With nothing more to do than stare at our ever-changing faces day in and day out, as well as the copious Zoom calls that force us to examine our skin (usually sans makeup), it’s become much easier to pick out all of our biggest facial insecurities us. . There is the usual: Is my nose stuffy? Should I do anything to define my cheekbones? How is my hairline? But now there is growing interest in an emerging category in the world of plastic surgery: chins.
Of course there are other options to consider before heading to the plastic surgeon or dermatologist’s office, like contouring, facial yoga, and simply rocking your natural features—but if I am doing you want to explore an aesthetic process, that’s your prerogative. And you wouldn’t be alone in that thought: According to RealSelf, chin filler procedures have a 97 percent “worth it” rating, while chin implants they bind at 86 percent.
If you’re curious about the different options for sculpting and defining your chin, you’ll want to do some research before visiting your doctor. Below, we’ve tapped the experts to help break down everything you need to know about chin augmentations.
Why is chin augmentation becoming more popular?
So why is the concept of chin augmentation so appealing to people? According Dr. Lara Devgancertified plastic surgeon and founder of Dr. Lara Devgan Skincare, this process is interesting for several reasons, but one of the most important may be the unexpected influence from the quarantine.
“During this strange time, we’re all spending a lot more time on social media and on our cell phones, and I think we’re all seeing the power of these tiny little transformations,” she says. “Plastic surgery was such a world of silence, almost taboo that no one knew anything about. You knew people went to a doctor’s office and showed up and something happened, but there was a lot of opacity to it. And now, with the social sharing and destigmatization around the procedures, along with celebrities and reality stars traveling with their surgeries and injectable journeys, there’s just a lot more awareness that this is something that’s possible and that’s what it looks like before. during and after”.
Another important reason why a chin augmentation might pique our interest is its ability to balance the overall shape of the face, says Dr. Anne Chapas, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Union Square Laser Dermatology.
As he explains, “Your face should really be three equal thirds, so the top half of your face, going from the side of your eye to your forehead, should be about the same height as the part of your eye here to right nose and then from the bottom of the nose to the chin. So, really, it’s all about better proportions.”
Both experts emphasize that chin augmentation can also correct problems such as facial sagging, disproportionate facial features (such as the nose), cheekbone definition, facial profile imbalance, and overall bone structure.
“Especially with profile balancing, I’d say in maybe half of my nasal cases, we do some chin adjustment because the nose and chin also have a very important relationship to each other,” says Dr. Devgan. “If you look at the face and the profile and you draw a vertical line from the top of the nose to the base of the columella, which is the bottom of the nose, and down, that’s the vertical plane you’d like the chin to lie on. And so if someone’s chin is behind that, they can usually benefit from some filler or an implant.”
What are my options?
If you are intrigued by the prospect of a more defined chin and jawline, there are a few options available. Although Dr. Tsapas notes that while the chin implant is the “gold standard” of chin augmentation procedures—for its personalized approach and permanent results—hyaluronic acid fillers are a much cheaper and less invasive option.
“[An implant] it’s always done under general anaesthetic, it’s permanent and it can really change someone’s appearance, but not everyone is running to have a general anaesthetic right now or have surgery,” she says. “Filler offers people an alternative that is safe, fast, has very little downtime and has a long-lasting effect.”
One of the most popular filler options for the chin is Restylane Defynewhich is the first and only chin filler to show results in a wide range of participants, including participants with all skin types, men and people over 52 years of age. Although your doctor may recommend a specific filler for off-label use on your chin (which is common in aesthetics, such as using Botox for enlarged masseter muscles), this particular filler is considered top-of-the-line for this area.
“Restylane Defyne is a very dense, highly cohesive acid gel filler. It lasts for about one to two years and gradually diminishes over time,” says Dr Devgan. “It allows you to create more of an integrated structure than some of the softer fillers we might use, say, for lips.” In comparison, other facial fillers usually last three to six months depending on the amount and your body’s metabolism. Dr. Chapas adds that this particular filler is considered “more flexible” and is ideal for more active areas of the face such as the chin and cheeks.
Compared to the more expensive bill of a chin implant, says Dr. Devgan that on average between $10,000 and $14,000, fillers will cost you “typically in the $1,800 to $3,600 range, depending on the amount and types of fillers needed to give someone the desired Results.”
What else should I know?
If you want to inquire about chin augmentation, both experts agree that the best first step is to consult with a board-certified dermatologist and/or plastic surgeon to get truly personalized results for your face.
“I will also say that it’s becoming more and more common for patients to want to try an injectable filler result, just to make sure they like it and want to live with it,” says Dr. Devgan. “Then, instead of keeping the filler, you can eventually turn it into surgery down the road.”
But Dr. Tsapas stresses that you should see a medical professional with plenty of experience in this type of treatment, who can show you before and after photos of previous work. And remember, while it may be more expensive, your results will only be as good as the person performing the procedure.
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