My chin wrinkles up when I close my mouth! Help? (Photo)

Question

Hello! Whenever I close my mouth, my chin wrinkles up. The only time my chin is relaxed is when my mouth is hanging slightly open. I find it annoying to have to keep my mouth slightly open all the time to avoid a wrinkly, weird-looking chin (as well as looking confused or kind of dumb by having my mouth hanging open all the time). I read that this is called a "weak chin" and that it can be fixed, but I don't know. Thank you for your help!

Theda C. Kontis, MD · Answer

You are describing something we occasionally refer to as "orange-peel chin." This is a dimpling in the chin skin due to the action of two chin muscles called the mentalis muscles. A small amount of Botox placed into these muscles will relax the muscle and prevent the pitting you notice when you close your mouth. If done correctly, the Botox will not have any effect on your ability to bring your lips together or change your smile. I describe this injection technique in my book, Cosmetic Injection Techniques, available on Amazon.com.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Joshua Lampert, MD, FACS · Answer

Sometimes patients with a "weak" or small chin develop wrinkles below their lower lip when they force their mouth closed.  The muscle used here is called the mentalis muscle.  Developing a wrinkled chin with mouth closure is called mentalis strain.  Frequently, a genioplasty can help alleviate this problem. See a board certified plastic surgeon to be evaluated.

Joseph Niamtu, III · Answer

You have a recessive chin and probably also have what is called Lip Incompetence, meaning your lip struggles to close and the wrinkles are probably from your mentalis muscle.Small amounts of Botox in the mentalis muscle can help.  Also my experience is that lip incompetence can be  improved with chin implants, so you may get two benefits out of placing a chin implant.Joe Niamtu, III DMDCosmetic Facial SurgeryRichmond, Virginia

Stuart H. Bentkover, MD (retired) · Answer

Hard to tell exactly what is bothering you from the photo.  Often people who have a short or so called "weak" chin will have wrinkling of the chin that looks like the wrinkled skin of an orange.  This is thought to be from the muscles of the chin working overtime over a number of years.  Often a good temporary fix is botulinum toxin.  I have attached a link to a photo.  Enlarging the chin with an implant can improve the profile but will not fix the muscle issue.  Patients often still need botulinum injections from time to time. You need to be evaluated in person to see exactly what is bothering you.  Perhaps it is not what I have described.

My chin wrinkles up when I close my mouth! Help? (Photo)

Answers (5)

More Genioplasty Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (5)

More Genioplasty Questions

Why is my jaw so crooked? (photo)

Do I need a large chin implant, sliding genioplasty or both? (photo)

Should I have a sliding genioplasty? Would moving the bone make the chin that much of a difference? (Photo)

How could I achieve a smaller, more rounded chin? (photo)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS