The size, shape, position, and proportion of the chin determine the harmony of a persons facial profile with respect to other facial structures.

The shape of the chin is usually associated with the personality of a person

• Small chain or microgenia is regarded as a sign of weakness
• Ptotic or drooping chin is connected to the witchs chin
• Square chin is a sign of masculinity, strength, and attractiveness

The various modalities for the chin Augmentation or correction of the small chin are:

1. Chin Implants
2. Osseous Genioplasty
3. Filler Injections

A chin implant is reserved for patients who want to improve their facial profile and have a narrow chin due to horizontal chin deficiency (Microgenia). A chin implant can also be combined with rhinoplasty surgery in patients with a small chin looking to improve their overall facial aesthetics.

The material used for chin implant can be:

• silicone
• High-Density porous polyethylene
• Polyamide

Anaesthesia: The chin implant surgery is performed under General Anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with IV sedation.

Incision: The incision in the chin implant is usually given inside the mouth- in the crease between the lower lip and the gums so that the scar after the chin implant is invisible.

Preoperative preparation

The preoperative preparation before the chin implant involves a clinical examination to analyse the chin deformity and an X-ray of the chin area and jaw bone to plan for the surgery.

 It also involves a few basic blood investigations for the fitness of the surgery.

Duration of chin implant Surgery

The chin implant surgery may take between 1-2 hours, depending upon the severity of the chin deformity. After the surgery, the patient can be discharged on the same day.

Post Op Advice

• The patient is advised to take a soft diet for 4 to 5 days after the chin implant and is then gradually started on solid foods
• The patient is also advised to maintain local hygiene with frequent mouthwashes
• There can be some swelling in the region of the chin, which settles over the next 4 to 6 weeks 
• The stitches used in chin implant are absorbable, so there is no need to get them removed after the surgery

Another option for chin augmentation is osseous Genioplasty, in which the chin augmentation is done by cutting and sliding the lower portion of the bone, and no implant is used.

Another option for chin augmentation is Dermal fillers, in which highly viscous Hyaluronic acid (HA) is injected just above the deficient bone of the chin to give it a 3-dimensional improvement. The dermal fillers used in chin augmentation last for 18 months and need to be repeated after that.

Fillers can be used in patients who don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure and are looking for a non-invasive option.

Fillers are also a good option for patients who have a special occasion in the near future, don’t want any downtime like swelling, and want immediate improvement in their chin.