Chin protrudes when I smile. Can this be treated non-surgically? (Photo)

Question

The profile of my chin looks okay in a neutral state, but protrudes significantly when I smile. Is Botox a possible solution? Or should I be looking at surgical solutions, like a chin reduction?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Yes, Botox (botulinum toxin) can be a non-surgical option to reduce chin protrusion when smiling if the cause is related to muscle overactivity, such as hyperactivity of the mentalis muscle.

Chin protrusion during smiling is often due to excessive contraction of the mentalis muscle, which can cause a "pebbly" or protruding chin appearance. Injecting Botox into the mentalis muscle can relax it, reducing the prominence of the chin during animation without affecting the resting profile.

However, if the chin protrusion is due to underlying skeletal or dental issues—such as mandibular excess or vertical maxillary excess—Botox alone may not fully address the problem. In such cases, surgical options like chin reduction or orthognathic surgery might be necessary for a permanent correction.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. This is a great question. If your chin appears to protrude significantly when you smile, Botox could be a potential option, but its effectiveness will depend on the underlying cause. Botox can be used to relax the muscles around the chin and lower face, which might help reduce the prominence of the chin when you smile. This approach is typically less invasive and requires little downtime. However, if the protrusion is due to the structural shape of your chin or if it’s causing significant concern, you might want to consider surgical options, like chin reduction or contouring. Surgical procedures can provide more permanent results by altering the bone structure and achieving a more balanced profile. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

The cause of your exaggerated prominent chin when smiling is the lack of vertical projection of your chin. Increasing the vertical length of your chin will diminish the projection, diminish the deep mentolabial fold, and improve your overall facial balance. The procedure is called a sliding genioplasty and is performed in the office with intravenous sedation anesthesia.

Chin protrudes when I smile. Can this be treated non-surgically? (Photo)

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Chin protrudes when I smile. Can this be treated non-surgically? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.