Chin Correction: Methods, Costs and Procedure

Chin correction (mentoplasty) is a procedure aimed at reshaping the chin — either through augmentation with implants or through bone repositioning (reduction). The chin plays a central role in the harmony of the entire face. A chin that is too small, too large, asymmetric or receding can significantly disrupt the aesthetic balance of the profile — even when all other facial features are attractive. Chin correction, medically referred to as genioplasty or mentoplasty, is today one of the most sought-after procedures in aesthetic and plastic surgery. Depending on the individual situation and desired outcome, both non-surgical and surgical methods are available — from hyaluronic acid injections to chin implants and operative bone repositioning.

What is Chin Correction?

The term "chin correction" encompasses a wide variety of procedures aimed at reshaping, enlarging, reducing or symmetrizing the chin. The chin — anatomically known as the mentum — forms the lowest point of the face and significantly determines the profile, as well as the perception of the jawline and facial oval.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the ideal chin is determined by classical proportional guidelines. One of the most well-known is the facial thirds rule: the face is divided into three equal horizontal zones — forehead, midface and lower face. The chin belongs to the lower third and should be in balanced proportion to the nose and forehead. In profile, the chin is considered harmonious when it lies on a vertical line descending from the base of the nose — the so-called Ricketts line.

Chin corrections can be performed in various ways today:

Non-surgical: Hyaluronic acid injections, Botox for chin dimples or chin wrinkles
Minimally invasive: Liposuction in the chin and neck area
Surgical: Chin implant (alloplasty), genioplasty (bone repositioning)

The choice of method depends on individual anatomy, the desired outcome, the extent of correction needed, and the personal preferences of the patient. An experienced plastic surgeon or aesthetic physician will define the optimal treatment path together with the patient during a personal consultation.

Aesthetic Goals of Chin Correction: Which Concerns Can Be Treated?

The reasons people seek chin correction are varied. Below we describe the most common aesthetic concerns and their corresponding treatment approaches.

Receding Chin (Retrognathia)

A receding or retruded chin, medically called retrognathia, is one of the most common reasons for chin correction. The chin is positioned too far back relative to the nose and profile, which can give the face a soft, undefined or childlike appearance. This difference is especially noticeable in the lateral profile.

A receding chin can also amplify the impression of an overly large nose, even when the nose actually has normal proportions. In such cases, chin augmentation — whether surgical or via fillers — can significantly harmonize the entire profile without any rhinoplasty being required.

Treatment options depending on the degree of retrognathia include hyaluronic acid injections (for mild deficiency), a chin implant, or operative genioplasty (for more pronounced cases).

Small Chin (Microgenia)

Microgenia describes a constitutionally small chin that is underdeveloped in all dimensions — height, width and projection. It can be genetically determined, or result from developmental disruptions or prior injuries. People with microgenia often perceive their face as "soft" or poorly defined.

In mild cases, hyaluronic acid injections can bring noticeable improvements. In pronounced microgenia, however, a surgical procedure — either a chin implant or genioplasty — is the more effective and lasting solution.

Asymmetric Chin

Chin asymmetry can arise from differences in bone structure, soft tissue coverage or a combination of both factors. It may be subtle and only noticeable upon direct comparison, or clearly pronounced and disruptive to the overall aesthetic appearance.

Mild asymmetries can often be corrected through targeted hyaluronic acid injections. For skeletal asymmetries involving the bone itself, operative genioplasty is the procedure of choice, as it allows three-dimensional corrections — shifting the bone forward, backward, laterally or vertically.

Chin Dimples and Chin Creases

Chin dimples are considered attractive in many cultures but can be perceived as bothersome when pronounced or combined with chin wrinkles. An unsightly chin crease or "cobblestone" texture of the chin skin — caused by excessive or uneven contraction of the mentalis muscle — can negatively affect appearance.

Both Botox injections (to relax the mentalis muscle) and hyaluronic acid injections (to fill dimples volumetrically) are suitable. In rare cases, a surgical approach is taken.

Overly Prominent Chin (Prognathia)

An overly large or protruding chin, medically called prognathia, is less common than retrognathia but can cause significant aesthetic distress. The face appears dominated by the lower third, which is perceived as inharmonious.

Treatment typically requires a surgical procedure: either a bone-reducing genioplasty or — when accompanied by a bite abnormality — a combined orthognathic correction. Non-surgical measures alone cannot reduce a protruding chin.

Non-Surgical Chin Correction: Gentle Methods Without a Scalpel

For many patients, non-surgical procedures are the first choice — whether because the desired change is minor, because they prefer to avoid surgery, or because they wish to test a temporary result before committing to a more permanent procedure.

Chin Correction with Hyaluronic Acid (Filler)

Injecting the chin with hyaluronic acid fillers is by far the most popular non-surgical method for chin correction. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that is injected beneath the skin in gel form, altering the volume, shape and projection of the chin.

Who is suitable?
Patients with a mildly retruded, small or slightly asymmetric chin are ideal candidates for hyaluronic acid injections. The method is also suitable for refining surface irregularities or treating small dimples. For pronounced skeletal deficiencies or desired larger changes, it is only of limited effectiveness.

Treatment procedure:
Following an in-depth consultation and facial profile analysis, the chin is prepared with a topical numbing cream or a small local anesthetic. The filler is then injected precisely using a fine needle or blunt microcannula. The treatment typically takes 20 to 30 minutes and is nearly painless. Results are immediately visible.

Duration of results:
Depending on the product used and individual metabolism, results last 9 to 18 months. With specially developed, more stable hyaluronic acid gels (so-called high-cohesive fillers), longevity can reach up to two years.

Advantages:

No anesthesia or surgery required
Immediately visible results
Reversible (dissolvable with hyaluronidase)
Little to no downtime
Low risk profile when performed by an experienced practitioner

Botox for Chin Dimples and Wrinkles

Botulinum toxin (Botox) is used on the chin primarily to treat chin dimples, chin wrinkles and the so-called "orange peel" effect (peau d'orange). These changes result from excessive or uneven activity of the mentalis muscle.

Botox temporarily blocks the nerve impulse to the mentalis muscle, causing it to relax, so the skin above it becomes smoother. Dimples are reduced, wrinkles are smoothed and the chin appears more defined overall. The effect becomes visible after 5 to 10 days and typically lasts 3 to 6 months.

Surgical Chin Correction: Overview of Surgical Methods

When non-surgical procedures are insufficient or more permanent results are desired, surgical methods offer an effective alternative. There are two main surgical approaches: the chin implant and the genioplasty (bone repositioning).

Chin Implant (Alloplastic Augmentation)

Chin implant placement is the most widely performed surgical procedure for chin augmentation worldwide. It involves a solid, biocompatible implant inserted through a small incision beneath the chin tissue and fixed to the jawbone. The implant increases chin projection, improves the profile and defines the facial contour.

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on patient preference. Access is either through a small incision in the natural skin fold beneath the chin (submental) or via an intraoral incision in the lower gum area. A pocket is created over or beneath the periosteum, the implant is placed and fixed, and the incision is closed with resorbable sutures. Operating time is typically 30 to 60 minutes.

Costs: Chin implant surgery in Germany typically costs between 3,000 and 6,000 EUR. As an elective cosmetic procedure, costs are not covered by statutory health insurance.

Genioplasty (Osteotomy)

Genioplasty is the most complex but also the most versatile procedure for chin correction. Unlike the chin implant, genioplasty involves cutting the jawbone itself and repositioning it. This allows correction in all three dimensions: forward, backward, sideways and vertically.

The procedure is performed almost exclusively under general anesthesia. Through an intraoral incision in the lower gum, the jawbone in the chin area is cut with an osteotome. The separated bone segment is moved to the desired new position and fixed with titanium plates and screws. The procedure takes 60 to 120 minutes depending on complexity.

Costs: Genioplasty costs between 4,000 and 8,000 EUR, depending on complexity, clinic and region.

Chin Implant Materials, Shapes and Sizes

Chin implants are available today in a wide variety of materials, shapes and sizes. The selection of the right implant is crucial for a natural and harmonious result.

Materials

Silicone implants are the most commonly used chin implants worldwide. They consist of solid, medical-grade silicone — not silicone gel like breast implants — and are biocompatible, permanently stable and removable if needed. Silicone implants have been the standard for decades with an excellent long-term safety record.

Polyethylene implants (Medpor) are made from high-density porous polyethylene, which allows tissue ingrowth. This leads to stable integration of the implant into surrounding tissue. However, Medpor is considerably more difficult to remove than silicone implants due to this integration.

Shapes and Sizes

Chin implants are available in various basic shapes that differ in their effect on the profile and lower face contour:

Anatomical (central) implants: Primarily enhance chin tip projection; suitable for patients seeking natural forward projection of the chin.
Extended anatomical implants: These broader implants also extend over the lateral jawbone, improving the jawline in addition to chin projection. Particularly popular with patients seeking comprehensive contouring of the lower face.
Lateral extension implants: Focus on widening the chin and jawline without significantly changing projection.
Asymmetric implants: Custom-made or half-side adapted implants for correction of asymmetries.

Procedure, Recovery and Aftercare

Regardless of whether a non-surgical or surgical chin correction is planned, the patient goes through several clearly defined phases.

Consultation and Facial Analysis

The initial consultation is the most important step in the entire process. An experienced physician or plastic surgeon takes sufficient time to understand the patient's wishes and motivations, perform a detailed facial analysis, assess the anatomy of the chin and surrounding bone, explain all suitable treatment options, and discuss risks, complications and realistic outcome expectations.

Recovery Timeline

After surgical chin correction, swelling, bruising and a feeling of numbness in the chin and lower lip area are expected. These symptoms are normal and typically subside significantly within 1 to 3 weeks. A compression bandage is applied for several days. Soft foods are recommended for at least 2 weeks after intraoral procedures. Physical exertion should be reduced for at least 3 to 4 weeks, and contact sports avoided for at least 6 weeks. The final result of surgical procedures is fully visible after 3 to 6 months, once all swelling has resolved.

Chin Correction Combined with Rhinoplasty and Jawline Treatment

Combining rhinoplasty (nose correction) with chin correction is one of the most effective measures for harmonizing the facial profile. In clinical practice, it is regularly observed that patients seeking rhinoplasty for a "too large nose" in fact at least partially suffer from a small or receding chin. Simultaneous or prior chin correction can make the nose appear proportionally smaller — sometimes without any rhinoplasty being necessary at all.

In aesthetic facial surgery, the Ricketts line (also known as the E-line) is a recognized reference point for profile analysis. It connects the tip of the nose to the tip of the chin and indicates the relationship of the lips to the facial line. A balanced profile shows the upper lip approximately 4 mm behind this line and the lower lip approximately 2 mm. If the chin is too far back, this line shifts and the entire profile appears disproportionate.

Rhinoplasty and chin correction can be easily combined in a single session under one anesthesia. The chin is also anatomically inseparable from the jawline. A chin correction — especially with extended anatomical implants or a broader genioplasty — directly influences the perception of the jawline. Jawline treatment can be combined with chin correction to achieve a harmonious, contoured lower face.