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Chin Augmentation Surgery

Chin augmentation increases chin projection and lower-face definition using a silicone implant or sliding genioplasty — improving profile balance and sharpening the cervicomental angle. If you’re uncertain about permanent change, chin fillers are a reversible first step worth considering.

Chin Augmentation Surgery in London


Chin augmentation surgery enhances the projection, shape, and definition of the chin — typically for patients with a recessed, weak, or under-projected chin that creates an imbalance in facial proportions. A small or receding chin can make the nose appear disproportionately large, blur the cervicomental angle (the definition between jaw and neck), and produce a profile that appears weak or undefined. Surgical augmentation corrects the underlying structural deficit rather than masking it.

Two surgical approaches are available. The most common is an implant-based technique — a precisely sized silicone implant is placed in a pocket over the chin bone through a small incision either inside the lower lip or under the chin. For patients requiring larger corrections, height change, or precise three-dimensional repositioning, sliding genioplasty (cutting and moving the chin bone, fixed with titanium hardware) is the alternative. Your surgeon will recommend the most appropriate technique at consultation based on your specific anatomy and the degree of correction required.

At Centre for Surgery, chin augmentation is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register at our CQC-regulated Baker Street facility. Standalone implant-based augmentation is typically performed under local anaesthetic with optional mild oral sedation. A two-week cooling-off period after your consultation is standard.

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What is Chin Augmentation Surgery?

Chin augmentation surgery — also called mentoplasty — increases chin projection, width, height, or a combination of these dimensions to improve facial proportion and profile definition.


A custom-fitted silicone implant is placed in a precisely created pocket directly over the chin bone and in front of the periosteum (the tissue covering the bone). The implant increases anterior projection of the chin, creates a more defined lower face border, and sharpens the cervicomental angle. Implants come in multiple sizes and styles — anatomical shapes that extend along the jawline for broad augmentation, or more central projecting shapes for patients mainly needing forward projection. The incision is made either inside the lower lip (no visible scar) or in the submental crease under the chin (typically an imperceptible healed scar). Implant surgery takes 1–1.5 hours as a standalone procedure.

For patients needing larger corrections, height adjustments, or precise three-dimensional repositioning, sliding genioplasty cuts the chin bone (osteotomy), repositions it to the planned position, and fixes it with titanium plates and screws. This technique can move the chin forward, backward, down, up, or rotate it — more versatility than an implant. Operating time is longer (1.5–2.5 hours), recovery is longer (6–8 weeks vs 2–4 weeks), and TIVA is required. But it offers more precise correction and avoids placing a foreign body.

Chin augmentation doesn’t address fat under the chin or neck — for this, submental liposuction is typically combined. It doesn’t correct jaw asymmetry or malocclusion — these require orthognathic surgery. It doesn’t directly alter the nose — though improved chin projection makes the nose appear more proportionate in profile even without rhinoplasty.

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Benefits of Chin Augmentation Surgery


For the right candidate, chin augmentation delivers specific, measurable benefits:

The most visible change is in lateral view — a more forward-projecting chin creates a stronger, more defined profile and sharpens the transition between chin, jaw, and neck.

A well-proportioned chin brings the nose, lips, and jawline into balance. A recessed chin can make the nose look disproportionately large; adding forward chin projection rebalances the central face without touching the nose.

A more projecting chin visually elongates the neck and defines the angle between chin and neck — one of the most sought-after features in lower-face aesthetics and a key reason chin augmentation is commonly combined with submental liposuction.

Silicone chin implants are designed for permanent placement. Unlike chin fillers which require top-ups every 12–18 months, implant-based augmentation doesn’t need maintenance or repeat treatments.

When the intraoral incision is used, there is no external scar — the incision heals inside the lower lip. The submental (under-chin) incision heals to a typically imperceptible line in the natural skin crease.

Standalone implant-based chin augmentation takes approximately 1–1.5 hours under local anaesthetic with optional mild oral sedation. No general anaesthesia, no overnight stay, no anaesthetist fee.

Most patients return to desk work within 7–10 days. Visible swelling largely resolves by week 2. Final result at 3 months.

Chin augmentation complements rhinoplasty (both address the profile), submental liposuction (jaw and neck definition), facelift (lower face rejuvenation), and buccal fat removal (overall lower-face sculpting).

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Who is a good candidate for chin augmentation?

The ideal candidate for chin augmentation meets most of the following:

The most reliable indication is a chin that falls measurably behind the lower lip in profile — where the chin tip doesn’t reach a vertical line dropped from the lower lip when viewed laterally. Patients whose chin is within normal proportion but who feel it looks small often have a different underlying concern (nose, jaw, or mid-face volume).

Significant weight changes after surgery alter the appearance of the augmentation — particularly weight loss, which can make an implant more palpable or visible in lean-faced patients. Candidates should be at a stable weight they can maintain.

Standard criteria: non-smoker or willing to stop for at least 2 weeks before and after implant surgery (6 weeks for bone-based procedures), no uncontrolled medical conditions, good oral hygiene (the intraoral incision is inside the mouth).

Facial bone development isn’t complete until the late teens — we don’t perform genioplasty on under-18s.

Chin augmentation produces measured improvement — meaningful change in profile and proportion, not dramatic facial transformation. Patients expecting natural-looking improvement are usually satisfied; patients expecting transformation are usually not.

The standard intraoral incision requires a clean oral environment. Active gum disease, untreated cavities, or mouth ulcers need to be addressed before surgery.

Implants can occasionally be felt in very lean-faced patients; they can be removed or replaced if needed but this constitutes a second procedure. Patients who strongly prefer not to have a foreign body may be better suited to sliding genioplasty.

When chin augmentation is not the right answer

At consultation we’ll tell you honestly whether chin augmentation — and which technique — is right for your specific anatomy and goals.

Chin Augmentation Surgical Techniques


Standalone implant-based chin augmentation at Centre for Surgery is typically performed under local anaesthetic with optional mild oral sedation — you remain awake and comfortable throughout, with no general anaesthesia required. Oral sedation (taken 60 minutes before) helps you relax. TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) is available if preferred or if the procedure is combined with other surgery. TIVA is the safest form of general anaesthesia for day-case facial surgery, using only intravenous agents with no inhaled gases. Sliding genioplasty requires TIVA given the complexity and duration of bone surgery.

Total operating time: approximately 1–1.5 hours for standalone bilateral implant augmentation.

Total operating time: approximately 1.5–2.5 hours. Recovery longer than implant (6–8 weeks vs 2–4 weeks) but allows more precise correction.

Implant size and style are selected at consultation using standardised facial measurements and digital planning. Your surgeon will show you implant styles and explain how each would affect your specific profile. No implant is inserted without your explicit agreement on the planned size and style.

Recovery after chin augmentation surgery


Days 1–3: swelling and bruising around the chin and lower jaw. Temporary numbness of the lower lip and chin (from the mental nerve — always resolves). Discomfort well-controlled with paracetamol. Soft or liquid diet. Cold compresses for the first 24 hours. Sleep with head elevated.

Days 4–7: swelling peaks and begins to settle. Bruising fades. Most patients return to desk work around day 7–10. Speech is normal from day 1.

Week 2: most visible swelling resolved. Eating progresses to normal soft diet. Intraoral sutures are dissolving. Submental sutures removed at day 5–7 if applicable.

Weeks 3–4: residual swelling continues to settle. Lower lip numbness typically resolved by week 4–6. Full exercise from week 4. Contact sports and any risk of chin impact avoided for 6 weeks.

3 months: all residual swelling resolved. Final result fully visible as the implant settles into its permanent position.

Weeks 1–2: significant swelling, bruising, and temporary lower lip numbness (expected after bone surgery). Liquid diet mandatory for the first 1–2 weeks. Return to desk work around day 10–14. Bone healing continues beneath visible surface changes.

Weeks 3–4: soft diet. Visible swelling largely settled.

Week 6: bone healing complete. Gradual return to full diet and full exercise.

3–6 months: final result as all soft tissue swelling resolves.

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How much does chin augmentation cost in London?

At Centre for Surgery, standalone implant-based chin augmentation typically costs £4,500–£6,500. Sliding genioplasty (bone-based augmentation) typically costs £6,500–£9,500. The difference reflects TIVA requirements, longer theatre time, more complex surgical planning, and titanium fixation hardware for bone procedures.

0% APR finance is available through Chrysalis Finance. Monthly payments typically from £145–£210/month for standalone chin augmentation.

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Chin augmentation is a cosmetic procedure and not covered by insurance or the NHS. Price shouldn’t be the determining factor — make sure whoever you choose is on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery and a member of BAPRAS or BAAPS.

What Procedures can be combined with chin augmentation?

Chin augmentation combines well with several procedures — often producing more complete and balanced results than either procedure alone.


The most frequently combined procedure. A well-defined chin loses impact if excess fat beneath the jawline softens the contour. removes unwanted fat deposits beneath the chin and along the jawline, sharpening the cervicomental angle and creating a smoother neck transition. Particularly beneficial for patients with a double chin or excess fullness in the submental area. The combination is typically performed in a single operation under TIVA.


A natural pairing because both procedures address the profile. A recessed chin can make a proportionate nose appear larger; improving chin projection rebalances the relationship between the two. Conversely, an overly prominent nose can make a small chin seem even smaller. Combining with chin augmentation in a single operation produces more integrated results than staging the procedures separately. Both procedures use TIVA when combined, with one recovery period.

For patients who want a softer, more diffuse augmentation effect around the chin and jawline rather than the precise forward projection of an implant, adds natural volume using the patient’s own harvested fat. Can be combined with an implant for patients wanting both structural projection and soft tissue enhancement.

For patients with both chin underprojection and age-related lower face changes, or combined with chin augmentation addresses the structural deficit alongside the skin and soft tissue changes of ageing — producing comprehensive lower face improvement in a single operation.

Combined with for patients seeking overall lower-face sculpting — more defined cheekbones plus a stronger chin in a single operation.

At consultation your surgeon will recommend combinations (if any) that fit your specific anatomy. The aim is never to add procedures for their own sake.

Risks of chin augmentation surgery

Chin augmentation is generally well-tolerated but carries specific risks. Understanding these in advance lets you make an informed decision.

Expected for 1–2 weeks, not complications.

The mental nerve (providing sensation to the lower lip and chin) is in proximity to the surgical site. Temporary numbness or altered sensation is common and typically resolves within 4–8 weeks for implant surgery, 3–6 months for bone surgery. Permanent numbness is rare.

An implant can occasionally shift or sit off-centre after surgery, producing asymmetry or an unnatural contour. Most cases resolve as swelling settles; significant malposition requires revision to reposition the implant.

Implants can sometimes be felt through the overlying soft tissue in very lean-faced patients or if the implant is too large for the tissue coverage available. Rarely visible; most patients find palpability resolves as they adjust to the implant over months.

Uncommon but possible, particularly with intraoral incisions. Signs include increasing pain after day 3, redness, discharge, or fever. Usually resolves with antibiotics; occasionally requires implant removal if uncontrolled.

Scar tissue forming tightly around the implant — uncommon but possible. Produces firmness and occasional discomfort; significant cases may require implant removal or replacement.

Long-standing implants can occasionally cause minor resorption (thinning) of the underlying bone surface — usually clinically insignificant and not visible.

Blood collection at the surgical site in the first 24 hours — uncommon. Small haematomas resolve spontaneously; larger ones may need drainage.

Implants can be removed or replaced if problems arise, but this constitutes a second surgical procedure.

Minor asymmetry often settles as swelling resolves over 2–3 months. Significant persistent asymmetry may require revision.

Local anaesthetic has a favourable safety profile. For TIVA (sliding genioplasty or combined procedures), additional anaesthetic risks apply but remain low in healthy, well-assessed patients.

Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. Follow all pre- and post-operative instructions carefully to minimise risks.

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Alternatives to chin augmentation surgery

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can increase chin projection and profile definition without surgery. Results last 12–18 months and are reversible with hyaluronidase. Appropriate for modest projection deficits, patients wanting a reversible option before committing to surgery, and patients not ready for permanent change. For patients uncertain about augmentation, trying fillers first is a sensible approach — if you’re happy with the filler result and want it permanently, implant surgery is a natural next step.

For patients whose main concern is jaw and neckline definition rather than chin projection specifically, can sharpen the cervicomental angle without touching the chin bone. Sometimes sufficient on its own.

A chin that looks too small can sometimes be better addressed by reducing a prominent nose rather than adding to the chin — if the nose is objectively too large, rhinoplasty may restore the profile balance more effectively than chin augmentation. At consultation your surgeon will assess which feature is the primary driver of the perceived imbalance.

For patients whose chin falls within normal anatomical range and whose concern is driven by external comparison (social media, photographs), no intervention is sometimes the honest answer. We’ll tell you this at consultation if it applies.

Why choose Centre for Surgery for chin augmentation

Chin augmentation requires precise implant sizing, accurate pocket creation, and symmetrical placement in a visible facial location. Errors in technique or sizing are apparent and difficult to correct. The choice of technique — implant vs sliding genioplasty — requires accurate assessment of your specific anatomy.

All chin augmentation at Centre for Surgery is performed exclusively by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery — the highest qualification available in the UK. Our surgeons are members of BAPRAS and ISAPS. We don’t use cosmetic doctors or non-specialist practitioners for chin surgery.

Our purpose-built private hospital at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone is independently regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission, which awarded us a “Good” rating.

We offer implant-based augmentation, sliding genioplasty, and chin reduction — so the recommendation at consultation is always the technique that fits your specific anatomy rather than defaulting to the simplest or most common option.

If chin fillers would address your concern adequately, we’ll say so. If your chin is within normal proportion and the issue is actually a different feature, we’ll explain that. We’d rather recommend the right approach (including no surgery) than book an unnecessary operation.

Standard and not optional for any cosmetic surgery at our clinic.

Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. This includes 24/7 surgeon-led clinical access for the first 48 hours, a dedicated patient coordinator, regular reviews, and full aftercare through the recovery period.

Your initial in-person consultation is £100, redeemable against the cost of surgery if you proceed.


Further reading about chin augmentation

FAQs

What To Expect

Your journey begins with a face-to-face consultation with one of our consultant plastic surgeons at Baker Street, typically lasting 30–45 minutes. Your surgeon will assess your facial proportions clinically — measuring chin projection against established facial landmarks, evaluating your profile, and assessing the relationship between your chin, nose, jawline, and neck. This clinical assessment determines which technique is appropriate: implant-based augmentation, sliding genioplasty, or in some cases no surgery at all. Some patients seeking chin augmentation have chins within normal proportion — the perceived imbalance is from a different feature (typically the nose or jaw). We’ll tell you honestly what we find. If chin fillers would address your concern adequately without surgery, we’ll say so and refer you accordingly. If surgery is appropriate, your surgeon will recommend implant or sliding genioplasty based on your anatomy, the degree of correction needed, and your preferences around recovery and technique. Clinical photography is taken for surgical planning and implant size selection. A two-week cooling-off period between consultation and surgery is standard. You can return for further consultation at any point before surgery at no additional cost.

Once the two-week cooling-off period has passed, our pre-operative assessment team will confirm medical fitness for surgery. Stop smoking: at least 2 weeks before implant surgery; at least 6 weeks before sliding genioplasty (smoking significantly impairs bone healing). Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, and anti-inflammatories at least 2 weeks before. Review all supplements with your surgeon (vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo, garlic affect bleeding). Avoid alcohol for 48 hours before. Complete any planned dental work before surgery. Maintain good oral hygiene. On the day: for standalone implant augmentation under local anaesthetic, formal fasting isn’t required. For any procedure under TIVA (sliding genioplasty, or implant combined with other surgery): no food for 6 hours before, clear fluids (water only) up to 2 hours before. Your surgeon or anaesthetist will confirm which applies. Wear comfortable clothing. Arrange a responsible adult to collect you and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Stock soft foods for the first 1–2 weeks of recovery.

Arrive on time for your appointment. An admission nurse will complete formal admission, check identification and consent documentation, and record baseline vital signs. Post-operative medications are dispensed. Your surgeon will confirm the operative plan, obtain final written consent, and confirm implant selection or bone repositioning plan. For implant surgery, the implant is shown to you and confirmed before the procedure begins. Standalone implant surgery is performed under local anaesthetic with optional mild oral sedation. Sliding genioplasty and combined procedures are performed under TIVA — the safest form of general anaesthesia for day-case facial surgery, using only intravenous agents with no inhaled gases. Operating time: approximately 1–1.5 hours for standalone implant augmentation; 1.5–2.5 hours for sliding genioplasty. Combined procedures require additional time. You’ll recover in our suite before discharge with post-operative medications, detailed written instructions including dietary guidance, and a direct emergency contact number for the first 48 hours. A responsible adult must collect you.

Once home, you have 24/7 surgeon-led clinical support for the first 48 hours via a direct emergency contact number. Our post-operative team will be in regular contact during the first two weeks. Implant recovery: Days 1–3 swelling and bruising, temporary lower lip numbness (expected, resolves within weeks). Soft diet. Return to desk work around day 7–10. Visible swelling resolved by week 2. Full exercise from week 4. Final result at 3 months. Sliding genioplasty recovery: Days 1–5 significant swelling and lower lip numbness (expected after bone surgery). Liquid diet mandatory for first 1–2 weeks. Return to desk work around day 10–14. Visible swelling largely settled by week 4. Bone healing complete at 6–8 weeks. Numbness typically resolves over 3–6 months. Final result at 3–6 months. Both: no smoking throughout healing period; no anti-inflammatories for 2 weeks; no contact sports or chin impact risk for 6–8 weeks; good oral hygiene essential. Follow-up: clinical review at 1 week (submental suture removal if applicable); surgeon review at 6 weeks; final assessment at 3 months (or 6 months for bone procedures). Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. Contact us at any stage if concerned.

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