- Chin augmentation is a plastic-surgery procedure meant to improve the appearance of the chin.
- The surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure done under IV sedation.
- One dermatologist shares everything to know about chin-implant surgery, including cost and recovery time.
The subject of plastic surgery has become increasingly less taboo over the years. Characters discuss face-lifts on major TV shows, and many celebrities have opened up about the procedures they’ve personally undergone.
While scrolling through TikTok recently, I saw an influencer I follow, Jaci Marie Smith, telling her followers about an upcoming chin-implant surgery she had scheduled. Not knowing anything about the procedure, I followed her progress through her Tiktok videos. Coincidentally, shortly after Smith’s surgery, I saw that someone I knew from high school had also recently opted to undergo chin-implant surgery.
Wanting to learn more about the procedure, I consulted board-certified plastic surgeon Andrew Cohen, MD, FACS, to see if he could answer my burning questions.
What Is Chin-Implant Surgery?
Put simply, chin-implant surgery (formally called mentoplasty) is a way to enhance or improve the overall look or appearance of a person’s facial shape. A silicone implant in a half-moon shape is inserted in the lower jaw line and chin area. “Chin-implant surgery is facial surgery either performed as a single procedure or along with a facelift, rhinoplasty, or another facial procedure,” Dr. Cohen says. “The implant is slipped in through an incision in the mouth and popped into place over the patient’s existing chin.”
As with implants, which come in a range of shapes and sizes (specifically S, M, L, and XL) depending on someone’s personal preferences, people’s reasons for getting chin-augmentation surgery varies. According to Dr. Cohen, “The chin can drop as we get older, or sometimes a person doesn’t have a ‘strong’ chin or has a jaw that is not defined as much as the patient would like.”
Smith noted in one of her TikTok videos that she’s always had more of a round face and that there isn’t much projection to her chin, which was ultimately her reason for wanting to undergo the surgery. If you’re someone who also doesn’t have a vey pronounced chin, you might be a good candidate for chin augmentation.
What Goes Into Chin Augmentation Surgery?
Think of chin-implant surgery like any other commonly performed surgery. “This is an outpatient procedure, done under IV Sedation,” Dr. Cohen says, adding that the implant is typically placed through an incision either inside the mouth or directly underneath the skin of the chin area. After the implant is placed, the incision is closed with sutures.
Smith also noted in one of her TikTok videos that she wasn’t put under anesthesia, but that she was sedated enough that she doesn’t remember much and had no issues with pain during the surgery.
How Much Does a Chin-Implant Surgery Typically Cost?
While Smith outlined almost everything about the procedure in her videos, she didn’t touch on the price. That could be because it varies widely depending on your surgeon and location (the cost tends to be higher in bigger cities). Still, because chin augmentation is an elective procedure, it’s not covered under insurance, and you will have to pay out of pocket.
Dr. Cohen says you can expect to pay anywhere between $9,000 to $11,000 total, including the surgeon fee, operating room, anesthesia, and all pre- and postoperative visits.
What Is the Recovery Time For a Chin Augmentation?
The healing time after plastic surgery can vary greatly, but with chin augmentation, Dr. Cohen says you’ll need between “five to seven days of recovery.” Mild swelling is common, but “bruising is minimal because it is placed through the mouth, and swelling depends on the patient and their level of activity afterward,” he says. “We always recommend preoperative Arnica and vitamins, as well as a frozen bag of peas after [because it’s] soft and curves to the shape of the face.”
Patients are typically able to go back to work within a week. After that time, you should be able to see noticeable results from the surgery.
