The chin forms a prominent area of the lower face and can come in a wide range of different sizes and shapes. Many people seek to achieve a strong and well-defined chin for optimal facial balance between the nose, cheeks and neck in a profile view. A small receded chin may occur due to insufficient bone projection and is most noticeable when viewed from the side. The nose may look significantly larger when people have a small chin.
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If you are concerned about the appearance of a ‘weak chin,’ there are two effective treatment options, depending on your goals. Chin implant surgery or chin augmentation with dermal fillers are popular treatments carried out at the Centre for Surgery. Several factors will determine the most suitable option, and we will discuss these below.
Chin implant surgery – what does it involve?
A chin implant procedure is also known as a genioplasty or mentoplasty. Chin augmentation with implants is the most common type of surgical procedure to enhance the size and projection of the chin. The procedure involves the implantation of a medical-grade silicone implant, which is precisely positioned to match the contours of your chin bone. Incisions for chin implant surgery can be made under the chin or within the mouth.
Chin implant surgery produces permanent results because the cheek implants are designed to last a lifetime. If you decide you no longer want a chin implant or complications develop after surgery, the chin implant can be easily removed in a second procedure.
There are several benefits of chin implants, including:
- Significant improvement in chin projection
- A natural look and feel to resemble your existing chin bone
- Permanent results requiring only one small procedure
- Chin implants come in a wide range of different sizes, shapes and projections.
- Virtually invisible scarring
- Chin implant surgery can be combined with chin liposuction or rhinoplasty to enhance your profile view.
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Chin implant surgery can be carried out under a local anaesthetic with sedation if it is performed on its own. However, it is most commonly carried out under general anaesthesia, especially when treatments such as rhinoplasty are combined. There are several potential risks of surgery, including bleeding and infection. Patients need to take a minimum of one week off work alarm for recovery. If the results are not what you had hoped for, a further procedure will be required to remove the chin implant. It is important to choose an experienced surgeon who regularly carries out chin implant surgery as there is a risk of implant malposition, which may require revision surgery if carried out by an inexperienced surgeon.
Chin augmentation with chin filler
Chin augmentation with dermal fillers is an excellent non-surgical alternative to chin implant surgery. Chin filler involves the injection of a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler such as Restylane or Juvederm. Treatment with chin fillers is designed to enhance chin volume and create a more defined jawline.
Treatment with chin filler is not a permanent procedure, and results can last between one and two years. Advantages of using chin fillers for chin augmentation include:
- Quick procedure taking no more than 20 to 30 minutes to perform.
- Immediately visible results with no downtime.
- No anaesthesia or incisions are required.
- Safe and effective treatment with minimal risk.
- Lower cost compared with chin implant surgery.
- Although the filler will be gradually absorbed over time, patients can choose to have more filler injected or have chin filler removed if they do not like the results.
Regular injections of chin filler will be required over time to maintain the results. Chin augmentation with filler is designed to achieve a subtle enhancement in the size and projection of the chin. It is important to choose a highly skilled injector with experience in performing chin augmentation to get the best results.
Chin implant vs chin filler – which is best?
If you would like to enhance the size and shape of your chin and are not sure of the best treatment, we would recommend starting with chin fillers. Although the results will not be as dramatic as with a chin implant, the results of chin enhancement are often enough to give you an idea of what chin implant surgery could achieve in the future. If you are only looking to achieve a subtle enhancement to the size or the projection of the chin, chin augmentation with dermal fillers may be all that is required.
A chin implant may be more suitable in the following scenarios:
- You would like to achieve a significant improvement in the size or shape of the chin
- You are not keen on having multiple chin filler treatments to maintain the results.
- You have tried having treatment with chin filler and would now like to achieve permanent results.
- You are considering having other procedures, such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift.
It’s important to remember that chin augmentation with fillers is a highly effective method of achieving a mild to moderate improvement in the appearance of the chin. However, treatment effects are temporary, while chin implant surgery can achieve permanent results in a single procedure.
Regardless of whether you choose nonsurgical or surgical treatment, it is normal to have a mild degree of bruising and swelling in the chin region for a few days after treatment. Over-the-counter painkillers can be used during the first week if necessary. Swelling and bruising can be minimised by the regular application of cold packs for up to 15 minutes at a time for the first 72 hours after treatment.
Chin augmentation at Centre for Surgery
If you have been considering chin augmentation surgery or treatment with chin fillers, contact Centre for Surgery today at 020 7993 4849 or complete the contact form below. Our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic is located in the heart of Marylebone in central London. We are home to some of the best facial plastic surgeons in the UK with years of experience carrying out chin implant surgery, whether on its own or combined with other facial procedures such as rhinoplasty, eyelid lift or brow lift surgery.
