Can Botox prevent my chin from elongating when smiling? (Photos)

Question

My chin looks perfectly fine and proportionate when I’m not smiling, but when I do smile, my chin elongates significantly and looks too long and pointy for my face (see photos). Would Botox injected into the mentalis muscle prevent my chin from doing this when I smile?

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

Botox is useful in the chin when there is an active mentallis muscle. I don't see that when you smile. You might want to consider chin reduction surgery to make your chin less prominent and pointy. There are several ways that this can be accomplished. I recommend that you find someone with experience in reduction genioplasty. Good luck

Matthew Richardson, MD · Answer

Botox is most commonly used in the chin area to decrease dimpling or wrinkling that occurs with facial expression. For this, it works quite well. It may also help to decrease the elongation of the chin that occurs with smiling, but this overall benefit may vary from one patient to another. An in-person exam could be very helpful to watch the facial movements in action and determine how effective Botox might be.
Be sure to see an expert physician injector who specializes in facial aesthetics as any Botox injections near the mouth are advanced techniques with potential negative side effects.
All the best,

Suneel Chilukuri, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photos and your concerns.  Neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) are used to relax / soften muscles.  In the area of the chin, Botox can soften the contracture of the mentalis muscle.  Unfortunately, this would not help as it may slightly elongate your chin.  
Please see a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who specializes in nonsurgical approaches to see if you may be a candidate for filler to the upper cutaneous lip and the “prejowl” sulcus to change the proportions of your upper cutaneous lip / lower cutaneous lip and chin ratio.  If surgery is an option, consult with a plastic surgeon or oromaxillofacial surgeon regarding reduction genioplasty. 
Best of luck,
Suneel Chilukuri, M.D.
Houston, Texas

Melvin Elson, MD · Answer

Botox can certainly help with this problem so see a board certified experienced dermatolotgist for a consultation

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

I'm not sure Botox is what you need. Yes, neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport can be injected into the chin but they are commonly used in the chin to reduce chin dimpling caused by contraction of the mentalis muscle. Filler can be used to give some support to the tissues around the mouth and to soften smile lines. This will improve the appearance of the perioral region. As for chin elongation with smiling, I not sure either treatment will address that.

Michael H. Gold, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and we always recommend that you have a consultation with  a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to learn all of your treatment options.  You are a candidate, from your photos, to have Botox injections in the proper places on your chin to help change the shape of your chin while smiling.  Have the proper consult and learn what can be done here.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

You can have botox in the injected in your chin, but it has to be done extremely carefully and by someone who knows the anatomy of the human face very well. I can only think of someone who is a plastic surgeon like myself or a head and neck surgeon who knows the anatomy that well. Make sure they're very well-versed in the use of Botox in the chin area or very negative effects can happen. Good luck from New York City

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