Do Chin Implants Look and Feel Natural?

Chin implants come in different sizes, shapes, and compositions. Most are firm, not at all soft like breast implants, or even rubbery like calf or pec implants. If properly placed below the soft tissues (adjacent to the bone), healing forms a scar that encapsulates and immobilizes the implant (which may have perforations that allow tissue to anchor the implant even further). The sensory nerves to the chin, lips, and gums should be carefully visualized and preserved during the surgery, and once healed, your chin feels normal to touch (by someone else--they will NOT be able to tell), and has normal sensation felt by you. Your appearance will be different, and your smile may be slightly altered as well (usually it is broader and more self-confident!), but the implant itself cannot be felt, moved, or damaged. Infection is rare, but more common with an inside-the-mouth incision compared to the under-the-chin scar, which is why I prefer the nearly-invisible but present scar on the underside of the chin.

A chin implant looks and feels very natural if performed with the proper technique and implant selection. As a board certified plastic surgeon, I am often asked about how chin implants feel. My many patients who have undergone this surgery will tell you that it feels “just like them.” Yet chin-implantation surgery is often a sadly undervalued and underutilized surgery. However, there is no better way EWto bring balance to the face if someone has a retrusive chin. Often, a retrusive chin is accompanied by an overprojected nose. Bringing these two elements into balance can be life-changing. The key is to look like no one touched you! In my practice, I will sometimes custom carve the implant to conform to the patient’s anatomy for a perfect fit. I prefer the “intraoral” approach, placing the implant through a tiny incision inside the mouth so that there are no visible scars on your chin. The implant will not feel fake if someone touches it because it rests on your bone, camouflaged by your muscle and chin pad. What you, or someone else, will feel would be your own tissue in front of the implant. I recommend consulting in person with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and goals, and to see if you are a good candidate for a chin augmentation.

If a chin
implant is placed by a board certified plastic surgeon you should have a
natural look and feel.  The implant will
integrate with your chin and not be noticeable.