Seattle Chin Enhancement
Your chin and jawline serve to balance your face, make your features appear proportionate, and create a natural contour between the head and neck. If you have a small or recessed chin, it can alter facial harmony, detract from your other features, and accentuate the appearance of a heavy neck or excess skin.
Many patients find their appearance can be dramatically improved by enhancements to the chin. By strengthening the chin, the placement of chin implants can bring your features back into proportion and improve the overall appearance of your face.
Augmentation with Chin Implants
In cases where the chin is simply small (microgenia) or recessed (retrogenia), an implant is used to bring the chin out to proper proportions. Chin augmentation is typically performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation. Dr. Sobel will begin by making a short incision under the chin, located as inconspicuously as possible. Through this incision, Dr. Sobel will place your specially fitted implant around your natural chin bone and secure it over the front of the jawbone. He will then close and dress your incision, and you will be able to return home the same day.
Depending on your individual circumstances, Dr. Sobel may tape the chin to reduce swelling and post-operative discomfort. After surgery you will need to avoid strenuous activity, but you should be able to return to work within just a few days.
Your Chin Implant
While chin implants can be made out of a variety of materials, Dr. Sobel typically uses facial implants made of medical-grade solid silicone that is safe and bio-compatible. These implants are strong, durable, and elastic, making them an excellent option for chin augmentation. During your personalized consultation with Dr. Sobel, he will recommend specific implant sizes and shapes to complement your natural facial features. Learn more about our facial implants.
Chin Augmentation Alternatives
Submental Liposculpture
If your chin is naturally strong but appears recessive due to excess fat under the chin and jaw, a chin augmentation may not give you the results you are looking for. In these cases, reducing fat around the jawline and neck can serve to accentuate your natural jawline and balance your face. Dr. Sobel uses liposuction techniques to remove fat through very small incisions. Using a specialized tube called a cannula, Dr. Sobel will carefully remove fat and sculpt along your natural jaw line, restoring a more flattering appearance to the chin. If the chin is recessive and there is excess fat under the chin, both an implant and liposculpture may be combined in one procedure.
Non-Surgical Chin Enhancement
For patients who aren’t quite ready for surgery or who need only moderate chin enhancement, Dr. Sobel may use facial fillers, such as Juvéderm® VOLUMA™ or Radiesse®, in lieu of an implant. Fillers are a safe and effective way to strengthen the chin temporarily without the need for a lengthy recovery. Read more about nonsurgical chin enhancement.
Combining Procedures for Enhanced Results
Chin augmentation may be performed alone, but many patients benefit from also having other facial procedures. Having rhinoplasty in conjunction with chin augmentation, for instance, can further strengthen and balance the face.
In the case of an aging face where skin has sagged under the chin line, a facelift will remove and tighten excess skin to bring out the chin. Facelift surgery has the added benefit of rejuvenating the entire midface and neck areas. Sometimes, if the chin is naturally recessive, a chin implant will accompany the facelift in a single procedure.
Is Chin Augmentation Right for You?
The best way to determine if Seattle chin enhancement or other procedures will work for your unique concerns and goals is to consult with a board certified cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Sobel will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that best-suits your natural anatomy and desired outcome. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation!