Are chin implant or genioplasty the better option? Hoping to improve aesthetics and projection (photo)

Hello and thank you for your question. A formal evaluation would be needed to determine the best treatment. There are both surgical and non-surgical options to correct this.

We can place a chin implant, which is a quick surgical procedure. Many of my patients try to avoid surgery, however, so for those patients, we also offer non-surgical chin augmentation with injectable fillers. Fillers like Radiesse, Voluma, BellaFill, and Sculptra are injected into the area to improve the overall appearance of the lower face and balance the jaw and lip harmony. We use cannula injections to meticulously contour and project the chin, soften the chin along the jawline, and improve the chin crease.

Implants are a great option once you are ready for permanent chin enhancement.​ I suggest getting a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert, or an aesthetic facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Donald Groves; we are both located right here in Los Angeles.

Best,
Dr. Emer

Hello, hope you are well. Of the 3 options, my bias is toward chin implants. The procedure is fast and can be performed under local anesthesia with very low/acceptable risk profile and predictable, permanent results. The downtime is minimal, and the recovery period is mild from a pain/discomfort perspective.
Best,Dr. Tower

There is no right answer to this question since they all can provide an excellent result for the right patient. Fillers are temporary so any permanent result cannot be achieved with fillers. Both implants and the sliding genioplasty will provide a permanent change to the chin. In my practice, both procedures are performed in the office with sedation anesthesia. When 5-6 mm of advancement is required a chin implant or genioplasty will provide similar results. With movements 7-9 mm, I prefer the sliding genioplasty.

If you want the least invasive procedure then you would benefit from a chin implant. An intra-oral incision is made and the procedure takes about 1 hour to perform under general anesthesia.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Based on this single photo it looks that chin augmentation with chin implant or genioplasty would produce desired result. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon expert in chin augmentation would help. Good luck.

A genioplasty is a major surgery performed by an oral surgeon under general anesthesia in a hospital setting with an overnight stay in the hospital, since it's more invasive. It's usually performed when the teeth are significantly out of alignment. Placement of a chin implant is done under local anesthesia, which takes about 30 minutes and it's much less invasive, and is only done for cosmetic purposes. The size and shape of the implant is usually determined at time of the consultation.

All three of the options you’ve mentioned our viable options. Each one has advantages and disadvantages and no one procedure is best.
From my experience it seems that plastic surgeons tend to favor implants, while oral surgeons seem to be more in favor of a sliding genioplasty.
It’s not a bad idea to consult with providers from both backgrounds.
It’s important to differentiate what part of the mandible is lacking in size or projection.
Many individuals have a small mandible, but may still have fairly good chin projection.
When that’s the case, excessive extension of the chin can lead to a deep labiomental fold
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD