A Chin for Confidence and Beauty

A great jawline is a staple of male and female beauty that structures the face and conveys confidence. It is hard to imagine an actor playing Superman without a strong chin. But the pursuit of a great jawline is not only for men — Marilyn Monroe also had a chin implant. It should come as no surprise that the demand for chin implants has doubled in the last few years, making it the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery procedure on the market.

Dr. Sobel believes the rise in chin implants is secondary to three key phenomena:

1) More photographs are being taken, period. Digital cameras allow for photos to happen all the time and with instant feedback as to how our profile looks on camera.

2) Cameras on mobile phones. These tend to have weak flashes and some lens distortion that may show jawlines at their worst.

3) Skype, Facetime, etc. Webcams create “fisheye” distortion of the face, which can draw attention to a weak chin.

The chin implant is a relatively brief outpatient procedure that defines an individual’s face, resulting in a youthful and athletic look. Chin augmentation affects the look of the entire face, as a small chin can accentuate the appearance of weight around the neck or a large appearing nose. Patients often undergo chin implants at the same time as a nose-job (rhinoplasty) or facial/neck liposuction because the procedures complement one another to create a more defined face. In an age where social media makes it difficult to hide unliked features, these small changes can make a world of difference for individuals uncomfortable with their appearance.

Dr. Sobel performs the procedure while the patient is under local anesthesia or sedation. To fill out the chin, typically, a silicone implant is used. However, other materials, including injectable fillers such as Juvederm Voluma XC or Radiesse may be used. Each chin implant is selected for the individual patient depending on their existing features and desired changes. Dr. Sobel may use a facial filler in lieu of an implant. The end result is a face that looks stronger, younger, more confident, and overall more attractive for patients with a small or recessed chin.