Today, beauty surgeons and those who work in the field of facial beauty all agree that having a proportionate chin is one of the most important factors in a beautiful face. In this article, we will discuss chin augmentation and its methods, such as chin surgery and implant placement.
Research shows that many people who are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their nose or who have sagging muscles in the submental area do not pay attention to their small chin because a small chin makes the nose appear more prominent and the sagging in the submental area more noticeable.
Today, with the advancement of science and technology in the medical field, there are numerous techniques in surgery and non-surgical methods for correcting the shape of the chin and beautifying it. Sometimes the question arises whether the beauty standards for the chin are the same for men and women?
In response to this question, we must say no. The chin is different in men and women. For example, in a full-face view, a man’s chin is wider and has a greater width, while in a full-face view, a woman’s chin has a smaller width. In a profile view, a man’s chin is also more prominent and elongated compared to a woman’s chin.
What are the solutions for chin correction? One of the best solutions for chin correction is the use of chin implants. In the following, we will examine the solutions for chin correction.
A chin implant is a device that comes in various shapes and sizes and is used to enhance the prominence of the chin during chin surgery or cosmetic chin enhancement. This device is made of materials that are compatible with the body’s natural tissues and can remain in the body for a long time, even permanently.
Perhaps the best solution for individuals who lack facial harmony due to a small chin, and whose lower face may not be proportionate to the upper part, is a chin implant. In such cases where the proportion between the upper and lower face is not balanced, the beauty of other facial features may not be fully appreciated. Beautiful lips paired with a small chin cannot showcase their full attractiveness, and the same applies to the nose and other facial features and the neck.
In such situations, we can correct this imbalance by augmenting the chin (chin surgery or cosmetic chin enhancement) and, in addition to beautifying the chin, also enhance the appearance of other facial features.
The use of chin implants is one of the most common methods for enhancing the chin. Another important application of chin implants, less commonly used in Iran, is the rejuvenation of the lower part of the face. With age, the chin and especially the surrounding tissues become smaller and less voluminous. Placing an implant in this area can restore lost volume and rejuvenate the face.
If I don’t want to use a chin implant, are there other methods for chin augmentation? Yes, there are less invasive methods, albeit with shorter-lasting results, such as:
By injecting dermal fillers or fat, we can slightly augment the chin and correct its retrognathism to some extent. This method is a suitable choice for individuals who require minor changes in the chin area, and a more aesthetically pleasing appearance can be created using this method. Due to the nature of fillers, shaping is easier with them compared to fat, and a better form can be created in the chin area using fillers.
In this method, the patient’s chin is surgically broken, and it can be moved slightly forward or backward. This method was more common in the past, but due to the breaking and sculpting of the bone, it is considered a difficult surgery and has a long recovery period. Therefore, this method is less commonly used today.
By using an implant, the risk of asymmetry in the chin is significantly reduced, and in some cases, the surgeon can reduce existing asymmetries in the patient’s chin by carefully sculpting the implant and using it in the appropriate location (asymmetries can never be completely eliminated, but they can be minimized using certain techniques).
This method is suitable for individuals whose lower jaw is very small and retracted, and their teeth do not align well. In this method, if the individual also suffers from snoring, their snoring will also decrease, whereas using a chin implant cannot reduce snoring.
Overall, few people are inclined to undergo this procedure because it is a difficult surgery with a long recovery period and is more expensive than other methods.
In this image, you can see a person whose chin, due to being set back, has lost its standard form, and the receding chin has also caused a double chin. The double chin in this person is not due to excess weight. By correcting the shape of the chin through chin implant surgery, both the chin shape has been corrected and the double chin has been eliminated.
Chin implants can be installed from inside the mouth or under the chin.
The surgical incision for the chin is made inside the mouth behind the lower lip. Therefore, a significant advantage of this method is that since the incisions are inside the mouth, they are not visible at all. Some patients prefer this method. In this method, the chin muscle (mentalis) must be cut to reach the implant placement site. Although this muscle is repaired with special sutures after the surgery, it will still not be as natural as before and over time, after years, it can cause a change in shape in the lower lip. Also, the risk of damage to the chin sensory nerve (mental nerve) is higher in the intraoral approach. People who experience numbness in the lower lip after implant placement fall into this category. On the other hand, due to the small size of the surgeon’s field of view, the possibility of sculpting and shaping the installed implant will be limited.
Installing a chin implant from the outside (through an incision under the chin) provides a very good view for the surgeon so that they can choose the appropriate place to install the implant, resulting in the desired shape. Also, in this method, for people who have a double chin problem, the double chin can also be corrected simultaneously by removing the fat under the chin.
Additionally, there is a higher risk of damaging the sensory nerve of the chin (mental nerve) with the intraoral approach. Patients who experience numbness in their lower lip after implant placement fall into this category. Furthermore, due to the limited field of view for the surgeon, the ability to sculpt and shape the implanted prosthesis is restricted.
Placing the chin implant externally (through an incision under the chin) provides the surgeon with a much better view, allowing them to select the optimal placement site for the implant, resulting in the desired shape. Additionally, in this method, for patients with a double chin, the double chin can also be corrected simultaneously by removing the fat under the chin.
Chin implants can be secured using screws or sutures. Alternatively, if the surgeon does not create a very large incision for implant placement, they can leave the chin implant loose in place without screws or sutures. However, the risk of the implant shifting is much higher in the latter case.
Securing the implant with screws helps prevent it from shifting. Moreover, in chins that have asymmetry before chin surgery, the asymmetry can be reduced by sculpting the implant after placement and fixation. Experience has shown that this method yields good results
Individuals seeking minor or minimal changes in their chin area (maximum 3 millimeters) are advised to consider non-surgical methods for chin contouring. This is because the smallest available implant is approximately 3 millimeters, and there are currently no smaller options. Therefore, it’s recommended that individuals aiming for changes less than 3 millimeters opt for non-surgical procedures.
Contact us via WhatsApp for offline consultation.
Often, individuals when choosing a chin implant only consider one dimension: bringing the chin forward (increasing projection). However, to have a beautiful chin, a three-dimensional change must be created. Therefore, it’s essential to pay attention to the width of the chin in a full-face view. A proportionate chin width can smooth out the edge of the lower jawbone and align it (a characteristic seen in young individuals), and also significantly contribute to the beauty of the jawline. Neglecting this aspect can result in the lower part of the face not appearing as beautiful, despite the chin being brought forward.
Another crucial point to consider is the dimensions of the arms on the sides of the chin implant. The appropriate choice of the length of the implant arms significantly impacts the determination of the chin shape. Older implants were designed with short arms and only made the chin prominent from the front, depriving the user of the other benefits of this surgery.
While the use of older chin implant models still has applications in some individuals, it is not suitable for most patients because its use can reveal a hollow in the areas around the chin (prejowl sulcus), a condition more commonly observed in elderly individuals.
Choosing implants with long arms allows the surgeon to fill the hollows on the sides of the chin after implant placement. This method not only brings the chin forward but also rejuvenates the lower part of the face (around the chin and lips).
Given the differences in chins between men and women, is the gender of the patient considered when selecting a suitable implant?
In response to this question, it should be said that chin implants do not have male and female types and can be used for both genders, but they vary in terms of mold and size.
The surgeon, based on the patient’s gender, facial anatomy, and chin shape, sculpts the implant and gives it the desired shape needed for the chin, ensuring harmony with the other facial features in addition to beautifying the chin.
It should be noted that not all implants can be sculpted and reshaped.
Contact us via WhatsApp for offline consultation.
The impact of the implant material on short-term results (less than one to two years) is generally the same for all implants used. However, the long-term results of implants vary somewhat. The compatibility of the chin implant with the body and the changes that occur around the implant over time are very important in long-term results.
Among implants, the polyethylene type or (porous polyethylene chin implant) with the brand name “Medpor” can be sculpted and shaped to the appropriate width, depending on whether it is to be used for a man or a woman.
These types of implants, which have a smooth surface, cause the formation of a capsule around them. When placed on the bone, they gradually cause the absorption and resorption of the adjacent bone, and this can cause the implant to recede after several years. As a result, after the placement of silicone implants, the chin has a better appearance in the initial months compared to several years later. Also, the risk of infection is slightly higher with silicone implants (although infections of facial implants are rare).
In contrast to this group of implants (silicone, Teflon, etc.), there is a porous polyethylene implant (Medpor) that, like a sponge, has many pores. The presence of these pores prevents the formation of a capsule around the implant and, in addition, leads to tissue growth in these pores. Another advantage is that it does not cause any corrosion on the underlying bones.
Contact us for consultation
Therefore, in addition to having a more stable long-term result, these prostheses have a lower risk of infection compared to other types. However, there are two main reasons why the use of these prostheses is less common:
● The price of these prostheses is higher than other types.
● Installing and shaping these prostheses requires a high level of precision, and only surgeons with advanced skills in installing these prostheses can achieve optimal results.
Please note that the short-term results of chin prostheses are the same for all types of prostheses. The main difference lies in the long-term results of the prostheses.
While chin augmentation surgery is considered a safe procedure, like any other surgery, it can have potential complications. However, these complications can be prevented or treated with specific approaches. Polyethylene prostheses, in particular, have a lower risk of infection compared to other types.
If the incision is made under the chin, complications may include pain, swelling, or infection.
If the incision is made inside the mouth, in addition to the above factors, it may cause the lower lip to droop after several years, creating the appearance of aging when smiling. It can also cause the chin to sag, resulting in an unattractive dynamic of the chin.
Given the nature of the surgery and the post-operative conditions, it is important to be aware of the specific post-surgery care instructions so that you can return to your normal life as quickly as possible and avoid any specific complications arising from the surgery. To this end, immediate post-surgery support will be provided through the sending of care files and follow-up phone calls.
For cases where the facial bones have atrophied or not developed well, we use implants. By placing an implant, some sagging can be improved.
If the main goal of placing a jaw implant is to create symmetry, it’s best not to proceed with this procedure.
Since the implant is biocompatible, rejection is rare, and the risk of infection is less than 1%.
Depending on the individual’s facial shape, after evaluation, it’s possible that a chin implant could make the face appear slightly more elongated.
Medpor implants typically do not need to be replaced. For silicone implants, it’s best to consult with a doctor.
Medpor implants can be shaped to the desired form, but silicone implants cannot be altered.
A Medpor implant has a porous texture, similar to bone tissue, and can be shaped and does not require replacement.
A silicone implant has a gel-like texture, cannot be altered, and is best replaced after about ten years.
Since Medpor implants have a porous texture and resemble bone tissue, the risk of infection is less than 1%.
Since an incision is made during surgery, antibiotics are usually prescribed. However, because the incision for a jaw implant is inside the mouth, a specific type of antibiotic should be used.
This varies from person to person. On average, more than 80% of swelling goes down in the first month, and the remaining 20% resolves within 3 to 6 months.
Yes, for individuals who want more facial contouring, these two surgeries can be performed simultaneously.
Yes, chin surgery is not only for creating facial angles.
Yes, non-surgical methods such as gel injections or fat grafting can be used.
All implants, whether silicone or Medpor, are fixed with titanium screws, preventing displacement.
The incision can be made either under the chin or inside the mouth, but Dr. Beyat’s method is exclusively submental.
If the incision is made inside the mouth, the mentalis muscle is cut.
1) After several years, the lower lip droops, leading to an unattractive smile
2)Chin sagging and an unattractive chin dynamic.
The submental region can be partially tightened simultaneously with the chin surgery incision.
Chin implant surgery can be performed under general anesthesia or deep sleep.
Chin implant surgery can be performed with local anesthesia.
Chin implants do not have specific designs for men and women and can be used for both genders, but they come in various shapes and sizes.
In general, tissue healing is slower in smokers compared to non-smokers, and tissue damage may occur. Therefore, it is best to stop smoking before surgery. It is also important to know that the risk of scarring is higher in smokers.
Implants offer higher safety and a shorter recovery period.
