Chin Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in chin augmentation. I’ve gotten other reviews for doctors and most of them said for me to try chin fillers or a sliding genioplasty.

A: There are three chin augmentation methods which have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. It is not a question of whether one method is better than the other, it is as question of which one is most appealing to your aesthetic needs. An injectable chin augmentation method uses synthetic fillers which has the advantage of being non-surgical but the disadvantage that it is temporary as the filler will dissipate over time. This method only makes sense if one is uncertain as to whether chin augmentation would be beneficial so it is a good trial method. A chin implant offers a permanent augmentation method though a fairly straightforward operation whose result depends on the implant style and size chosen. Its disadvantage is that it is an implant that creates the effect and, like all implants, has some surgical risks. (infection, asymmetry, under/over correction). A siding genioplasty moves the actual chin bone and is the most ‘natural’ chin augmentation method. It is the most invasive surgery and requires the longest recovery from a swelling standpoint but it has the advantages of being a natural method that will not cause any long-term potential issues once the bone has healed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana