Is Botox my best bet for pebble chin treatment? What does it cost?

Some people involuntarily contract 2 small muscles in the chin (mentalis muscles) which cause the chin to dimple. Doctors refer to this as peau d'orange (French for "orange peel skin".) This can also be seen after chin implant surgery. Botox can be used to weaken the contraction of these muscles and improve the appearance of the skin overlying the chin. It takes just a few units of Botox for this, so you should not pay by the "site," but by the "unit." It should cost you less than $100.

​Treatment for chin dimpling ("pebble chin" or "orange peel") is Botox injected into the mentalis muscle. This typically gives great improvement to the appearance of the chin. Results take about 1 to 2 weeks​. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer​

Your pebbly chin may represent a hyperactive mentalis muscle which has nothing to do with a previous fall. If that is the case, a few units of Botox or any comperable neurotoxin would work just fine. 4-8 units are all that you would need at a cost of $100-200. See your dermatologic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you noticed a pebbled surface of the chin, some times referred to as peau d'orange (skin of the orange), it might be related to the scarring of your accident and then the botox may not work.  If it is not caused by scarring, then this surface irregularity that shows up more when moving the muscles, will probably improve with the use of Botox injections, the effect of which will last for about four months.

All of the currently available neuromodulators, including Botox, Dysport and Xeomin when injected in minute quantities and in the proper injection points work well for reducing the pebbly appearance of the chin area due to underlying chin muscle action. Prices vary according to whether a physician charges per area or per unit. As always, the best bet is to seek a board certified injector with great experience in the use of these agents outside the conventional areas of the frown lines, crow's feet and forehead worry lines. 

It is also possible to use filler to accomplish the same goal.  Which is a better value?  Tough call.  A small dose of BOTOX can make a big difference for the cobble stone effect in the chin.  However the service lasts about 4 months.  An HA filler like Perlane can last well over a year.  Another advantage of the filler is that many people benefit enormously from chin volume.  Talk to your cosmetic surgeon and pick the option that seems right to you. Hard to go wrong either way.

Yes, Botox Cosmetic is a great treatment (off-label) for "pebble chin."  Botox treatments are quick, relatively inexpensive (compared to surgery) and effective.  Costs differ from surgeon to surgeon and city to city.  Additionally, make sure that you see a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in Botox Cosmetic injections.  

 

Good Luck.

Thank you for your question C.B. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.It is difficult to make an assessment without a formal exam in the office where I can view the skin in multiple angles and observe wrinkles formed with facial expression. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.While Botox is most commonly used in the upper face, it can also be used in various areas in the lower face. Botox can be placed in the mentalis muscle on the chin to address a cobblestone appearance or dimpling on the chin. In this area 2-8 units of Botox are used.The investment for a Botox treatment varies from office to office. It depends on the region, office, and injector. The total investment also depends on how much product is required, the areas treated, and the individual. For example, if someone has a larger forehead, a higher dose will be required. If multiple areas such as frown lines and crow’s feet will be treated the investment will be more than that if only a single area is treated. In general, men have stronger muscles than women both on the body and on the face. For this reason, men usually require higher doses than women. Please click the link above for more information. I recommend that patients look for a qualified injector instead of the best price. Look for experience, before and after photographs, and testimonials. The investment range for a Botox treatment is $200 - $500 per area. Areas include frown lines, crow’s feet, etc.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.
After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.

Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

A small number of Botox units (between and 4 and 6 units total) can be injected into the mental is muscle of the chin to eliminate chin dimpling. The maximal effect of the treatment will be seen around 1 week after injection. Bruising at the injection site is possible, but extremely rare. Results last around 4 - 6 months.

Pebble chin is caused from an overactive mentalis muscle. Botox would be a good option to improve this.