Skip to main content
Chin Augmentation

Chin Augmentation

Chin Augmentation (Mentoplasty) is a procedure to improve the shape, and size of your chin, by either placing an implant or reducing the bone to improve its proportion and harmony with your face.  Often chin augmentation is recommended in patients undergoing nasal surgery (rhinoplasty), because the results of the nose can be enhanced by concurrently assessing facial proportions including the projection of your chin to help achieve optimal facial balance.

Next Step: Click here Chin Augmentation FAQs

Is This Surgery Right For Me?

The best candidates for chin augmentation are otherwise healthy adults, who are nonsmokers, who have either a weak receding chin with an undefined jawline or feel that their chin is too long, wide or prominent for their face.  Dr. Capuano can help determine if chin augmentation is right for you, after careful examination of your anatomy and facial proportions, and consideration of your individual goals.     Your results may also be improved by improving the health, color and texture of your facial skin through combined treatment with non-surgical facial rejuvenation therapies including skin care systems, injectable fillers, toxin therapy, and laser resurfacing.

Ask the Doctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Length of Surgery

Chin augmentation usually takes between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on your anatomy, and the type and extent of correction needed. This surgery is performed either in a hospital or in an accredited surgery center under sedation or general anesthesia and additionally using a local anesthetic. You will likely be discharged home the day of surgery.

Expected Recovery

Most patients are able to return to work within about 7-10 days. You may begin light exercise at 2 weeks, while 6 weeks is required, before returning to strenuous activity or lifting. Bruising may be present for up to 3 weeks.  Because of swelling and healing tissues, the final appearance of your nose may not be evident until one year after surgery. Patients are instructed to protect themselves from direct sun exposure for 1 year, and to wear sunscreen.   Silicone therapy is additionally used to improve appearance of scars. 

Common Side Effects

Bruising and swelling around the chin, aching or throbbing, and temporary numbness

Surgical Risks

Risks include bleeding, infection, hematoma, damage to facial nerves and musculature, scarring, asymmetry, unsatisfactory results requiring additional surgery.

Dr. Capuano consistently achieves excellent results with chin augmentation.   He is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and he would be happy to discuss your options if you are thinking about a chin augmentation.

How do I make an appointment for a consultation?

Contact the office of the Northern Center for Plastic Surgery at (201)820-5280 to schedule an appointment.

What is the downtime for a chin augmentation with a rhinoplasty??

Post chin augmentation one will feel more like themselves in about 7-10 days.  We commonly see chin augmentations performed at the same time as rhinoplasty's, together you would feel like yourself by 10-14 days.  Bruising can occur at the site of the implant and pressure is expected for a while until the implant allows for your skin to settle in place around it.

I think my chin is really small, I would describe it as tiny in comparison to the rest of my face and seems to recede in profile, I am not sure if my nose is too big because of this but I simply seem out of proportion, what do you recommend?

Thank you for the great question.  This is tough to answer without pictures but there are several corrective measures that are available to help make you feel like your chin is in proportion with the rest of your face.  A chin implant is a great, simple and permanent alternative.  We can also use soft tissue fillers if you are looking for something less permanent.  Overall, our chin implant patients are very pleased with this alternative.  As far as your nose is concerned, this is generally a common concern when ones chin is out of proportion with their face.  If you are pleased with the shape of your nose and your profile, I would not consider anything surgical with your nose without coming in for a proper consultation.  At that point, it can be decided if less invasive measures can be taken to resolve your concerns.  I hope this helps and please feel free to come in for a consultation with Dr. Capuano at your convenience.  

I have bulging below my bottom lip on either side, it makes my chin dimple and look like an orange peel, do I need a chin implant?

Thank you for the question.  Often, bulges in the lateral perioral region represent the surface contour and insertion of the muscles that allow you to smile, frown and pucker your lips.  These contours can often be softened or hidden with selective use of hydrated hyaluronic acid fillers and botulinum toxins.  Care must be taken with toxin use, as it may result in asymmetry of smile.  The appearance of orange peel in the chin is from flexion of the mentalis muscle.  It can be more evident in patients who have relatively thin skin of their chin.  This can be improved with botulinum toxin as well.    As far as your chin is concerned, without a profile or lateral image, it is not possible to evaluate the extent to which a chin augmentation may help you.  That said, if you would like some additional chin projection, but do not want surgery, a small amount of filler can be placed (off-label) in the chin along the bone or within or just under the skin.  An in person consulation with Dr. Capuano is necessary to fully evaluate your concern, please feel free to call 201-820-5280to schedule an appointment with the Doctor. 

I have been told my face seems asymmetrical, the left side seems smaller then the right and my chin is smaller then my nose.

Thank you for your question.  Facial asymmetry is a very common concern, and most people's faces are not completely symmetrical.  In my opinion, your photographs reveal a small amount of facial skeletal asymmetry.  This however, may be accentuated by asymmetries in your nasal sidewalls, tip and alar rims.  Correction of these issues during a rhinoplasty can improve your sense of overall facial symmetry.   A chin implant can also improve your profile and provide better balance to your lower face when done concurrently with a rhinoplasty.  An in person evaluation by a who Dr. Capuano, who is experienced in accomplishing facial symmetry with chin implants and rhinoplasty surgery is a good first step. 

Will a chin augmentation improve my profile?

Without a picture it is difficult to say whether or not a chin augmentation would improve your profile.  I can say that a chin augmentation could definitely help improve the length of one's chin and in turn make for a profile which is more in line with your facial anatomy (If your chin is singificantly undersized in comparison to the rest of your face and even smaller than your lips when observing your profile).  We have had some very dramatic and positive outcomes from a procedure as simple as a minor chin augmentation.  We can also place filler in that same space if you are interested in a little change in that area as well.  We call that a liquid chin augmentation it is the non-permanent version of a chin augmentation. For more severe cases we recommend a chin augmenation.  This can all be decided with a thorough consultation with Dr. Capuano.  

How much can a chin implant improve your appearance?

Thank you for the question.  More often then not a chin implant can greatly improve ones look with minimal downtime and discomfort.  Not surprisingly, many of us don't see this because we never see our profile. Here are some steps to find out whether or not a chin implant will improve your overall look.

1. Take a photo of yourself or have someone take one for you.

2.  Hold a straight ruler (or straight line of some sort maybe a piece of paper) up to the photo.

3.  Place the photo parallel to your upper lip.  

4. your upper lip and the end of your chin should be in line or very close to it.

If your findings are that your chin distance is not parallel or nearly parallel with the area of your upper lip between your nose and upper lip also known as the philtrum a chin implant or liquid chin augmentation may gratly improve your look.  Call our office and schedule a consultation to meet with Dr. Capuano to discuss the possiblities of chin augmentations in Bergen County NJ.  Call 201-820-5280 

I have a chin implant and got in a car accident, I can't tell but is it possible my implant moved?

Thank you for the question.  Yes, though it depends on if you hit your chin.  Assuming you did it is possible to dislodge the implant from the soft tissue or tear the soft tissue adjacent to the implant which may cause it to move around.  I recommend an evalutation, please come in to see the Doctor when you can.