Chin Augmentation in Brazil

When you show me a photo taken from the side, I look at more than the spot you point to. A chin that lacks projection can change how the nose, the lower lip, and the transition to the neck come across. In other people, the projection is fine and the concern comes mainly from sagging.

The consultation is where we sort out these possibilities. I want to understand whether you want a stronger profile, whether you notice an asymmetry, or whether you expect surgery to improve the area under your jawline. Each of these goals may call for a different answer.

My aim is not to give everyone a stronger chin. The projection has to work with the rest of your face, including from the front and when you move.

I examine how your teeth fit together and ask about any dental treatment you have had. If there is any doubt about the underlying structure, I refer you to the right specialist before we choose an implant. This avoids a surface-level fix for a problem that needs a different plan.

You don’t need to tell these situations apart on your own. Bring the photo that bothers you and explain what you would like to look different; the diagnosis is part of my job.

When I plan a deep plane facelift, the underlying bone structure matters. Repositioning tissue can improve contour, but it does not create the same forward projection an implant provides. On the other hand, enlarging the chin does not reposition the face the way a facelift does.

When both needs are present, we can discuss combining the two. A deep neck lift also calls for its own evaluation: fat, skin, and the structures of the neck shouldn’t be treated as if the problem were simply a small chin.

I show you the role of each procedure and what it leaves unresolved. The advantage of a plan you understand is that you know why each procedure is there, instead of accepting a list of procedure names that has nothing to do with your concern.

Bony genioplasty repositions a segment of the chin bone, whereas an implant adds projection on top of the existing structure. They are different approaches, each with its own indications and risks. When a case calls for bone surgery, I refer the patient to a specialist for evaluation; I don’t perform this procedure.

A review by Liao and colleagues included 39 publications on chin implants and found that complications varied mainly with the surgical approach; among materials, the difference was in altered sensation. Most of the studies were retrospective, which limits any conclusion that one option is superior. Review of implant materials and techniques.

In 2025, a review compared implants with bony genioplasty across seven studies totaling 1,126 patients. Both approaches showed favorable outcomes, with high satisfaction in both groups (trending higher with genioplasty), different risk profiles, and limits on how directly they could be compared. These data support choosing based on the indication, not the idea that one solution fits every profile. Comparison of implants and genioplasty.

A systematic review by Oranges and colleagues included 54 studies and 4,897 patients. Complications occurred in 15.7% of implants and 19.7% of osteotomies. Transient changes involving the mental nerve, which supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin, occurred in 2.4% of implants and 16.4% of osteotomies. Review of chin augmentation techniques.

In the review by Liao and colleagues, the rate of altered sensation with silicone was 0.4%. The intraoral approach had more implant removals than the external approach, 1.5% versus 0.5%, but less asymmetry, 0.7% versus 7.5%. In a retrospective study of 80 patients, Tabrizi and colleagues found infection to be more common with implants than with bony genioplasty, and less wound separation when the implant was placed from outside the mouth. Study comparing implants and genioplasty.

Each approach trades one risk for another. I choose the intraoral approach to avoid an external scar, and I tell you what that choice involves. Numbers from published series do not predict your individual risk.

Risks include infection, bleeding, altered sensation in the chin or lower lip, asymmetry, implant shifting, implant exposure, and the need for removal or revision. The bone in contact with the implant can also resorb. No material eliminates these possibilities.

There is no set date by which every implant must be replaced, but that doesn’t mean you can skip follow-up. A late change in contour, pain, discharge inside the mouth, or exposed implant material should be evaluated. Fever or swelling that increases quickly also means you should contact the team.

If you have already had surgery and are unhappy with the result, bring whatever records you have. A revision evaluation looks at the implant’s position, the scars, and the condition of the bone; adding more volume without understanding the cause can make the problem worse.

Follow-up visits continue for one year, even when recovery seems uneventful.