Can Chin Filler Give You the Sculpted Jawline of Your Dreams? We Asked the Experts

Chin filler may not sound as exciting as getting your lips or cheeks injected, but according to experts, more and more people are requesting this facial augmentation. “Chin filler has increased in popularity, mainly due to the rise in facial contouring," says Dr. Jane Leonard. "Optimizing the chin helps to create definition in the lower third of the face. When injected in combination with the cheeks and jawline fillers, it can create the desirable heart-shaped face."

As with most injectables these days, social media has a lot to do with the trend for chin fillers. “It's all about the selfie,” adds Dr. Jessie Cheung. “We all know that the best selfie pose is with your chin tilted up towards the camera. This pose helps the light reflect off the highlights of your face while elongating your neck and defining your jawline." Cheung notes that from an aesthetic perspective, a small chin can accentuate your nose and weaken your jawline, while a larger chin can even make you look angry. The most important thing to note is to find an expert who has an eye for facial proportions and can hear your thoughts and concerns before injecting.

Keep reading to find out all there is to know about sculpting your chin. 

What Is Chin Filler?

Chin filler is an injection used to shape the chin and tighten the surrounding skin area. “Anyone who wants a better profile could consider chin filler,” notes Cheung. “We all lose some bone as we age, and as our jawbone shrinks, we start to notice jowls and saggy necks. Envision a collapsing tent pole—if we put the tent pole back into place, the tent will smooth out."

Benefits of Chin Filler

• Helps define the jawline
• Tightens and smoothes skin
• Can help proportion the face

The chin is one of the central pillars of the face, and if your chin is out of proportion, the rest of your face could look "off." Cheung explains that filler can be placed on the underside of the chin to elongate the chin and thus, help with jawline definition. Injecting filler to the anterior part of the chin will also help to support the jowls and prevent a frowning or angry down-turning of the lip muscles.

As with all treatments, it’s worth taking a look at all of your features and what your end goals are. In other words, the chin shouldn't be treated in isolation. “Any treatment should be done in the context of the whole face, particularly the rest of the jawline," says Jack. "I usually do injections in the chin as well as the lateral jawline.”

How to Prepare for Chin Filler

Like many procedures, patients should avoid alcohol consumption for a minimum of 24 hours prior to their treatment. If you are taking daily supplements, check with your doctor to see if these should be temporarily stopped as well.

What to Expect

Every chin filler treatment will be different depending on what new contour and shape you're trying to achieve. It also depends on your pain threshold; for some, it may feel painful and for others, it will just be uncomfortable (we wouldn't recommend having a treatment like this during your period, as your sensitivity to pain can be higher). If the filler is going deep, near to the bone, some injectors will use a topical numbing cream or nerve block injection to ensure the treatment is as comfortable as possible.

“The treatment is super quick! It involves a series of deep injections of dermal filler directly in the chin,” says Leonard. "The placement of each injection will vary depending on your facial shape and the look you are aiming to achieve."

“Measurements can be performed to get a sense of optimal 'phi' proportions,” adds Cheung. “The filler is placed deep on the bone with a needle or cannula, [which helps it] avoid blood vessels and nerves.”

Jack says that it's also worth knowing that if your chosen injector uses a hyaluronic filler, like Juvederm Volux or Voluma, the filler can be removed should there be any issue with it. Some injectors choose to use hyaluronic acid-based gel fillers because hyaluronic acid is naturally produced in the body and has a low risk of any side effects. The amount of filler is dependent on the person, though most people, on average, will need at least 1 ml of filler.

Potential Side Effects

As with any filler, you’re going to get a few temporary side effects that are worth knowing ahead of the treatment. “Risks are very low, but as with any filler there is a small risk of swelling and bruising for a few days afterward, tiny risk of lumpiness and a very tiny risk of injection into a blood vessel and skin damage secondary to this,” warns Jack.

Cheung says that if you’re prone to swelling, it could linger in the chin area a little longer than usual, “since the chin is the southernmost part of the face."

The Cost

You can expect to pay anywhere between $1000-$5000. As with any injectable treatment, it is worth having consultations with a few doctors to find the person you feel most comfortable with and who has an aesthetic most similar to your goals.

Aftercare

While the treatment itself is relatively quick, experts say that the chin is likely to feel sore and heavy for a few days, and that hard chewing should be avoided. Experts recommend avoiding exercise for 24 hours and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If you are still experiencing pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about possible medication.

The Final Takeaway

You can expect to start seeing results after two weeks once the fillers have settled. The experts note that chin filler can last anywhere from one to five years depending on what type of filler was used, how fast your metabolism is, and the depth of the filler placement; thus, it’s well worth asking this question during your consultation.