Cheek / Chin Enhancement

The chin plays an integral part in the overall balance of our facial features, particularly our profile. For example, a weak chin can make a normal nose appear large, and an already prominent nose seem even more significant. On the other hand, a prominent chin may give the appearance of having too small a nose or otherwise throwing the face off balance.

The most commonly performed chin procedure (mentoplasty) in our practice is chin augmentation. We have been using silicone implants for over 20 years with little in the way of adverse effects. The procedure is relatively straightforward and produces immediate and effective results. The implant is placed via a small cut between the junction of the lower lip and the lower teeth so there is no visible scar. The main risks of the procedure are infection, implant malposition or extrusion.

Many of our patients have chin augmentation combined with rhinoplasty, but some will have the procedure in isolation (because they have an otherwise normal nose).

Prominent, full cheeks give us a youthful, healthy appearance. The ageing process results in loss of cheek volume (flattening) and descent (ptosis) of the cheek. Volume loss can make a face appear drawn and gaunt. It may give the appearance of heaviness in the lower face and an aged look.

There are surgical or non-surgical ways to augment a cheek. For non-surgical enhancement, we use non-permanent fillers, which will give an instant correction lasting 6-12 months. Surgical improvement of the cheeks in our practice is achieved with autologous fat injection. It is one of our practice’s most commonly performed surgical procedures and can be performed in conjunction with other procedures (most commonly eyelid and facelift surgery). As mentioned elsewhere, some loss of fat cells can occur, and the process may need to be repeated at some point in the future.

The risks of chin implants include bleeding (rare) and infection (rare). There may be some temporary numbness over your chin and lower lip.

Swelling and bruising are to be expected after fat transfer to the cheeks. Rarely, some of the fat may not survive and become infected (fat necrosis). Fat necrosis may manifest as hard lumps which eventually go away. In a very small number of patients, fat necrosis can be problematic and look like an ongoing infection.