If you are considering male chin implant or jaw contouring surgery to make your face look more masculine, an expert plastic surgeon can help you achieve the attractive and natural results you are looking for. Here’s a guide.
What might be different about male versus female chin augmentation?
When we think about what makes a man’s face traditionally “handsome,” a prominent chin and a well-defined jawline are traits that readily come to mind. Because of sexual dimorphism, there are certain facial features that we automatically associate with classic masculinity. It’s interesting to note that we tend to call a man’s chin ”weak”, instead of “small.” Additionally, it’s interesting that no US president has ever had a small chin.
I point these things out not to make anyone feel bad about the chin they were born with, but rather to illustrate that we, as human beings, are hard-wired to draw all kinds of subconscious conclusions about a man’s desirability based on the shape of his chin and jaw. It is perhaps not surprising then, that one of the most common procedures we do for men in our plastic surgery practice is chin enhancement and jaw contouring. Below, we give a general overview.
Do you perform other surgeries with chin enhancement surgery?
Yes, the appearance of the chin and jawline is related to the actual size and shape of those bony structures — and is related to adjacent soft tissues in the face, neck, nose, and lips. In that patients usually want a strong and defined chin, and an angular chin/neckline, it is very common to combine chin augmentation in males with neck liposuction, often called submental liposuction, or with a face and necklift. Another common adjunctive procedure is buccal fat extraction. This procedure uses intraoral incisions to remove fat from the midface, thereby slimming the face and creating more angularity and definition. So, it is very common to perform fat removal in either the neck or midface, as an adjunctive procedure to chin enhancement.
Should I get rhinoplasty and chin augmentation at the same time?
If you want to correct both cosmetic issues, then yes; absolutely. Rhinoplasty — colloquially called a “nose job” — is often combined with chin augmentation to balance out the entire facial profile in a single surgical procedure. Increasing the prominence of the chin while decreasing the prominence of the nose has the effect of bringing all of the features into better, more harmonious alignment. It is thus increasingly common for both surgeries to be done together. After all, there’s no need to heal twice when you could heal once. And no need to pay twice the anesthesia and operating room fees when in most cases, the procedures can both be done at once, safely and easily.
How much does chin implant surgery cost?
The cost of chin implants will vary considerably based on the area of the country you have it done in, and the experience level of your practitioner. But generally speaking, you can expect chin implant surgery to cost anywhere from $2,000 – $6,000, depending on which type of implant is used and the complexity of the procedure. This is a cosmetic surgery that packs a lot of bang for your buck when done right — the effect of a well-fitted and expertly-placed chin implant can have a dramatically attractive impact on the overall facial structure of any patient.
What is the recovery time for chin augmentation?
Individual recovery time for chin implants or augmentation will depend on the procedure(s) performed, as well as the patient’s age, general health, and lifestyle factors. But in the vast majority of cases, people are mostly recovered within a week following surgery, with some residual but hardly noticeable swelling and bruising. If you have a chin implant placed in addition to other cosmetic procedures like a rhinoplasty or neck liposuction, your recovery time may be a bit longer, but any reputable surgeon will give you a detailed idea of what to expect at your initial consultation. You should know in advance how long you may be “out of commission” for your normal life activities, but it shouldn’t be all that long, and you should schedule your procedure accordingly. Applying ice packs and cold compresses as instructed can help with any swelling during the first few days following surgery, and keeping your head elevated while you sleep is also helpful in minimizing post-op discomfort.
What are the risks of getting chin implants?
When placed by an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, chin implants carry very few serious risks and the procedure is usually tolerated quite well. The risks you might (but aren’t likely to) experience are infection, visible scarring, movement or migration of the implant, asymmetrical placement, hematoma, or risks related to anesthesia. As always, if you experience chest pain, shortness or breath, severe leg pain, or fever after chin implant surgery, seek emergency medical care immediately, and never hesitate to call your surgeon, even if you think you may be overreacting. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and any quality doctor will be glad you erred on the side of caution even if there are no complications.
Chin Augmentation Before-and-After Pictures
Before you select a surgeon for your chin enhancement or augmentation, it is always wise to view examples of their work on similar clients to be sure you like the results. Click here to view our own before-and-after photo gallery of chin augmentation on male and female patients of all ages. Or click here to see Dr. Sykes doing an injectable chin augmentation on a female patient also undergoing liquid rhinoplasty.
Do I need a chin augmentation surgeon near me?
Patients interested in chin implants or jaw enhancement may decide to travel to a competitive location like Beverly Hills for the procedure, just to ensure they have the very best expert doing the work. At our practice in Beverly Hills and Sacramento, it is not uncommon for us to have male patients flying in from elsewhere for chin implant surgery.
About Dr. Jonathan Sykes
Dr. Jonathan Sykes is a world-famous expert plastic surgeon who performs all cosmetic and functional plastic surgery procedures on the face and neck. He is a past president of The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and served on their Board of Directors for over 10 years. He is also a Professor Emeritus in Facial Plastic Surgery from UC Davis Medical Center, and the former Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at that institution. He is known as the expert’s expert, and is often called to consult and advise other plastic surgeons in both Northern California and Beverly Hills. He has a special interest in eyelid and browlift surgery, facial rejuvenation surgery, including facelifts and rhinoplasty.
