Chin Implants

Enhance a small or recessed chin and add definition to your lower face, profile and jawline with a chin implant (chin augmentation).

Quick Facts

Type

Surgical (GA or LA + sedation)

Implant

Usually silicone

Hospital

Day case

Time Off

~1 week

Exercise

Gentle from 4 weeks

Back to Normal

~1 month

Cost

On consultation

Consultation

Required

Overview

A chin implant is a surgical procedure to enhance a small or recessed chin. It can add definition and contour to your lower face, profile and jawline. Most people choose chin implants for cosmetic reasons, though they are sometimes used to reconstruct the chin after surgery or trauma. Other names for the procedure are chin augmentation or chin enhancement.

Chin implants are usually made from silicone, a flexible artificial substance, and come in different shapes, sizes and styles. Your surgeon selects the best type for your needs and aesthetic goals. A chin implant may be performed on its own or alongside other surgery, such as nose reshaping or a face and neck lift.

Alternatives: Chin filler (usually hyaluronic acid) can add volume by injection but fades over time, and chin fat grafting transfers your own fat but has some unpredictability in how much is retained.

Who Is This Procedure For?

•Anyone concerned about a small or recessed chin
•A chin that does not project far enough and is out of proportion with the forehead and nose
•Those seeking more definition to the lower face and jawline
•Patients who have reached full skeletal maturity (bone growth complete)
•Patients without a major jaw disorder and with realistic expectations

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Anaesthesia

Chin implant surgery can be carried out under general anaesthesia, or under local anaesthesia with sedation.

Incision & Implant Placement

An incision is usually made on the inside of the lower lip, just above the crease (in some cases under the chin). Specialised instruments create a precise pocket between the chin bone and the overlying soft tissues, and a silicone implant is carefully inserted to ensure a secure, snug fit.

Closure

The incision is closed using dissolvable sutures. The intraoral (inside the mouth) approach provides excellent cosmetic results without the need for screw fixation or an external scar.

Protecting the Nerves

Extra care is taken to protect the two mental nerves, which provide feeling to your lower lip, the front of your chin and part of your gums. Temporary sensory alterations after surgery are not uncommon; permanent change is exceptional.

Risks & Considerations

⚠Bleeding and bruising: As with any surgery
⚠Sensory changes: Burning or prickling sensation, or numbness from nerve injury — usually temporary
⚠Infection: Minimised by IV antibiotics before surgery and soaking the implant in antiseptic solution
⚠Implant problems: Rejection, or a shifted or misaligned implant
⚠Bone changes: Erosion or resorption of the chin bone
⚠Under- or over-correction: Asymmetries, or a result that needs adjustment
⚠Scarring: Risk of scarring or disfigurement following implant removal