Chin Augmentation / Reduction

What Are the Different Types of Chin Augmentation?

Chin Implant (Alloplastic Augmentation)

What it does:

Adds forward projection and/or width with a shaped implant placed in the subperiosteal plane over the chin.

Best for:

Adequate dental occlusion and bone height with mild-moderate deficiency in projection or width; contouring of the prejowl region with extended styles.

Materials:

Common options include silicone, porous polyethylene (Medpor), and custom (e.g., PEEK) in select cases.

Pros:

Shorter operative time, reversible/removable, predictable augmentation.

Considerations:

Small risk of malposition, visibility in very thin tissues, infection, or pressure-related bone remodeling over time; requires precise pocket creation and fixation.

Bony Reduction / Shave Contouring

What it does:

Burring/osteoplasty to slim a bulky or asymmetric chin, soften a square edge, or reduce vertical height (often combined with genioplasty for precision).

Best for:

Prominent or long chins where reduction (not just setback) improves balance.

Considerations:

Requires meticulous mentalis resuspension to prevent chin ptosis.

Sliding Genioplasty (Osseous Advancement/Setback/Height Change)

What it does:

An intraoral osteotomy moves your chin bone forward, back, up, or down, with plate/screw fixation; can correct vertical excess/deficiency and modest asymmetry.

Best for:

Need for vertical height change, desire to avoid an implant, or when bony movement gives a more natural contour for the soft tissue.

Pros:

Uses your own bone; powerful control over projection and height; natural feel.

Considerations:

Longer operation, more swelling; risks include tooth-root injury (avoided by safe osteotomy levels), neuropraxia of the mental nerve, step-off/irregularity if poorly planned.

Soft-Tissue Refinements (Adjuncts)

• Mentalis resuspension after intraoral approaches to prevent “witch’s chin.”
• Submental liposculpture for isolated fullness.
• Fat grafting (micro/nanofat) for contour and fine transitions.
• Neck procedures (e.g., deep cervical work) where neck anatomy contributes to a blunted angle.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate?

• Microgenia (under-projected chin) or a prominent/long chin.
• A noticeable prejowl hollow or weak transition to the jawline.
• Stable dental occlusion (or willingness to address bite issues first).
• Realistic goals and good general health.

When another approach may be better:

• Significant skeletal malocclusion (e.g., Class II/III) – consider orthognathic planning first.
• Concerns driven primarily by neck fat/skin – neck-focused procedures may take priority.
• Very thin soft tissues with implant-edge visibility risk – osseous options may be preferable.

Recovery and Aftercare

Oral care

Saltwater or chlorhexidine rinses (intraoral incisions); avoid smoking/vaping.

Wound care

Keep external tapes/incisions clean and dry; short course of antibiotics is common for intraoral/implant cases.

Activity

Walk daily; avoid contact sports/pressure on the chin until cleared.

Diet

Softer foods for ~1 week after genioplasty/intraoral approaches.

Follow-up

1 week, 6 weeks, then 3-6 months.

What Are the Risks of Chin Surgery?

All surgery carries risk. Possible complications include:

Bruising, swelling, temporary numbness of the lower lip/teeth

Related to the mental nerve.

Malposition

Asymmetry, contour irregularity.

Infection

Higher risk with intraoral or implant cases; seroma/haematoma.

Implants

Visibility/edge in thin tissues, capsular contracture, rare pressure bone remodeling, extrusion (uncommon).

Genioplasty

Tooth-root injury (avoided with safe levels), step-off/irregularity, plate/screw awareness, temporary weakness/tightness of mentalis.

Adverse scarring

If submental incision is used.

General anaesthetic risks

As with any surgical procedure.