Complication rate
12.60%
Range 7.50–17.70%
n=2 studies
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cosmetic surgery
Chin Implant
Chin augmentation using surgical implants alter the underlying structure of the face, intended to balance the facial features. The specific medical terms mentoplasty and genioplasty are used to refer to the reduction and addition of material to a patient's chin.
Quick Facts
- Price range
- Varies by clinic
- Recovery
- Varies
- Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- cosmetic surgery
- Anaesthesia
- Varies
- Min. stay abroad
- Varies
- Price Range (International)
- Varies by clinic
- Average Recovery
- Varies
- Typical Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- cosmetic surgery
Overview
Chin augmentation is a procedure that alters the underlying structure of the face to bring the chin into better balance with the other facial features. The medical terms mentoplasty and genioplasty refer to reducing or adding material to the chin, and augmentation can be achieved either with an implant or by working directly with the jaw bone. In the most common surgical approach, an incision is made under the chin or inside the lower lip, a pocket is created, and a chin implant is placed into it; some implants are fixed to the mandible while others are held by the pocket itself. Implants are made from several biocompatible materials: silicone, which is soft, smooth and easy to remove but may move, buckle or cause bone resorption where it contacts the mandible; porous polyethylene (Medpor), into which surrounding tissue grows so that it becomes fixed and harder to remove; and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex), which is held to the bone with titanium screws. An alternative that uses the patient's own bone is the sliding genioplasty, in which a horseshoe-shaped piece of the lower mandible is cut, an osteotomy, and advanced forward, then fixed with a titanium plate and screws; this generally produces a more pronounced change than a prosthetic implant. Chin augmentation is often, though not always, performed at the same time as rhinoplasty to help balance the facial proportions.
Key Considerations
Reported outcomes
Detailed outcomes →Aggregated from peer-reviewed systematic reviews on PubMed. How we extract these rates.
Common Risks
- Implant movement or displacement
- Buckling of the implant
- Bone resorption where a silicone implant contacts the mandible
- Infection, reported more often with the patient's own bone-graft implants
Credentials a clinic should hold
Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.
ISAPS member surgeon
Issuer International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Individual surgeon membership; requires national-board certification in plastic surgery plus peer endorsement.
Verify on the issuer's register →National plastic-surgery board certification
Issuer Country-specific (e.g. ABPS in US, BAAPS in UK, SBCP in Brazil, KSPRS in South Korea, ASPRS in Australia)
Specialty-board certification in plastic surgery from the surgeon's country of practice. The single most important credential for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure.
Verify on the issuer's register →
Recovery Timeline
Average recovery for Chin Implant is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
- 01Day 0–1
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
- 02Day 2–2
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
- 03Day 3–3
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
- 04Day 4–0
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Questions to Ask Your Clinic
Browse all destinations offering Chin Implant →Detailed cost breakdown →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chin augmentation?
Chin augmentation alters the underlying structure of the face to balance the chin with the other facial features. The terms mentoplasty and genioplasty describe reducing or adding material to the chin, whether with an implant or by reshaping the jaw bone.
How is a chin implant placed?
An incision is made either under the chin or inside the lower lip, a pocket is formed, and the implant is placed into it. Some chin implants are fixed to the mandible, while others are held in place by the pocket itself.
What materials are chin implants made from?
Common materials include silicone, porous polyethylene (Medpor) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex). They are used because they are biocompatible and have a low incidence of causing problems inside the body.
What is a sliding genioplasty?
A sliding genioplasty uses the patient's own bone as the implant. A horseshoe-shaped piece of the lower mandible is cut in an osteotomy and advanced forward, then held with a titanium plate and screws; it usually gives a more dramatic correction than a prosthetic implant.
Is chin augmentation done with other surgery?
It is often, but not always, performed at the same time as rhinoplasty to help balance the overall facial proportions. It can also be combined with more extensive jaw surgery in selected cases.
Can chin surgery correct the bite?
Augmenting the chin improves its cosmetic appearance but does not improve dental occlusion. Where a small chin coexists with a significant overbite, more involved orthognathic (jaw) surgery, such as mandibular advancement, may be required.
Related Procedures
Other cosmetic surgery procedures in our registry
RhinoplastyBreast AugmentationAbdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)Submuscular Breast AugmentationLiposuctionBrazilian Butt LiftBreast LiftBreast ReductionBreast Implant RemovalBreast Implant RevisionFaceliftNeck LiftBlepharoplastyOtoplastyOrthognathic Jaw SurgeryGynaecomastia SurgeryMommy MakeoverArm LiftThigh LiftBody LiftRevision RhinoplastyFat Transfer Breast Augmentation