A strong, defined chin plays a big role in overall facial harmony. When the chin is small or recessed, it can throw off proportions, making the forehead or nose look more prominent and disrupting the balance of the profile. While some people naturally have that sculpted look often seen on celebrities like Matthew McConaughey or Scarlett Johansson, many of us aren’t as lucky and may need a surgical or non-surgical procedure for enhancement.
Fortunately, Dr. Eric S. Schaffer offers chin augmentation in San Antonio to help patients achieve a more balanced, confident appearance. With his expertise, you can enjoy the sharper, more proportional chin you’ve always wanted.
What is a Chin Implant or Chin Augmentation?
Chin implant surgery may be a perfect procedure for you if you desire a stronger chin. Chin augmentation surgery, also known as mentoplasty, can improve both your lateral profile and forward-facing appearance. It can reduce the appearance of a weak chin and excess neck skin while making a nose which might appear overly big, appear suddenly much more proportionate and balanced.
Dr. Eric Schaffer will perform a detailed confidential consultation with you in which he considers your facial features as well as your specific goals and desires. Options for improving the appearance of the chin/neck region which may be discussed with you include chin implants, osteotomy with bone advancement, soft tissue fillers such as Juvederm, liposuction of the neck, either individually or in combination with each other.
Chin Implant Before and After Images
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After
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What Facial Concerns Can a Chin Augmentation Address?
It’s easy to overlook the chin when we’re considering issues with our face, instead usually focusing on our eyes, nose, and mouth. But our chin actually plays an important role in the proportions of our overall face. Of course, our chin is crucial to a strong profile, but there’s more to the story.
An overly small chin viewed in profile will make your nose look larger than it actually is. When looking at a person from the front, a short chin can make the upper face look top-heavy. Our chin is critical in setting up a balance between the neck and the face. While a weak chin is universally despised as connoting weakness, a strong chin is a tenet of beauty for both men and women.
Chin augmentation can even erase that double chin created by a recessed chin.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Chin Implant?
Sure, we’d all like to have movie star faces, but at least we can strive for proportionality. If you’re not saddled with a weak, thin, or recessed chin you may not understand — but having one can really make you hate the lower third of your face. These procedures can have a direct impact on a person’s self-confidence. It’s crazy what a couple of silicone implant shapes can do! Chin augmentation isn’t a showy procedure; its changes are subtle, yet substantial.
Who is a Good Candidate for Chin Augmentation?
We all have our own reasons for wanting to make changes in our appearance, be it a new hairstyle or a revised nose. If you’ve always hated your chin if you feel it’s overly weak, not wide enough, not tall enough, or whatever, that makes you a perfect candidate for chin augmentation with Dr. Schaffer. There is no set menu of why a person would want to add shape to his or her chin. It’s all about feeling good about your profile and the balance you see in your face.
You may feel that your chin isn’t strong enough to balance your lower face with your upper face. You may feel your chin is recessed and not very visible. You may feel your chin doesn’t create enough space between your mouth and lips and your jawline. Whatever your reasons, this could change all of them.
What to Expect During Your Chin Implant Procedure
Chin implants come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. If, after your consultation, a mentoplasty is determined to be beneficial for you, Dr. Schaffer will help select the best type for you. Chin implants can be inserted through small incisions inside the mouth or through small incisions hidden under the chin. Recovery is usually quick and involves only minimal discomfort. Most individuals will return to work in less than a week.
Chin Implant Recovery Expectations
These are not difficult recoveries. Dr. Schaffer will prescribe pain medication, but most patients feel over-the-counter options are sufficient. If you have a desk job, you’ll likely be able to return to work within 7 days after your surgery. As the size of your chin has increased, the area will feel tight and there will be some swelling. This feeling of tightness will last about 2 weeks as the surrounding tissues adapt. Diligent use of a cold compress is very helpful.
You’ll need to sleep with your head elevated and with your face up for a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks. This helps to control swelling and it protects your incisions (unless your implants were placed in the mouth).
If you have mouth incisions, you’ll only be able to have a liquid diet for the first day or two after surgery. You’ll need to keep your sutures and the incision clean for the first few days, as well.
Strenuous exercise or jobs requiring physical labor can be resumed in 3 to 4 weeks depending on your healing. Dr. Schaffer will see you during your recovery and will green light return to this type of work or activity.
Combining Chin Augmentation With Liposuction
Liposuction, alone or in combination with one of the other enhancement techniques, can improve the definition of the jawline. By accentuating the angle between the vertical part of the neck with the horizontal portion under the chin, liposuction can make the jaw and chin appear more prominent. Recovery is rapid and discomfort is usually minimal.
Combining a Chin Implant with Juvederm
When a smaller degree of chin enhancement is desired, the injection of a filler such as Juvederm or Radiesse can be utilized. This is performed as an in-office procedure without the need for anesthesia. The downtime is usually minimal if any.
Juvederm/Radiesse Chin Implant Results
The results of Juvederm/Radiesse chin augmentation may last from 1-3 years. One advantage of this technique is that additional filler can gradually be added over time. This allows for a great degree of flexibility and fine-tuning of the final result. Moreover, the gradual changes in your appearance may be less perceptible to other individuals.
In any event, Dr. Schaffer is happy to guide you through these various options to help you achieve your goals.
What Are the Side Effects of Having Chin Augmentation Done With Dermal Fillers?
Dr. Schaffer feels surgical chin augmentation is far superior to augmentation with dermal fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane. First, dermal fillers last from 9-12 months in the chin area. That means you’ll need to keep having your chin augmented time after time for as long as you want to keep your results. Also, it can take a large amount of filler volume to change your chin in the way you seek, and that can be expensive, especially since you’re doing it every 9-12 months.
Chin augmentation using silicone or Gore-Tex implants is permanent. Your chin will be stronger and more proportional to the rest of your face for the rest of your life. The implants placed by Dr. Schaffer don’t shift or move, making your results predictable and confidence-boosting for decades to come.
What Our Patients Have to Say
"Dr. Schaffer is honestly such a perfectionist, he takes his time listening to what it is exactly that I feel needs to be addressed. The results always exceed my expectations!"
"I researched plastic surgeons for several years and when I was ready I knew exactly who I was going with. Dr. Eric Schaffer was highly recommended to me by several friends. He is very educated and his bedside manner is exceptional. He and his staff are very professional and helpful. I am very pleased with my results. I didn’t experience any pain after my surgery. He is a perfectionist. I will forever be grateful for Dr. Schaffer and his staff."
Why Choose Dr. Eric S. Schaffer for Chin Augmentation
Dr. Eric S. Schaffer brings more than 30 years of surgical expertise and a reputation as one of the leading plastic surgeons in the Southwest. Accepted into medical school at just 18, he went on to train in general surgery at Harvard Medical School and the University of Texas Health Science Center, before completing his plastic surgery training at Yale University. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
Patients choose Dr. Schaffer not only for his credentials and experience but also for the compassionate care he provides. Known for his warmth, sensitivity, and commitment to listening, he ensures that every patient feels heard and well-informed when making decisions about their treatment. Recognized as a “Texas Super Doc” and frequently featured as a top plastic surgeon in national and regional publications, Dr. Schaffer delivers results that exceed expectations while helping his patients achieve newfound confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most chin augmentation procedures leave little to no visible scarring. If the incision is inside the mouth, there will be no external scars at all. If an external incision is required (usually under the chin), the scar is typically very small and placed in a discreet location, making it nearly unnoticeable once healed.
You will see immediate improvement after surgery, but swelling may make your chin look fuller at first. Most swelling resolves within a few weeks, and your final, refined results are usually visible within three to four months.
You may need to stick to soft foods for the first few days while your incision heals and swelling decreases. Chewing can be mildly uncomfortable initially, but most return to a normal diet within a week or so, depending on their healing progress.
If your incision is inside the mouth, Dr. Schaffer may recommend rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash and keeping good oral hygiene to prevent infection. If the incision is under the chin, you’ll need to keep it clean, dry, and follow Dr. Schaffer’s instructions for dressing changes or ointment application. Avoid touching or putting pressure on the incision as it heals.
Chin implants fit securely against the bone, and when placed correctly by a skilled surgeon, like Dr. Schaffer, shifting is very rare. However, trauma or improper healing can increase the risk. Following your post-surgery care instructions and avoiding pressure on the chin during recovery helps reduce this risk.
Yes. With proper implant selection and expert placement, chin augmentation enhances your natural features rather than making you look artificial. The goal is to create better facial proportion and balance, so the results should blend seamlessly with your overall appearance.
Schedule Your Chin Augmentation Today!
If you are interested in chin augmentation, call 210-227-3223 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric Schaffer. Our practice serves San Antonio, Austin, TX, and surrounding areas.