When I look at a face, I believe one of the best compliments I can offer to describe it is harmonious. There is not a single shape of a nose, eye, or chin that is beautiful, but the combination of all of the facial features together creates beauty. The chin is just one piece of the puzzle. When examining the face, I look at the general overall features of the face. Does the patient have large features, small features, angular features, or soft features? I will specifically look at the chin and jawline to see if it “fits” the face. If the patient has larger features and a smaller chin or the face has a small chin in general, a chin augmentation is a great procedure that can dramatically bring the face into harmony. Another key feature that I will specifically look at when examining the face is the nose. Many times, patients believe that their nose is too big. This can be true, but a small percentage of the time, the real reason the nose looks big is that the chin is too small. Chin augmentation creates the illusion of a smaller nose.
The position of the chin has psychological undertones. Men with a large and angled jawline are considered powerful, intelligent, and strong. Research shows that the majority of CEOs of major companies have strong chins. The opposite is true of men with weak chins. They can subconsciously appear as weak, less successful, and less attractive. Chin augmentation in men can be used to improve aesthetic appearance and the subconscious opinion of others. In women, it is more attractive to have a chin and jawline that “fits” the face. Generally, the chin should not be strong or weak, but just the right size.
The chin may be augmented both surgically and non-surgically. The surgical procedure is short and well tolerated, but there are also very tolerable non-surgical options. The chin may be augmented with injectable facial fillers. I am a Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina based facial plastic surgeon. I use two main types of fillers to augment the chin, HA fillers (Restylane, Perlane, and Juvéderm), and calcium hydroxyappetite (Radiesse.) Both of these types of fillers are natural products produced by the body.
At Carolina Facial Plastics we use nerve blocks and the needless filler injection technique to minimize any pain associated with the injection. The chin is injected with the filler to create a larger, stronger, and more defined jaw to help fit the face. Additionally, sometimes the muscles in the jaw may become tense and create excessive dimpling of the chin and cause the chin to be pulled up. In these cases, I will use a small amount of a chemodenervator, Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin to relax these muscles.
Finally, the easiest and cheapest non-surgical chin augmentation is the growing of facial hair. Hair covering the chin will give the appearance of a larger chin. This may be a great option for some of our male patients, but for the females the transformation to the bearded lady may bring unintended consequence (invites to join the fair!). A recent study shows that chin augmentation procedures are up 50% compared to last year.
Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh is a Board-Certified Head and Neck Surgeon and fellowship trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. His practice, Carolina Facial Plastics, has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina, serving the Southpark, Meyers Park, Eastover, Ballentyne, Huntersville, Irmo and Lexington areas.
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