I want a narrow more defined face - Chin liposuction vs Genioplasty? (Photos)

Question

Thank you so muc much in advancnce for your expertise advice! I would lilento have a countoured jaw/chin and not aurensure if I need just chin and jaw lipo or need chin advancement. I am looking to achieve a narrower more defined lower face. Please advise. I appreciate you for taking the time to look at th he pictures and respond.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your question and sharing your photographs.

The profile view shows that the projection of the chin is almost at the level of the lower lip. In general, for women, it is preferable to avoid a projection of the chin that reaches the projection of the lower lip.

As far as the profile view and their oblique view suggest, there is volume under the chin, which creates the impression that the strength of the lower jaw and the chin projection are deficient, although they don't seem to be on more accurate analysis. The volume is more likely situated predominantly deep to the platysma muscles, as such, chin lipo would have an effect, but probably not as much as you would desire.

The anterior neck lift intervention combines deep contouring for the area under the chin, including reduction of the deeper seated fatty tissue, digastric muscles, and subtly diploid glands. It is often referred to as submentoplasty. It does combine also liposuction along the jawline and to the lateral part of the neck to produce a more defined contour.

Ahmet Altintas, MD · Answer

Hello, chin liposuction and bichectomy would help to get the result that you are looking for. It would be much helpful together.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

This is a great question, and I can understand the goal—you’re looking for a more sculpted, narrow, and defined facial shape, which is something many patients want but aren’t always sure how to achieve.

The key here is understanding that chin liposuction and genioplasty address very different concerns, even though both can impact how defined your face appears.

What Chin Liposuction Does

Chin (or submental) liposuction focuses on removing excess fat under the chin and along the jawline.

It’s best for:

Fullness under the chin (“double chin”)
Softer jawline definition
Good skin elasticity

What it improves:

Sharper jawline
Better neck-to-chin angle
A slimmer lower face (if fullness is the main issue)

What it does not do:

Change bone structure
Improve a recessed or small chin
What Genioplasty Does

Genioplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes or repositions the chin bone.

It’s best for:

A recessed or weak chin
Lack of projection or facial balance
Structural concerns rather than fullness

What it improves:

Chin projection and symmetry
Overall facial harmony
The appearance of a more defined profile
Which One Do You Actually Need?

This depends on what’s causing the lack of definition:

If your concern is fullness or softness → chin liposuction is usually the better option
If your concern is bone structure or a weak chin → genioplasty is more appropriate
In some cases, both are combined for optimal contouring
A Subtle but Important Point

When patients say they want a “narrower face,” it’s often not about making the face physically smaller—it’s about creating contrast and definition:

A sharper jawline
Better chin projection
Cleaner angles

Sometimes, even small structural adjustments can make a big visual difference.

A Realistic Perspective
Liposuction  refines and subtracts volume
Genioplasty  builds and reshapes structure

They’re not interchangeable—they’re complementary tools, and choosing the right one depends on your anatomy.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Facial aesthetics are primarily determined by bone structure.
It is facial structure that gives each person do unique facial appearance.
Soft tissue coverage tends to be very consistent from person to person and it’s the underlying skeletal structure, which gives us our unique facial appearance. Addressing bone structure is addressing the primary cause but is often more involved than what patients are willing to go through. For issues related to your mandible, I think a good assessment from a very experienced senior oral surgeon may be helpful.
If you analyze your facial profile, it’s not the chin itself that is necessarily recessed, but rather the entire mandible is lacking in forward projection.
Double jaw surgery isn’t for everyone, but it would give you a more definitive treatment for your concerns.
Liposuction can can have impressive results, but I found that provider selection is critical and much plastic surgeons. Don’t have the experience to get consistent. Good results with this procedure.
It is difficult to master Liposuction, especially of this area.
If you can find the right plastic surgeon then it’s definitely worth doing.
If you’re not in the hands of the right surgeon, you could end up with new problems that can’t be fixed.Bring pictures of yourself to use during any consultation.
Always try to have in person consultations, avoiding virtual consultations.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of results of previous patients who had similar facial characteristics.
 For frontal pictures, we need to see your entire face, including your forehead.
Each body area has to be seen in context to the surrounding areas.
Augmenting your cheekbones or midface could look very good.
I suggest you check out the before and after pictures of Dr. David Mabrie MD in San Francisco. You’ll have to look up his website.
It’s an impressive collection of results.
David only does facial volume enhancement using fillers.
His work is the best I’ve ever seen.
Even if you opt for not having that treatment, it’s important to understand what it can do in the hands of the right provider. Finally, I’m not a fan of buccal fat removal. it can look very good, especially on young women with chubby cheeks.
As we lose facial volume with time, it can, however, become a very gaunt and un appealing look.
always have several consultations before committing to a permanent irreversible procedure.
Bring good pictures of yourself to use as a reference during the consultation and ask providers to show you enough comparison results.
An experienced provider should have a lot of pictures for you to look through.
Minimum of 10 to 20 sets preferably more before and after pictures then you have time to look at it during the consultation.
when in doubt, slow down and schedule more consultations.
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of having multiple consultations and putting all your efforts in provider selections.
average plastic surgeons do average work and sometimes average isn’t good enough.
Best to you,
Mats Hagstrom MD

I want a narrow more defined face - Chin liposuction vs Genioplasty? (Photos)

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