What are my options to make my chin and cheekbones bigger and fuller without the need of implants?

Question

I want a bigger chin and higher cheekbones, to bring a better balance to my face. One thing I don't want in to have something plastic in my face, that later on would have to be removed. I want a permanent, one time deal to augment my features without implants. So what would be my options? I'm thinking about a sliding genioplasty. But don't know about another way to enhance my cheekbones.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Facial sculpting and contouring can be created with well-placed fillers (Voluma, Countour, Radiesse, Bellafill) and Sculptra, which would give improvement in facial balance. Fat or implants are alternatives. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.Voluma is excellent for volumizing the cheeks without the need for implants. It is FDA approved for the cheeks in the U.S. and also approved in Europe for the chin.

To be sure you are a good candidate, see two or more board
certified and experienced plastic surgeons in your area for a full and complete
evaluation.

I hope this helps.

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question and your thoughts. I understand that you have reservations about facial implants, though these are quite safe. Fillers such as Voluma and Radiesse are excellent options, though these are not permanent.  For patients who do not want implants or fillers, the options are more limited. For the chin, as you mentioned, a sliding genioplasty may be a good choice. In this surgery, the chin bone is cut horizontally, advanced, and then held in place with metal plates.  Without seeing your picture, I can't tell you how this would look for you.  In the cheek area, you could have fat grafting (microlipoinjection).  In this case, fat is taken from the abdomen, purified and washed, and then injected with tiny cannulas. This adds volume to the face, but it is soft tissue volume -- not bone.  Best of luck moving forward!

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It is difficult to appreciate how these interventions will alter your appearance. For this reason, I commonly recommend fillers such as Radiesse for the Chin and Radiesse/Voluma/Perlane for the cheeks. For a longer term result, fat injections are another option but are more of a surgical procedure and require a donor site and over-correction.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Chin and cheekbones bigger without implants is possible with fillers. The problem is the fillers will only last a few years. I have used implants for permanent results for years with no problem other than a rare infection and feel these have fewer problems and last longer than fillers or fat.

What are my options to make my chin and cheekbones bigger and fuller without the need of implants?

Answers (5)