance; the final shape of your chin depends on the structure of your own face.
Recovery
How much recovery you need depends on the technique used and whether any other surgery is done at the same time. In general, after chin augmentation on its own you can still go about your day, but your chin will feel a little sore and swollen for the first few days.
- Right after surgery
- Your lower lip may feel numb or droopy, much like after a dental visit; this feeling usually lasts longer than one night. Keeping your head raised helps the swelling settle faster, and you should avoid bumping your chin.
- The first 3 to 5 days
- A dressing is often used to hold the implant in place and to help reduce swelling. You may feel an uncomfortable tightness from the added volume of the implant.
- Around 5 to 7 days
- Your surgeon usually prescribes antibiotics and pain relief for this period; take them exactly as directed. If the surgery was done through an incision under the chin, the stitches are usually removed after 5 to 7 days.
- When the surgery is done inside the mouth
- You should eat liquid or soft foods for a few days until the incision heals, and rinse your mouth after eating to keep the incision clean.
- Until the implant settles
- You should avoid vigorous sports so the implant does not shift out of place.
Risks & safety
As with any surgery, chin augmentation carries some risks you should know about before you decide. Most are uncommon, but they can still happen.
- A change in sensation in your chin, usually temporary.
- Infection, though this is rare.
- An allergic reaction to the implant, though this is rare.
- The implant may sit unevenly if it shifts, especially in the first days after surgery.
- An uncomfortable tightness in the first few days from the added volume of the implant.
- If the surgery is done through an incision under the chin, it can leave a very small scar in a discreet area.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, our surgeons use only biocompatible implant materials that health authorities have approved for use in the body, such as a solid silicone block or Medpor, and they choose the shape and size to suit the structure of your face. In most cases the procedure is done from inside the mouth to avoid a scar that can be seen from the outside.
Our surgeons will tell you honestly if a different technique would suit your situation better. For example, when your chin is long enough but lacks forward projection, a technique that moves the jawbone forward may give a more harmonious chin, even though it needs a longer recovery; this option is discussed with you during your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is chin augmentation very painful?
Most patients do not find this a painful surgery. You may feel an uncomfortable tightness in the first few days from the added volume of the implant. This feeling usually responds quickly to oral pain relief and eases over a few days.
Will it leave a visible scar?
If it is done through an incision inside your mouth, there is no scar that can be seen from the outside. If it is done through an incision under the chin, there can be a very small scar in a discreet area that is hard to notice in everyday encounters.
How much time will I need off work?
After chin augmentation on its own, you can usually still go about your day, but your chin will feel a little sore and swollen for the first few days.
How should I eat after surgery?
If the surgery is done from inside your mouth, you should eat liquid or soft foods for a few days until the incision heals, and rinse your mouth after eating to keep the incision clean.
Will the result last?
Chin augmentation with an implant is a long-lasting way to give your chin the volume you want in a stable form, unlike a temporary soft-tissue filler. Even so, the result differs from one person to the next and cannot be promised in advance.
When can I play sports again?
You should avoid vigorous sports until the implant has settled, so that it does not shift out of place.
Can it be done at the same time as other surgery?
Yes, chin augmentation can be done at the same time as some other procedures, such as a nose surgery. Your surgeon weighs this case by case.
Can the implant shift out of place?
The implant may sit unevenly if it shifts, especially in the first days after surgery. This is why a dressing is used to hold it in place, and you should avoid bumping your chin in the early period.
What is the implant made of?
The implant material is biocompatible and approved by health authorities for use in the body, such as a solid silicone block or Medpor; a solid silicone block is the type used most often.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.