Chin Implant, Fat Transfer, or a Filler?

The chin and jaw line are important characteristics in facial harmony and if weak or recessed can result in facial imbalance. Chin augmentation can be achieved by several methods, each has its own advantages and disadvantage
Non-surgical augmentation of the chin with fillers (hyaluronic acid, radiesse) offer a conservative augmentation that is temporary for between 6-12months. Fillers are generally softer materials so the augmentation of the bone along the jaw line is generally limited in effectiveness. They offer the advantage of a non-surgical procedure that enable a patient to “try out an improvement” before surgery.Fat transfer: can have variable results in augmenting the chin as survival of the fat in this area can be modest. Fat is a soft material so does not simulate boney weakness.Chin augmentation with a chin implant requires a surgical procedure to insert the chin implant, the size of the implant can be tailored to the individual and the implants will last long-term. The implant can be tailored in shape to your individual jaw line and the tails of the implant can further strengthen the jaw line. An implant can provide a long-term treatment that will last indefinately.Augmentation of the chin with jaw advancement surgery (termed sliding genioplasty) requires more invasive surgery than insertion of a chin implant. For marked recession the treatment is coupled with orthodontics requiring braces to realign bite that requires many months of treatment, there maybe numbness in the area of the jaw after treatment which can be permanent. Generally this is not required for most chin augmentation unless severe recession is present.The most suitable treatment for you, depends on you clinical features, signs and facial characteristics. In the absence of a photograph or clinical assessment this is difficult to evaluation, seeing a surgeon who is able to offer all of the alternative options may be the best way forward to fine the most suitable option for your individual needs.

The only effective treatment for a weak chin would be a preformed synthetic implant. Injectable fillers should only be used as a temporary 'test'  treatment to determine if surgical chin augmentation would be worthwhile. However, the results of injectable chin augmentation are not the same as that of a real implant so I am not certain that it provides a really good preoperative determination. Fat injections are another type of 'implant' but their take and smoothness of the result are not always assured.